Stamicarbon B.v.

Stamicarbon B.v. Acting Under the Name of Mt Innovation Center

Enea, Agenzia Nazionale Per Le Nuove Tecnologie, L'energia E Lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile

Enea, Agenzia Nazionale Per Le Nuove Tecnologie, L'energia E Lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibilie

Adriano Barsi

Gaetano Iaquaniello

Fabrizio Fabrizi

Luca Rinaldi

Walter Gaggioli

Daniela Capoferri

Alberto Giaconia

Disclosed is a thermal energy storage system for storing collected solar thermal energy. The system comprises a solar thermal energy collection facility in the form of a field of parabolic troughs, which is in thermal communication with a molten salt circuit. The molten salt circuit is in fluid communication with a molten salt storage facility comprising at least three storage tanks that are each in fluid communication with the molten salt circuit. The multiple tanks set-up allows using cheaper materials, and a more efficient storage of thermal energy.

Solar thermal energy storage system

Disclosed is a storage tank for molten salts, preferably of the thermocline type. The tank is provided with an insulation on the inside, which is provided by molten salts captured and retained in an appropriate metal structure. The metal structure has openings allowing molten salts to flow into it, and may consist of metal supports that hold elements which allow retaining molten salts, such as a structured packing, metal boxes, or gutter wall.

Molten salts insulated storage tank

A back-up boiler system for a solar thermal power plant () for transferring solar energy into electricity, said back-up boiler system comprising a combustion chamber () and a convection section () in fluid connection with said combustion chamber (), wherein in the convection section () at least a first heat exchanger () is provided for heating a molten salts mixture of the solar thermal power plant and a second heat exchanger () for pre-heating boiler feed water of the solar thermal power plant, wherein the back-up boiler system () is configured to allow selection between only providing heat to the first heat exchanger (), only providing heat to the second heat exchanger () and providing heat to both heat exchangers (), preferably dependent on availability of solar radiation and/or dependent on demand of power generation. The invention also relates to a solar thermal power plant () for transferring solar energy into electricity and a method for operating a solar thermal power plant.

Back-up boiler system for a solar thermal power plant based on molten salt technology, a solar thermal power plant and a method for operating a solar thermal power plant

Growing community of inventors

Rome, Italy

Adriano Barsi