National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Sandia Corporation

Other

The Australian National University

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Allied Mineral Products, Inc.

Solex Thermal Science Inc.

Vacuum Process Engineering, Inc.

Clifford Kuofei Ho

Joshua Mark Christian

Kevin Albrecht

John Downing Pye

Jin-Soo Kim

Siri Sahib Singh Khalsa

Apurv Kumar

Paul Gilbert Clem

Michael Hibbs

Richard B Diver

Vipin P Gupta

Adam W Cook

Matthew David Carlson

Julius Yellowhair

Ashley Dean Byman

Kenneth Miguel Armijo

Carl Schalansky

Susan J Altman

Timothy A Moss

Aaron Edward Wildberger

Sean Michael Babiniec

Blake Lance

Dereje Shiferaw Amogne

Gregory J Kolb

Malay Mazumder

Robert McGillivray

Layne Charles

Timothy A Harvey

Brandon Emmanuel St Germain

Matthew Lambert

Jesus Daniel Ortega

Ryan R Anderson

Paul Gauche

Hendrik F Laubscher

Jeremy Niko I Sment

Cianan Alexander Sims

Siri Sahib Khalsa

Cheryl M Ghanbari

Systems and methods are disclosed that minimize erosion within a high-temperature storage bin by using particle-on-particle flow whereby flow against the wall is minimized thus protecting the walls from erosion. The flat bottom of the bin promotes a stagnant bed of particles around the outlet that provides thermal insulation and protection for the base. The systems and methods may be used for storing particles in a concentrating solar power system.

Systems and methods for high temperature bulk solid storage and handling

A heat exchanger includes an inlet for receiving bulk solids, a plurality of heat transfer plate assemblies, a plurality of spacers disposed between adjacent heat transfer plate assemblies, and supports for supporting the heat transfer plate assemblies. The heat transfer plate assemblies include a first plate having a first pair of holes extending therethrough, the first plate having channels extending along a surface thereof, for the flow of fluid through the channels, and a second plate bonded to the first plate to enclose the channels, the second plate including a second pair of holes generally aligned with the first pair of holes to form through holes to facilitate flow of the fluid through the through holes and the channels.

Plate heat exchanger for heating or cooling bulk solids

The present disclosure is directed to multi-stage falling particle receivers and methods of falling particle heating. As the particles fall through the receiver, the particles are periodically collected and released by flow retarding devices. The periodic catch-and-release of the particles falling through the receiver reduces particle flow dispersion, increases particle opacity and solar absorption, and reduces erosion and damage to surfaces caused by direct particle impingement.

Multi-stage falling particle receivers

Apparatus for cooling a hot fluid by transferring heat to particles that are then cooled by air.

Systems and methods for particle-enhanced dry heat rejection and thermal storage

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods to control particle mass flow rate in solar receivers and associated heat exchangers based on feedback from one or more temperatures of particles in the system.

Falling particle receiver systems with mass flow control

Systems and methods for falling particle receivers are disclosed that include shield or deflector structures around the receiver aperture to reduce wind effects and/or heat losses from the falling particles. External and internal structures are disclosed that can be tailored to reduce particle, thermal, and radiative losses from within the cavity receiver due to external wind and the falling particles that are irradiated within the receiver. Structures of varying shapes, sizes, and composition (transparent, reflective) are described.

Systems and methods for shielding falling particles within a solar thermal falling particle receiver

A system or method for thermal storage includes a recess or containment unit having a first storage layer and a second storage layer comprising a permeable filler material. An intermediate layer is disposed between the storage layers. A primary well traverses the layer in the recess. The primary well is in thermal communication with the first permeable filler material and the second permeable filler material. A heat source is provided for heating an inlet fluid. An input pump is in fluid communication with the primary well and the heat source. The primary well receives heated inlet fluid from the inlet pump and injects the fluid into the second layers. The heated inlet fluid transfers heat to the respective permeable filler material radially from the primary well toward an outer periphery of the thermocline recess.

Radial particle-based terrestrial thermocline for high temperature thermal storage

Thermal receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that efficiently capture concentrated solar energy into a plurality of heat absorption bodies for conversion into thermal energy. In an embodiment, the thermal receivers, systems, and methods enable simultaneous electricity conversion and thermal energy capture. The receiver design enables a high penetration of concentrated sunlight deep into the thermal receiver to increase light trapping and reduce thermal losses. The thermal receiver is integrated with a photovoltaic (PV) receiver platform that converts some of the incident light to electricity while passing the remaining light to the thermal receiver. In another embodiment, other thermal receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that efficiently capture concentrated solar energy into a sheet of falling particles. In an embodiment, the thermal receivers, systems, and methods enable simultaneous electricity conversion and thermal energy capture.

Solar receivers and methods for capturing solar energy

Falling particle solar receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that include one non-linear falling particle curtain or two or more falling particle curtains within a solar receiver that receives incident solar radiation. The particles heated in the solar receiver may be used to heat a secondary fluid. In an embodiment, the particles may be recirculated to improve energy capture and thermal efficiency. In other embodiments, an air curtain may be used across the aperture of the receiver, and flow-control devices may be used to evenly spread particles across the width of the receiver inlet. Finally, feed particles may be preheated using heat from the solar receiver.

Falling particle solar receivers

A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Bladed solar thermal receivers for concentrating solar power

Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Solar thermal receivers with multi-scale light trapping geometry and features

Systems and methods that increase the residence time of particles falling through a solar receiver using an induced magnetic field to suspend or slow down and/or alter the flight path of the particles falling through the concentrated beam of sunlight are disclosed.

Magnetic field falling particle solar receiver systems and methods

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Clifford Kuofei Ho