HRP20110536A2 - Solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct driven pump system - Google Patents

Abstract

Solar thermal hydropower plant with direct drive of the pumping system, is a new type of power plant consisting of a modified reversible hydropower plant (6-9) coupled with a solar thermal power plant (3-5). Such a power plant is based on the use of available local energy resources, primarily solar energy (1), but also local water resources (2), for the purpose of continuous supply of a consumer exclusively with green energy, throughout the year. The pump system (6), which transports water from the lower tank or some water source (9) to the upper tank (7), is driven by the mechanical energy of the thermodynamic system (4), while the hybridization of the solar thermal power plant (3-5) is performed. an electric heater (5) powered by electricity produced by a reversible hydropower plant (6-9).

Description

The field to which the invention relates

This invention refers to a new self-sustainable source of electricity, which is composed of a solar thermal power plant whose thermodynamic system is directly connected to a pumping system that transports water from the lower to the upper reservoir of a reversible hydroelectric power plant, for the purpose of continuously supplying electricity to a consumer (houses, settlements, city, island, region, factory, etc.). In this way, a new type of energy source, which uses exclusively natural energy sources (solar energy and energy from water resources), could more reliably, more usefully and economically contribute to the application of renewable energy sources.

Technical problem

(for the solution of which a patent application is requested)

Today, the problem of securing ever-increasing amounts of energy necessary for the economic development of every country is evident. On the other hand, over 70% of atmospheric pollution with carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) comes precisely from the energy sector, whereby this pollution has significant negative consequences for the Earth's climate (global warming, etc.).

Of all renewable energy sources, solar energy has the greatest potential for use, and the conversion of solar energy into kinetic and gravitational potential energy for the continuous production of electricity is interesting for this invention.

However, the problems of greater use of solar energy are, on the one hand, still related to the relatively high cost of solar systems, and on the other, to the intermittency of solar radiation. And while the prices of solar thermal systems are decreasing more and more (especially with the increase in production and technological progress), the biggest problem still remains the problem of continuous energy production, i.e. its storage for periods when there is not enough solar energy. Namely, today's solar thermal power plants cannot independently continuously supply a consumer, but they only work by handing over electricity to the power system when solar energy is available, while energy production, when there is no solar radiation, uses fossil fuels (so-called .hybridization). So, electricity must be used when it is produced.

So, the problem of finding such a technical-technological solution that would replace fossil fuels and ensure continuous energy production from the ST power plant during the day and throughout the year, but so that it is exclusively from renewable energy sources, is evident. At the same time, a consumer can mean only one residential unit (house), smaller or larger settlements, factories, islands, cities, and even the complete supply of entire countries and regions with electricity from renewable energy sources.

State of the art

(presentation and analysis of known solutions to a defined technical problem)

Until now, there was only one technical solution that combines a solar photovoltaic power plant and a reversible hydroelectric power plant into one technological system (WO2009118572), but there was no solution that combines a solar thermal power plant and a reversible hydroelectric power plant into such a system.

In order for solar thermal (ST) power plants to be able to continuously supply a consumer with energy, they are combined or hybridized with fossil fuel power plants or with daily thermal energy storage. Fossil fuels provide the thermal energy needed to operate the power plant during nights and cloudy days throughout the year. However, the problem with this solution is that it does not exclusively provide green energy from the ST power plant and thus continues to be a source of atmospheric pollution. Daily storage of thermal energy with phase-changing materials is used to maintain the operational readiness of the solar thermal power plant mainly for a relatively short time, i.e. most often to bridge one night and cloud cover during one day. Thus, daily storage of thermal energy prolongs the operation of the ST power plant, but due to their relatively small capacity, they cannot balance multi-day deficiencies of solar radiation, and especially not seasonal surpluses and deficits of solar energy, and therefore cannot ensure the continuity of supply exclusively with green energy and power, during whole year.

In addition, the hybridization of a solar thermal power plant using stored electricity or from some source of electricity as foreseen in this solution has not been used so far, but this hybridization was performed with fossil fuels (mainly coal and natural gas).

Presentation of the essence of the invention

(so that the technical problem and its solution can be understood and the indication of technical innovation in relation to the previous state of the art)

The proposed fully sustainable solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct pump system drive basically consists of solar thermal power plant (ST) 3-5 and reversible hydroelectric power plant (RHE) 6-9 which are functionally connected to each other so that they can continuously supply some consumer with electricity and power throughout the year. For this purpose, this type of hybrid power plant system (ST-RHE) has the possibility of daily and seasonal energy storage, i.e. balancing the production and energy consumption of a consumer. However, in addition to using solar energy, the ST-RHE system also uses the energy of water resources (precipitation and surface water), which contributes to its sustainability, i.e. economy, because local water resources generate an additional mass of water compared to pumped water, which means less necessary investment in the whole ST-RHE system for the same required energy production.

The ST power plant consists of solar thermal collectors 3, which can be of various types and which convert solar radiation into thermal energy, a thermodynamic system 4, which converts thermal energy into mechanical energy, and an electric heater 5, which maintains the operational readiness of the thermodynamic system 4 during transitory hourly and daily cloud cover. . The essential difference compared to previous ST power plants is that the operational readiness of the system and operation at a time when there was no solar radiation was achieved with energy from fossil fuels (mainly coal or gas), the so-called hybridization with classic fuels, while this patent solution, for this purpose, uses electricity produced by the reversible hydroelectric power plant 6-9, which it can provide throughout the day and throughout the year.

However, the essential difference compared to the previous systems is that the solar thermal power plant 3-5 does not convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, as was done until now, but the mechanical energy of the thermodynamic system 4 is used directly to drive the pumping system (P) 6 which transports water from the lower reservoir or water source (sea, river, aquifer, etc.) 9 to the upper reservoir 7 which is located at higher elevations of the terrain and which then serves as a reservoir of water, i.e. energy provided by the ST system.

Water in the reservoir 7 is accumulated for continuous energy production at the coupled hydroelectric power plant (including periods when there is no solar radiation), i.e. at the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 8, which can then continuously supply a consumer with electricity. In this way, reservoir 7 serves for daily and seasonal storage of energy obtained during sunny weather by ST power plant 3-5.

In addition to the use of solar energy, the patented solution enables the use of available water resources (surface water, precipitation, but also by collecting water from artificial precipitation). Namely, the ST-PSH system enables the parallel use of solar energy and available water resources, whereby larger water inflows into the upper reservoir 7 can reduce the size of the ST power plant for the same energy supply conditions.

The proposed power plant has its great advantages because it is a local source of electricity that does not consume resources for its operation, does not require any supply of raw materials or significant energy transmission to consumers. This means that energy can be produced and consumed in isolated locations (islands and the like) that are far from traffic and supply routes. In this way, the costs of building transmission systems and the energy losses that occur due to energy transmission are lower. In these locations, the power plant can already be competitive with classic energy sources, because it does not require construction and operating costs related to transportation, nor energy, nor raw materials for energy production. The power plant can be built in all locations where there are water resources and adequate hydro potential. By using the ST power plant 3-5 and the local topography of the terrain, this potential can be artificially created.

This type of power plant is particularly advantageous for the supply of special consumers such as isolated military bases, important strategic facilities in isolated locations and the like because it is completely sustainable locally.

Brief description of the drawing

The accompanying drawings, which are included in the description and form part of the description of the invention, illustrate the best mode of carrying out the invention thus far considered and assist in explaining the basic principles of the invention.

Sl. 1. The scheme has consumed someone's energy the day before the payment, so they can only pay tomorrow. I did not send them any email to ask if there are solar thermal hydropower plants with direct pump system drive.

A detailed description of at least one way of realizing the invention

In this part, we will refer to the details of this assumed embodiment of the invention, the basic example of which is illustrated in the attached drawing.

The solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct drive of the pumping system consists of the following elements:

1. Solar radiation;

2. Available water resources;

3. Solar thermal collectors;

4. Thermodynamic system;

5. Electric heater;

6. Pump system (P);

7. Upper reservoir (new or existing);

8. Assembly of the turbine and generator (TG) of the hydroelectric power plant;

9. Lower reservoir or source of water (sea, large river, aquifer, etc.).

In the case of using the existing hydroelectric power plant, parts 8 and 9 are not built, but the available facilities of the existing hydroelectric power plant are used.

The solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct drive of the pumping system works in such a way that solar radiation 1 from the environment, in solar thermal collectors 3, is converted into thermal energy that is transferred to the thermodynamic system 4, which generates mechanical energy that is directly transferred to the pumping system (P) 6 The pumping system (P) 6 transports water to the upper reservoir 7, where it is stored daily and seasonally and, if necessary, is used so that it is discharged towards the assembly of the turbine and generator (TG) 8, thereby producing electricity that is delivered to the consumers of a local consumer. . In doing so, the water is discharged to the lower reservoir 9, i.e. the sea, a large river, aquifer, etc. The electrical energy produced by the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 8 is also used to power the electric heater 5, which converts this electrical energy into thermal energy and hands it over to thermodynamic system 4 in periods of insufficient solar radiation.

The operation of this system implies the achievement of complete independence in supplying a user with electricity, which is mostly obtained from solar energy, but also from available water resources (rivers, precipitation, etc.). The proposed hybrid ST-RHE power plant is completely sustainable and has no harmful impact on the environment because it is based exclusively on the use of renewable energy sources, using water as the main resource for transmission, storage and generation of energy. RHE 6-9 is very flexible in operation and energy production and therefore easily adapts to the needs of users, unlike ST power plant 3-5, whose operation and occasional energy production is dependent on solar radiation. By combining these two power plants, a new type of very economical hybrid power plant suitable for permanent and controllable electricity production is obtained. The essential characteristic of this new solar thermal hybrid power plant is that it is not limited by size, so it can be used from the smallest to the largest units, i.e. from powering a residential unit of the order of several kW to powerful power plants of the order of dozens or even hundreds of MW.

Solar radiation is used to transport water from a lower level 9 (reservoir, aquifer, sea, lake, river) to a higher level where it is stored in a reservoir 7. The stored water is used to produce hydropower in accordance with the formed hydro potential (altitude difference ) on the assembly of the turbine and generator (TG) 8 from which the water is discharged into the water resource 9, and from which it was pumped by the pump system (P) 6, which is directly driven by the thermodynamic system 4 of the ST power plant (Figure 1). In this way, it is possible to permanently use the same water that circulates within an artificially created and closed hydrological cycle. The available upper reservoir 7 is actually stored solar energy and the energy of available water resources, available for permanent use on the turbine and generator (TG) 8 assembly (day and night) in accordance with consumer needs.

The proposed power plant is a source of energy that can be built right next to the place of consumption if all the prerequisites exist, which is very advantageous because the energy does not need to be transported far. The prerequisite for the operation of this power plant is occasional insolation of the Sun, water and the height difference between the lower and upper reservoir, on which the action of gravity-hydropotential force is exploited. Hydropotential can be formed in accordance with the topographic features of the terrain wherever there is a corresponding height difference of the terrain. However, an artificial hydro potential can be built anywhere by creating an appropriate building structure with a height difference between the lower and upper water. This means that a smaller or larger hydro potential can be created anywhere, with of course different costs. In addition to the necessary height difference where the force of gravity can be used, water is also necessary to start the turbines.

The system can be smaller or larger. Tanks can be closed or open. As a rule, all large systems are open, while small systems can be built as closed. Theoretically, water is only necessary to fill the system and compensate for water losses from the system. The best situation is if recharge and replenishment of losses can be achieved from natural resources, precipitation or using precipitation from the local catchment area, or water from the local watercourse, groundwater and sea. Losses refer to evaporation and seepage of water from the reservoir (upper 7 and lower 9). With appropriate engineering measures, evaporation, and especially leakage from reservoirs, can be significantly reduced or eliminated.

Local natural features, climate, water resources, topography, geology and others are the framework for the realization of the power plant and its productivity. What is important to emphasize is that the power plant is sustainable and as long as there is solar radiation and the force of gravity, the power plant can produce electricity. The price of energy depends on a whole range of elements, and profitability depends on the price of competitive classical sources. At the present moment, it is still to be expected that classic sources of energy (thermal power plants and nuclear power plants) are more competitive, regardless of whether it is clean and renewable energy. However, in the long term, it is to be expected that conventional sources will be more and more expensive, so that the proposed power plant will probably be more and more competitive and profitable.

It is very important that the power of the ST 3-5 power plant, whose price is the highest, is correctly determined for the solar thermal hydroelectric power plant. The main role in this is played by the upper reservoir 7 (reservoir). The upper reservoir 7 enables the accumulation of water for a longer period of time and thus the continuous production of hydropower, which enables the bridging of the period of time when the input from the ST power plant is less or absent. In this way, the size of the ST power plant 3-5 is chosen in accordance with the critical one-year period from a series of years, so that its minimum and maximum powers necessary to ensure the continuity of hydropower production in the critical period (required volume of water) and the selected level of operational safety (additional volume of water in the reservoir for incident or unforeseen situations). If there is water upstream from the upper reservoir 7 that can be used, that is, diverted into the reservoir, then the system is more efficient because the filling of reservoir 7 with water also takes place by gravity, so the power of the ST power plant 3-5 is smaller by the corresponding amount. The system will be more efficient if part of the produced solar energy in periods of strong solar radiation is directly used by the user, because then the volume of the reservoir 7, the capacity of the pumping system 6 and the ST power plant 3-5 will be smaller.

The total cost of construction is also affected by the costs of building the reservoir (upper 7 and lower 9). Various combinations are possible. It is most favorable when the lower reservoir 9 does not need to be built separately, which is present in the case when the capacity of water resources, which is used for capturing water, is greater than the needs (e.g. when the lower reservoir 9 is represented by the sea, a large river or an aquifer) and when the construction of the upper reservoir 7 is simple and cheap, or if such a reservoir-lake already exists. The hydroelectric power plant (turbine and generator assembly (TG)) 8 is generally more economical the higher the available drop (potential energy). However, then a greater power of ST power plant 3-5 is needed to transport water to reservoir 7. Likewise, the proposed solution can use existing hydroelectric power plants, so it is not necessary to build either the upper reservoir 7 or the turbine and generator assembly (TG ) 8.

Considering that it is a technological solution that combines into a single technological system the already developed ST power plant (on the shafts of which generators are not installed, but mechanical energy is used directly to drive the pumping system) and reversible power plants, their combination in the way shown can be realized. In this way, a permanent, useful and very economical system was created that can reliably supply energy to a consumer throughout the year.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many more modifications and upgrades could be made to such a power plant system without departing from the scope of the spirit of this invention.

Method of application of the invention

By solving the problem of daily and seasonal energy storage with hydro potential, direct use of mechanical energy from the ST power plant to create hydro potential and electrical energy from the reversible hydro power plant to maintain operational safety during transient daytime clouds, this invention opens up numerous possibilities for the application of such systems, which could strongly encourage the industry of solar thermal power plants and its components 3-5, but also of reversible hydropower plants, as well as the diverse utilization of available local water resources.

This further means that such self-sustaining systems, which would ensure the complete energy independence of a consumer's electricity supply, i.e. make maximum use of the available solar energy and hydro potential in a location, with as little impact on the environment as possible, could have a secure future.

List of callsigns and symbols

1 Solar radiation;

2 Available water resources;

3 Solar thermal collectors;

4 Thermodynamic system;

5 Electric heater;

6 Pump system (P);

7 Upper reservoir (new or existing);

8 Assembly of the turbine and generator (TG) of the hydroelectric power plant;

9 Lower reservoir or source of water (sea, large river, aquifer, etc.).

Claims (6)

1. Solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct drive pumping system consisting of solar thermal collectors 3, thermodynamic system 4, electric heater 5, pumping system 6, upper reservoir 7, generator turbine assembly 8, lower reservoir or water source 9, characterized by, to use solar energy 1 and available water resources 2 in parallel for the continuous production of energy for the needs of a consumer, throughout the year. 2. Solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct drive of the pumping system, according to claim 1, characterized by the direct drive of the pumping system 6 by the thermodynamic system 4. 3. Solar thermal hydropower plant with direct pump system drive, according to requirement 1-2, characterized by having a daily and seasonal store of electricity stored in the form of hydraulic water energy in the upper reservoir 7, necessary for managing the planned energy production. 4. Solar thermal hydropower plant with direct drive of the pumping system, according to claim 1-3, characterized by the fact that it has an electric heater 5, which maintains the daily operational readiness of the thermodynamic system 4, and which is powered by electricity produced by the turbine and generator assembly 8. 5. Solar thermal hydropower plant with direct drive of the pumping system, according to requirements 1-4, characterized by the fact that the sizes of the thermodynamic system 4 and the upper reservoir 7 must be so dimensioned that they together collect enough solar and hydro energy from the environment for the planned continuous supply of an isolated electricity consumer, throughout the year, in accordance with the energy consumption regime. 6. Solar thermal hydroelectric power plant with direct pump system drive according to requirement 1-5, characterized by the fact that the method of its implementation and use is adapted to local climatic, topographical and hydrological features as well as to the needs of electricity consumers.