Rain Bird Corporation

Esolar, Inc.

Other

Solarreserve Technology, LLC

Planet a Energy, Inc.

Energy Cache, Inc.

Christian T Gregory

Braden Eric Hines

Dan Reznik

Michael Slack

Bill Gross

Porter Arbogast

John J Alarcon

Quoc Pham

Gregg Luconi

David Eugene Robertson

Ulrik Pilegaard

Richard Lee Johnson

Brian R Coleman

John Terry Bailey

Steven Schell

Alan Greaney

Guido Hamacher

Jason Blair

Russ Neff

William T Gross

Stephen Brawner

Marc Grossman

Carter Moursund

Craig Tyner

Aaron D Fyke

James T Baker

A system for receiving, transferring, and storing solar thermal energy. The system includes a concentrating solar energy collector, a transfer conduit, a thermal storage material, and an insulated container. The insulated container contains the thermal storage material, and the transfer conduit is configured to transfer solar energy collected by the solar energy collector to the thermal storage material through a wall of the insulated container.

Solid state solar thermal energy collector

A solar power plant includes central receiver modules arranged in a regular pattern. Each central receiver module includes a tower, a central receiver mounted on the tower, and a heliostat array bounded by a polygon. The heliostat array includes heliostats with mirrors for reflecting sunlight to the central receiver. The heliostats are grouped in linear rows and each of the rows is parallel to another row. The locations of the heliostats are staggered between adjacent rows. The power plant also includes a power block for aggregating power from the central receivers and power conduits for transferring power from the central receivers to the power block.

Heliostat array layouts for multi-tower central receiver solar power plants

Tracking modules are effectively provided that can be arranged as systems for positioning devices, such as reflectors. A preferred reflector is small and light in comparison to prior art reflectors so that components can be utilized within reflector construction and support structure that are sufficiently stiff to accurately hold a reflector in place under expected operational drive-torque, gravity and wind loads. At the same time, a single person can install a reflector, easily overcoming a retention mechanism spring force so as to positively engage a reflector in position. This is achieved without the need for any tools, through a combination of a retention mechanism and a spring feature design. Arrangements of tracking modules are included for easier manufacture, transport of systems and installment.

Tracking modules including tip/tilt adjustability and construction features

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for configuring and arranging heliostats for use in a solar power system. The present invention seeks to improve the overall energy harvesting capacity of a heliostat system while using minimal land area and providing maximum access paths. The present invention teaches that, instead of raising the height of the tower or spacing heliostats according to a rigid schedule, it may be advantageous to vary the height of individual mirrors within a heliostat group, thus mitigating blocking while nonetheless permitting adjacent rows of heliostats to be placed close to one another.

Apparatus and method for configuring heliostat fields

Some embodiments relate to an energy storage and generation system, comprising a cable system having a first end portion located at a first elevation and a second end portion located at a second elevation, a plurality of mass carriers supported by the cable system, one or more motor generators coupled with the cable system and with an energy grid, a control system in communication with at least the one or more motor generators, a first mass pile area configured to store mass medium positioned at the first elevation, and a second mass pile area configured to store mass medium positioned at the second elevation that can be higher than the first elevation. The one or more motor generators can move the cable system in an energy storing state and be moved by the cable in an energy generating state. The system can store energy by transferring mass medium from the first mass pile area to the second mass pile area, and can generate energy by transferring mass medium from the second mass pile area to the first mass pile area.

Apparatuses and methods for energy storage

An improved irrigation sprinkler nozzle is provided for enhanced short range or close-in distribution of water for irrigating vegetation and the like positioned relatively close to the sprinkler. The improved sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle passage for outward projection of a water stream, at least a portion of which is defined by a generally vertically oriented, fan-shaped spray pattern. A lower margin of the nozzle passage defining this fan-shaped pattern is lined with a plurality of forwardly extending ramps each formed with a selected width and a different declination angle. A portion of the water discharged through the nozzle passage is forced and guided downwardly along these ramps for enhanced close-in distribution of water near the sprinkler.

Irrigation sprinkler nozzle with enhanced close-in water distribution

Systems and methods of heliostat reflector cleaning via a vehicle in a heliostat field.

Heliostat field cleaning system

A sprinkler pressure regulator module has a compact arrangement with a shiftable member having an upper cavity for receiving water flow debris, and a portion of a bypass valve may reciprocate therein. The module includes a stator plate directing water into a drive mechanism, such as a turbine drive mechanism. The shiftable member receives fluid flow from a radially outboard direction and is sealed with a cup portion receiving the shiftable member to define a cup cavity. A module exterior surface is separated from a sprinkler housing to define a vent cavity. A pressure release vent communicates with the cup cavity, a vent channel between the cup portion and the exterior surface, the vent cavity, and the exterior environment. The vent cavity and cup portion provide receptacles for debris deposit. Ribs around an opening of the vent channel with the vent cavity generally prevent debris from entering the vent channel.

Sprinkler with pressure regulation

A set of nozzle inserts is provided for use with an irrigation sprinkler system. The nozzle set includes a plurality of nozzle inserts that are removably connected to one another via a common carrier. The nozzle set is adapted for storage, transportation and handling in a nested arrangement with another nozzle set, which, in turn, is similarly adapted for storage, transportation and handling in a nested arrangement with other nozzle sets. This nested arrangement facilitates storage, transportation and handling of a relatively large number of nozzle inserts in a manner that protects each insert from unintentional removal from its set.

Sprinkler nozzle insert assembly

A radial flow heat exchanger for heating or cooling a fluid includes a sealed fluid manifold for passage of fluid. A sealed fluid receiving hub is spaced interiorly of the interior peripheral portion of the manifold and includes a passageway for passage of fluid into or out of the heat exchanger. A plurality of separate and spaced fluid flow tubes are disposed between the manifold and the hub. Each of the tubes are in sealed fluid communication with the manifold at one end and the other end is in sealed fluid communication with the hub. A fin assembly is positioned between the manifold and the hub and includes a heat conducting material arranged at spaced intervals between the manifold and the hub, the heat conducting material including a plurality of spaced apertures through which tubes pass. The heat conducting material is in intimate heat conducting contact with the tubes whereby fluid flowing between the manifold and the hub flows into each of the tubes in a radial direction between the manifold and the hub and wherein the heat conducting material of the fin assembly operates to give up or pick up heat from the fluid through the wall of the tubes.

Radial flow heat exchanger

Sprinkler nozzle insert tree

Growing community of inventors

La Cresenta, CA, United States of America

Christian T Gregory