AU2010100317A4 - Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station - Google Patents

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT SCALABLE SOLAR THERMAL POWER STATION The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing known to me 3 The traditional arrangement for Solar Thermal Power Generation is to have a large field of Reflectors focusing Sunlight upon either tubes containing water or a boiler, which then uses the heat to produce steam and drive a turbine generator. The traditional arrangement is good for large-scale applications such as a town, but is not 5 easily scalable and cannot be transported. This invention has been devised to provide a scalable and transportable solar thermal power station, which can be used in a traditional field array arrangement capable of powering a small town, domestically as a single unit providing electricity to a family, or as a transportable unit to provide electricity to remote sites for mining, construction and other activities. 10 The Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station consists of a Thermal Collector Array, for light and heat conversion, piping for heat collection and transportation using a heat transfer medium, a Steam Generator, and a commercially available steam turbine generator, to generate electricity. 15 The Thermal Collector Array is composed of Solar Evacuated Tubes contained within one or more Insulated Glass fronted heat traps and linked by an array of Copper pipes. The copper pipes contain a Heat Transfer Medium, which is exposed to Solar 20 Thermal Heating within the Solar Evacuated Tubes. The Heat traps, containing the Solar Evacuated Tubes and Copper Piping with its internal Heat Transfer Medium consist of double skinned insulated glass fronted boxes. The Copper Piping runs along the floor of the Heat Trap and supports the 25 Solar Evacuated Tubes. The purpose of the heat trap is to ensure that only minimal thermal loss occurs and that incoming Heat Transfer Medium is warmed prior to entering the Solar Evacuated Tubes. The Solar Evacuated Tubes are an array of commercially sourced Solar Thermal 30 tubes connected via Copper Piping to a Spine consisting of Copper Pipes. The Solar Evacuated Tubes have an internal carriage system for the Heat Transfer Medium. The Solar Evacuated Tube arrays are contained within the Heat Traps and connected Directly to the Copper Piping supporting them. The Heat Transfer Medium moves from the cooler side of the array to the hotter side within the Heat Trap. The Hot Heat 35 Transfer Medium temperature is further boosted in any supplemental Thermal Collector Arrays, should they be required. The Number of Solar Evacuated Tubes within each Heat Trap and the number of 40 Thermal Collector Arrays used depends on the Latitude of the installation. In Tropical Climates Less Tubes and Heat Traps are required than in Temperate and Polar climates. The Heat Transfer Medium is a low viscosity mineral oil and is moved around the 45 Solar Thermal Power Station within the Heat Transportation System. The Heat Transportation System Consists of Copper Piping of various Diameters 4 providing a closed circuit from the Thermal Collector Arrays to the Steam Generator and back into the Solar Thermal Arrays. The movement of the Heat Transfer Medium is achieved via a pressure differentiation established by the thermal difference across 50 the System. Hot Heat Transfer Medium travels towards the cold Heat Transfer Medium generating current within the Heat Transfer System. Alternatively a pump can be used to ensure Heat Transfer Medium flow. The Heat Transfer Medium exits the Solar Thermal Array and enters the Steam 55 Generator via an Insulated Copper Pipe. The Steam Generator is a boiler based on the Fire Box boiler design. The Heat Transfer Medium is maintained within Copper Pipes inside the Steam Generator. The Steam is produced by the exposure of the water to the surface area of the hot Copper Pipes within the barrel of the Boiler. The Heat Transfer Medium becomes cooler as it travels through the Steam Generator and 60 exits at a lower temperature. The Heat Transfer Medium is then fed back into the Thermal Collector Array, thus completing the cycle. Each time the Heat Transfer Medium Travels through the Steam Generator more heat is deposited into the water contained within. As the water boils steam is generated and the pressure within the boiler increases. When the steam reaches the desired Temperature and Pressure it is 65 released into a Commercially Available small Steam Turbine Generator. The Commercially Available small Steam Turbine Generator uses the Steam from the Steam Generator to power an electric generator. The used steam is fed into a condenser and returned to the Steam Generator. 70

Claims (5)

1. A Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station can be constructed which uses Solar Evacuated Tubes as the heat source.

2. The Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station is a single unit construction with all components making up an integral package, which can be moved as a single unit.

3. The Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station can be scaled up by simply connecting additional Scalable Solar Thermal Power Stations up to a single distribution system to meet any power demands for any facility or urban area, or operated individually for small-scale electricity requirements.

4. The Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station can be mounted on a trailer or flat bed vehicles and operated in remote locations or areas where electricity supply has been disrupted.

5. The Scalable Solar Thermal Power Station does not need to be permanently fixed in a single geographical location in order to function. Simon B Pointer 21 March 2010 Chris Pearson