Public solar energy circulation system

The FB-CSP thermal system has high potential to transform CSP from the current complex and expensive molten-salt-based CSP system to a moderate-cost, high-performance solar power plant to serve the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Sun Shot Initiative goals.

Concentrated solar power plants Concentrated solar power (CSP) is an electricity generation technology that concentrates solar heat through heliostats onto a small area, where a heat transfer fluid (HTF) is used as heat carrier. It is particularly promising in regions with high direct normal solar irradiance (DNI).

Solid circulation concepts Powders have been widely applied in fluidized bed reactors for pyrolysis, gasification or combustion of e.g. coal, biomass, plastic waste and refuse-derived solid waste,,, .

A novel application of powders relies on their use as heat transfer medium for heat capture, conveying and storage. The use of powders as heat transfer fluid in concentrated solar systems is discussed with respect to current technologies. The specific application reported upon is the use of powder loops in Solar Power Tower plants.

We need energy – electrical or thermal – but commonly where and when it is not available. Most of the countries, except those above latitude 45°N or below latitude 45°S, are subject to an annual average solar irradiation flux in excess of 1.6 MW h/m 2, with peaks of solar energy recorded in some “hot” spots of the Globe, mostly in deserts .

The specific application reported upon is the use of powder loops in Solar Power Tower plants. In the proposed receiver technology, SiC powder is conveyed as a dense particle suspension through a multi-tube solar receiver in a bubbling fluidization mode, the upwards flow being established by pressurizing the powder feed.