Electric generation facility and method employing solar technology
First Claim
1. An electric generation station, comprising:
- (A) a solar array including a transfer fluid and operative in response to solar energy to heat said transfer fluid;
(B) a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the transfer fluid and operative to produce steam in response to circulation of heated transfer fluid therethrough;
(C) a first pump operative to circulate the transfer fluid from said solar array through said heat exchanger whereby said heat exchanger produces steam;
(D) an electric generator operative to generate electricity; and
(E) a steam engine in fluid communication with the steam from said heat exchanger and operative in response thereto to operate said electric generator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric generation station employs a solar array to heat a thermal transfer fluid that is supplied to a heat exchanger to produce steam. The heated steam drives a steam engine that operates either an electric generator to produce electricity or a pump assembly. The pump assembly can pump water to an elevated location for use during peak times by flowing water downwardly past an electric generator. The electric generators can be pelton turbines. One or more thermal fluid storage facilities can be used to store heated fluid, and heat may also be stored in a heat retaining material. Additional optional features and combinations of optional assemblies are disclosed. A method of generating electricity with these systems is also described.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electric generation station, comprising:
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(A) a solar array including a transfer fluid and operative in response to solar energy to heat said transfer fluid;
(B) a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the transfer fluid and operative to produce steam in response to circulation of heated transfer fluid therethrough;
(C) a first pump operative to circulate the transfer fluid from said solar array through said heat exchanger whereby said heat exchanger produces steam;
(D) an electric generator operative to generate electricity; and
(E) a steam engine in fluid communication with the steam from said heat exchanger and operative in response thereto to operate said electric generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21)
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16. An electric generation station, comprising:
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(A) a solar array including a transfer fluid and operative in response to solar energy to heat said transfer fluid;
(B) a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the transfer fluid and operative to produce steam in response to circulation of the heated transfer fluid therethrough;
(C) a first pump operative to circulate heated transfer fluid from said solar array through said heat exchanger whereby said heat exchanger produces steam;
(D) a supply water reservoir;
(E) a storage water reservoir located at an elevation above said supply water reservoir, (F) a pump assembly operative to pump water from the supply water reservoir to the storage water reservoir;
(G) a steam engine in fluid communication with the steam from said heat exchanger and operative in response thereto to drive said pump assembly;
(H) a water conduit in fluid communication with said supply water reservoir and said storage water reservoir and operative to convey water from said storage water reservoir to said supply water reservoir; and
(I) an electric generator associated with said water conduit and operative to generate electricity in response to a flow of water therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of generating electricity comprising:
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(A) heating a thermal transfer fluid by means of a solar array to produce a heated thermal transfer fluid at a first selected temperature;
(B) using said heated thermal transfer fluid to produce steam at a second selected temperature;
(C) using said steam to pump water from a first elevation to a second elevation that is gravitationally higher than said first elevation;
(D) flowing water from the second elevation to the first elevation; and
(E) using the flowing water from step (D) to produce electricity. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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33. A method of generating electricity according to claim 33 wherein the electric generator is a pelton generator.
Specification