HRP20110835A2 - Solar termal hydro electric powerplant for simultaneous production energy and drinking water - Google Patents

Abstract

Solar thermal (ST) hydropower plant for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, is a new type of power plant consisting of a modified reversible hydropower plant 12-14 coupled with solar thermal power plant 4-8 that uses solar energy 1 and local water resources 3 and the availability of sea or unclean water (rivers, aquifers, etc.) 2 for the simultaneous production of electricity and drinking water, throughout the year. The essence of the invention is that ST power plant 4-8 has an open thermodynamic system 5 which enters the steam from the evaporator 6, obtained by evaporation of seawater or other impure water by thermal energy from solar thermal collectors 4, and leaves drinking water collected in tank 9 cooled by a cooler 10, while simultaneously producing electricity on the generator 8. Continuity of electricity production allows the tank 13 which can daily and seasonally store water and energy, and thus, through the turbine and generator 14, to produce electricity for the needs of a consumer. The electricity thus produced is used to supply the own consumption of thermodynamic systems 5, but also to supply an electric heater 7 which transfers heat to the evaporator 6, and this to the thermodynamic system 5, thus maintaining the operational readiness of the power plant during passing daily clouds, but it also enables the production of water and energy during cloudy days or at night. The new power plant system produces exclusively green energy and is entirely self-sustainable because energy production is based on renewable resources, ie solar energy 1, and drinking water production is based on the availability of the sea or an unclean water source 2.

Description

The field to which the invention relates

This invention relates to a new self-sustaining and fully controllable source of electricity, which is composed of a solar thermal power plant and a reversible hydroelectric power plant for the purpose of continuous simultaneous supply of some consumer (house, village, city, island, region, factory, etc.) with electricity from renewable sources. energy sources and drinking water by desalination or purification of non-potable water. In this way, a new energy source (power plant), which uses exclusively renewable energy sources (solar energy and energy from local water resources) and the sea or impure water sources, could significantly contribute to sustainability.

Technical problem

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

Water and energy are basic goods necessary for the origin of life and for the further development of civilization. Given that 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.) and that, according to estimates by the World Health Organization, more than a billion people does not have access to drinking water, it is logical to look for technological solutions that would simultaneously produce energy and drinking water.

The use of solar energy represents an extremely large potential for the production of green energy, but also for the provision of drinking water through the desalination process, while the conversion and storage of solar energy in the form of gravitational potential energy for the continuous production of electricity, as well as the simultaneous production of drinking water through the process, is of interest to this invention desalination.

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 hand, 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 (ST) power plants cannot continuously supply a consumer on their own, but they only work by handing over electricity to the power system when solar energy is available, while for energy production, when there is no solar radiation, they are used fossil fuels (so-called hybridization). This actually means that electricity from the ST power plant must be used when it is produced.

On the other hand, if solar energy is used to power the desalination technology, due to the aforementioned problem of intermittent solar radiation, the continuity of drinking water production cannot be ensured either.

Therefore, the problem of finding such a technical-technological solution that would replace fossil fuels and ensure the continuous production of energy from the ST power plant during the day and throughout the year, but in such a way that it is exclusively from renewable energy sources and the simultaneous production of drinking water by desalination or purification of water that not for drinking. At the same time, consumption can mean only one housing unit (house), smaller or larger settlements, factories, islands and cities that can become fully sustainable.

State of the art

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

Previous patent solutions mostly solved the problem of energy and water supply separately, using renewable energy sources.

In the Meuleman patent, 2002 (DE 101 23 240 A1), solar energy is used to produce electricity that pumps water from the lower to the upper tank, while draining water from the upper to the lower tank produces electricity, but such a solution has no connection with environment (e.g. using local water resources) and is completely independent of the size of the consumer. Also, it does not use energy from a solar thermal generator, but energy from a photovoltaic generator.

In the Charlton patent, 2002 (U.S. Pat. No. 6434942 B1), solar energy is used to heat water and circulate it, thus producing electricity, but it is a closed thermodynamic system that does not have any daily and/or seasonal energy storage.

In the Van Malderen patent, 2007 (WO2007009196), electricity is used for reverse osmosis desalination. However, this energy is from the electricity grid, while solar energy is used to heat the incoming seawater.

In the patent Glasnović, Margeta, 2009 (WO2009118572), the problem of daily and seasonal energy storage, i.e. continuous supply of energy to a consumer, is solved, but it does not use a solar thermal, but a photovoltaic power plant.

In the Forslund patent, 2009 (WO2009113954), the solar thermal power plant has the possibility of storing thermal energy, but it still does not enable the continuous operation of the solar power plant for a long period, and especially not throughout the year.

In the Brenmiller, Schaal, Yossefi, 2010 patent (WO2010032238), a solar thermal power plant is hybridized with another non-solar power plant, where the power plant also has waste heat storage. However, such a solution cannot independently continuously supply a consumer with energy without that non-solar power plant. Also, it has a classic closed thermodiamic system, so there is no possibility to produce drinking water in it.

In the patent Frolov, Cyrus, Bruce, 2011 (WO2011137149), solar thermal collectors are used to obtain drinking water, but this system does not provide the necessary energy to consumers.

In the Samson, Al-Mazeedi, 2011 patent (WO2011053925), a solar thermal power plant is used that provides energy and can provide potable water through a desalination process. However, in this patent solution, the solar thermal power plant is hybridized with a conventional fuel power plant (to ensure continuous operation when there is no solar radiation), while waste heat from the thermal power plant, i.e. the energy of its closed thermodynamic system, is used for desalination.

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 the solar thermal power plant using stored 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).

On the other hand, the previous desalination processes mostly involved relatively complex and expensive technologies, which also required relatively large amounts of energy. This is precisely the reason why it is logical to use renewable energy sources, i.e. solar energy, for desalination.

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)

Until now, there were technological solutions that provided energy from renewable energy sources, as well as technological solutions for desalination. However, there are no solutions that can continuously provide both energy from renewable energy sources and drinking water through the desalination process during the day, or if necessary (therefore, also at night).

The proposed fully sustainable Solar Thermal Hydroelectric Power Plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water basically consists of a Solar Thermal Power Plant (ST) 4-8 and a Reversible Hydropower Plant (RHE) 12-14 that are functionally connected to each other so that they can continuously supply some consumer with electricity and strength throughout the year. Compared to previous solutions, this kind of hybrid power plant system (ST-RHE) has the possibility of daily and seasonal energy storage, i.e. equalizing energy production and consumption, as well as drinking water for the needs of some consumers. Also, in addition to using solar energy 1, the ST-RHE system also uses the energy of available water resources 3 (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 required investment in the entire ST-RHE system for the same required energy production.

The ST power plant consists of solar thermal collectors 4 which can be of various types and which convert solar radiation 1 into thermal energy which is transferred to the working fluid, i.e. steam or degassed water of the thermodynamic system 5 and which then first converts this thermal energy into mechanical, and then and electricity on generators 8.

The essential difference compared to previous ST power plants is that its thermodynamic system 5 in this patent solution is open, which means that water comes into it from the sea (or an impure water source) 2, it evaporates in the evaporator 6 using the thermal energy of solar collectors 4, and then that steam or degassed water under high pressure is used in that thermodynamic system 5 and then at its outlet it is collected in the tank 9 and cooled in the refrigerator 10, with the help of sea water 2. The water from the tank 9 is then handed over to consumers.

A further essential difference compared to any previous solution consists in the fact that seawater 2 in the evaporator 6 can also evaporate with the help of an electric heater 7 and in this way ensure the operational readiness of the ST power plant during passing daytime clouds. Of course, this also means that drinking water is also produced during this time at the output of the thermodynamic system 5, which is collected in the drinking water tank 9, and which is cooled by the refrigerator 10. Therefore, drinking water is also provided during daytime clouds because the entire system works and it also produces energy. However, given that the reservoir 13 of the reversible hydroelectric power plant 12-14 can be dimensioned so that it is a seasonal reservoir of water 13, i.e. energy, this also means that there can be enough water, i.e. energy in it to power the water heater 7 as needed (therefore at night) if it is necessary to provide drinking water. However, this also means that even at night, in addition to providing water, electricity is also provided by the generator 8, which can transfer that energy to the power system, if it is connected to it, or via the inverter 11 to the engine and turbine assembly and it is again return to reservoir 13. Of course, all this creates certain energy losses in the system, but if the priority is to obtain drinking water for certain consumers, then their importance is less, especially because they are relatively small and because water reservoir 13 can be very large.

The water in the reservoir 13 is accumulated for the continuous production of energy at the coupled reversible hydroelectric power plant (including periods when there is no solar radiation), i.e. at the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 14, which can then continuously supply a consumer with electricity. In this way, reservoir 13 serves for daily and seasonal storage of energy obtained during sunny weather by ST power plant 4-8.

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) 3. Namely, the ST-RHE system enables the parallel use of solar energy and available water resources 3, with larger inflows of water into reservoir 13, 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 both energy and water can be simultaneously produced and consumed in remote locations isolated from traffic and supply routes (islands and the like). 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 the production of energy and water. The power plant can be built in all locations where there are water resources 3 that flow into the reservoir 13, as well as water resources used for the production of drinking water (sea, impure water sources) 2 and the corresponding hydro potential. By using ST power plant 4-8 and the local topography of the terrain, this potential can be created artificially.

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. Solar thermal hydropower plant scheme for simultaneous production of energy and drinking water.

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 hydropower plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water consists of the following elements:

1. Solar radiation;

2. Sea or impure water sources (big river, aqvifer, etc.).

3. Available natural water resources of the upper reservoir;

4. Solar thermal collectors;

5. Thermodynamic system;

6. Water vaporizer;

7. Electric heater

8. Generator;

9. Potable water tank;

10. Refrigerator;

11. Inverter;

12. Motor and pump assembly (MP);

13. Reservoir (new or existing) or water/energy tank;

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

In the case of using the existing hydroelectric power plant, parts 13 and 14 are not built, but the available facilities of the existing hydroelectric power plant are used.

The solar thermal hydroelectric power plant works in such a way that solar energy 1 from the environment, in solar thermal collectors 4, is converted into heat energy that is transferred to the working fluid of the thermodynamic system 5, which uses steam from the water evaporator 6 for its work and whose condensation at the exit from this system 5 receives clean, potable water, which is stored in a tank 9 and cooled by a refrigerator 10. The thermodynamic system 5 drives a generator 8 that produces electricity, which is primarily used via the inverter 11 to start the motor and pump assembly (MP) 12, while surplus electricity from generator 8 is directly delivered to the regional power system, if it is connected to it. The motor and pump assembly (MP) 12 pumps water from the sea (or an impure water source) 2 into the reservoir 13, where it is stored daily and seasonally, and is used as needed so that it is discharged towards the turbine and generator assembly 14, thereby producing electricity that is handed over to consumers of a local consumer.

After the turbine and generator assembly 14 produces electricity, the water is discharged to the sea (or some other impure water source: large rivers, aquifers, etc.) 2. The electrical energy produced by the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 14 is used for the continuous supply of consumers and self-consumption of the thermodynamic system 5. However, this electrical energy is also used for the purpose of maintaining the operational readiness of the power plant during temporary daytime clouds, because it powers the electric heater 7, with the help of which the seawater evaporates in the evaporator 6, and thus the developed water vapor transfers heat energy to the thermodynamic system 5, which can then produce electricity in the generator 8. However, electricity can also be used in cases where drinking water is needed at night or during cloudy weather in the same way, i.e. feeds the electric heater 7, which uses the thermal energy in the evaporator 6 to evaporate seawater, and the steam thus obtained then enters into the thermodynamic system 5, at the output of which drinking water is obtained, which is stored in the tank 9 (which of course needs to be cooled by a refrigerator 10), and at the generators 8, electrical energy that can be transferred to the power system if not connected to it.

The operation of this system implies the achievement of complete independence of the supply of a user with electricity, which is mostly obtained from solar energy, but also from available water resources (rivers, precipitation, etc.) 3, as well as the supply of drinking water to users by desalination or purification of water that is not for drink. 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 energy transmission, storage and generation, but also drinking water. RHE 12-14 is very flexible in operation and energy production and therefore easily adapts to the needs of users, in contrast to ST power plant 4-8, 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, and by opening the thermodynamic system of this new power plant, drinking water is also obtained at the same time. The essential characteristic of this new Solar Thermal Hybrid Power Plant for the simultaneous production of energy and water is that it is not limited by size, so that it can be used from the smallest to the largest units, i.e. from powering a residential unit of the order of several kilowatts to powerful power plants of the order of dozens or even hundreds of megawatts.

Solar radiation 1 is used to transport water from a lower level, i.e. the sea or impure water (reservoir, aquifer, lake, river) 2 to a higher level where it is stored in a reservoir 13. The stored water is used for hydropower production in accordance with formed by the hydropotential (height difference) on the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 14, from which water is discharged into the water resource 2, and from which it is pumped by the motor and pump assembly 12, which is supplied with electricity from the generator 8 via the inverter 11 (picture 1) . In this way, the permanent circulation of water within the artificially created and closed hydrological cycle is enabled. The available energy of the reservoir 13 is actually the stored solar energy 1 and the energy of the available water resources 3, available for permanent use on the turbine and generator assembly (TG) 14 (day and night) in accordance with the needs of consumers.

The proposed power plant is a source of energy and drinking water that can be built right next to the place of their consumption if all the prerequisites exist, which is very advantageous because energy and water do not need to be transported far. The prerequisite for the operation of this power plant is occasional insolation, the sea or another source of impure water and the height difference between the sea and the 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.

The system can be smaller or larger. The water tank 13 can be closed or open. As a rule, all large systems have an open tank 13, while in a small system it is mostly closed.

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 and the sea or impure water resource, the power plant can continuously produce electricity and drinking water at the same time. 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 4-8 power plant, which has the highest price, is correctly determined for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water at the Solar Thermal Hydroelectric Power Plant. Reservoir 13 plays a major role in this. Reservoir 13 enables the accumulation of water over a longer period of time and thus the continuous production of hydropower, which enables bridging the time period when the input from the ST power plant is less or absent. In this way, the size of the ST power plant 4-8 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 safety of operation (additional volume of water in the reservoir for incident or unforeseen situations). If there is water upstream from the reservoir 13 that can be used 3, that is, diverted into the reservoir, then the system is more efficient because the water filling of the reservoir 13 also takes place by gravity, so that the power of the ST power plant 4-8 was smaller by the corresponding amount. The system will be more efficient if part of the produced solar energy in periods when the solar radiation is strong 1 is directly used by the user, because then the volume of the reservoir 13, the capacity of the motor and pump assembly 12 and the ST power plant 4-8 will be smaller.

The total cost of construction is also influenced by the costs of building the reservoir 13. Various combinations are possible. It is most favorable when the construction of the reservoir 13 is simple and cheap, or if such a reservoir-lake already exists. The hydropower plant (turbine and generator assembly (TG)) 14 is in principle more economical the higher the available drop (potential energy). However, then a greater power of ST power plant 4-8 is needed to transport water to reservoir 13. Likewise, the proposed solution can use existing hydroelectric power plants, so that neither reservoir 13 nor the turbine and generator assembly (TG) need to be built. 14.

Given that it is a technological solution that combines already developed ST power plants with reversible power plants into a single technological system, and that this solution uses an open thermodynamic system and that the steam entering it is obtained by evaporating water from the sea or impure waters, the technological combination shown way can be realized. In this way, a permanent, useful and very economical system was created, which can simultaneously reliably supply some consumers with energy and drinking water, throughout the year.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other modifications and upgrades could be made to such a power and water production system without departing from the scope of the spirit of this invention.

Method of application of the invention

By connecting the solar thermal power plant 4-8, which has an open thermodynamic system 5, with the reversible hydroelectric power plant 12-14 into one technological system for the continuous simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, this invention opens up numerous possibilities for the application of such systems, which could strongly stimulate the industry solar thermal power plants and their components 4-8, especially the system of electric heating of water and its evaporation.

This further means that such self-sustainable systems, which would ensure the complete energy independence of a consumer's supply of electricity and drinking water, i.e. would make maximum use of the available solar energy 1 and hydro potential 3 in a certain location and the sea or impure water resources 2, with as little as possible impact on the environment, could have a secure future.

LIST OF CALL SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

CALL SIGNS:

1. Solar radiation;

2. Sea or impure water sources (big river, aqvifer, etc.).

3. Available natural water resources of the upper reservoir;

4. Solar thermal collectors;

5. Thermodynamic system;

6. Water vaporizer;

7. Electric heater

8. Generator;

9. Potable water tank;

10. Refrigerator;

11. Inverter;

12. Motor and pump assembly (MP);

13. Reservoir (new or existing) or water/energy tank;

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

Claims (6)

1. Solar thermal hydropower plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, which consists of solar thermal collectors (4), thermodynamic system (5), water evaporator (6), electric heater (7), generator (8), drinking water tank ( 9), cooler (10), inverter (11), engine and pump system assembly (12), tank (13), turbine and generator assembly (14), characterized by parallel use of solar energy (1) and available water resources (3) and water from the sea or an impure water source (2) for the continuous simultaneous production of energy and drinking water for the needs of some consumption, throughout the year. 2. Solar thermal hydropower plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it has an open thermodynamic system (5) into which water from the sea or an impure water source (2) enters, and drinking water that is stored in container (9). 3. Solar thermal hydroelectric power plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, according to requirement 1-2, characterized by the fact that it has daily and seasonal storage of electricity stored in the form of hydraulic water energy in the reservoir (13), necessary for managing the planned production of energy and drinking water water, that is, for its production according to the needs of energy and water consumers. 4. Solar thermal hydropower plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, according to requirements 1-3, characterized by the fact that it has a water evaporator (6) and an electric water heater (7), which maintain the daily operational readiness of the thermodynamic system (5) when there is no enough solar radiation (1), but also that drinking water and energy can be produced during the night. 5. Solar thermal hydropower plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, according to requirements 1-4, characterized by the fact that the sizes of solar thermal collectors (4) and reservoirs (13) must be so dimensioned that they together collect as much solar (1) and hydro (3) energy from the environment for the planned continuous supply of some isolated consumer with electricity and drinking water, throughout the year, in accordance with the energy and drinking water consumption regime. 6. Solar thermal hydroelectric power plant for the simultaneous production of energy and drinking water, according to requirement 1-5, characterized by the fact that the method of its implementation, i.e. elements 4-14 and use, is adapted to local climatic, topographical and hydrological features, as well as the needs of consumers of electricity and drinking water water.