Brightsource Industries (israel), Ltd.

Babcock Power Services, Inc.

Gabriel Kaufmann

Leon Afremov

Yona Magen

Israel Kroizer

Andrew Plotkin

Kevin Toupin

Craig Gillum

Robert Kunkel

Yoel Gilon

Binyamin Koretz

A startup system for a solar boiler includes a main fluid circuit having a plurality of solar boiler panels for generating power from solar energy. An auxiliary fluid circuit is selectively connected in fluid communication with the main fluid circuit by a plurality of valves. An auxiliary boiler is operatively connected to the auxiliary fluid circuit. The valves connecting the auxiliary fluid circuit to the main fluid circuit are configured to be opened and closed to selectively place the auxiliary boiler in fluid communication with portions of the main fluid circuit to supply heat to the portions of the main fluid circuit in preparation to produce power from solar energy.

Startup systems and methods for solar boilers

In a startup period for a solar thermal electricity generating system, a non-solar source of steam heats a downstream receiver (for example, a superheating receiver) prior to insolation being available. Insolation, once available, heats an upstream receiver (for example, an evaporator). The upstream receiver can be arranged in a recirculation loop with a steam separation drum, which may be bypassed during the initial heating of the upstream receiver by insolation. Once sufficient temperature and pressure have been reached, steam from the upstream receiver is directed to the downstream receiver by way of the steam separation drum to replace the non-solar source of steam. Heating of the downstream receiver using steam from the upstream receiver continues until a threshold temperature and pressure are reached. Insolation is then directed at both the upstream and downstream receivers to generate steam for electricity production by a turbine.

Systems, methods, and devices for operating a solar thermal electricity generating system

Thermal energy can be stored in a fluid-based thermal storage system for later use. The stored thermal energy may be derived from steam generated using insolation in a steam-based solar power system. The thermal storage system can store energy when insolation is generally available. Alternatively or additionally, the thermal energy may be derived from electricity from the electrical grid. For example, the thermal energy can store energy when the electrical grid has excess electricity available for storage. At a later time, the energy stored in the thermal storage system can be released to heat pressurized water or steam in addition to or in place of steam generated by the insolation. For example, the stored thermal energy may be used in preheating the solar power system during startup, in supplementing steam output of the solar power system, or to replace steam generation during low insolation periods.

Solar thermal electricity generating systems with thermal storage

Startup/shutdown systems and methods for a solar thermal power generating facility

A method for generating steam for a turbine electric power plant uses solar radiation. Solar radiation is directed onto a solar receiver. The solar receiver includes a first section, which receives feedwater input and is arranged to heat the feedwater input to generate steam using the directed solar radiation. Feedwater flows through a feedwater vessel to serve as feedwater input to an inlet of the first section of the receiver. Water is separated from the steam in steam separation vessel, which is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first section of the receiver. The feedwater input may be selectively preheated by a source of preheat other than solar energy in response to system operating conditions, predicted insolation schedule, or an electrical energy tariff schedule.

Solar receiver

A solar energy conversion system may include a receiver with a first heat transfer fluid channel having at least two opposite sides. Each side may present an external surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the external surface of the other opposite side. Each side may be configured to contact a heat transfer fluid carried in the first heat transfer fluid channel. A heliostat field may be configured to direct solar energy to each of the at least two opposite sides during the course of a day such that a thermal stress tending to bend the channel remains below a specified level.

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Beit Hananya, Israel

Gabriel Kaufmann