University of California

The Babcock & Wilcox Company

Gaurav Soni

Noel C MacDonald

Carl D Meinhart

Brian Piorek

Payam Bozorgi

Changsong Ding

Melvin John Albrecht

Justin A Persinger

Jason M Marshall

David T Wasyluk

Andrew G Heap

James E Pacheco

Phani Meduri

Thanneeru D Rao

Titanium-based thermal ground planes are described. A thermal ground plane in accordance with the present invention comprises a titanium substrate comprising a plurality of pillars, wherein the plurality of Ti pillars can be optionally oxidized to form nanostructured titania coated pillars, and a vapor cavity, in communication with the plurality of titanium pillars, for transporting thermal energy from one region of the thermal ground plane to another region of the thermal ground plane.

Titanium-based thermal ground plane

A solar receiver has an arrangement of heat transfer surfaces and a heat transfer fluid phase separator, such as a vertical steam/water separator, fluidly interconnected thereto. The receiver includes a plurality of heat transfer fluid filled components, and at least one alternate heat source. When various temperature measurements indicate freezing or solidification of the fluid is possible, the alternate heat source is activated to maintain a temperature of the fluid greater than the freezing/solidification point of the fluid. The application of the alternate heat source further induces natural circulation of the fluid within the components, further providing freeze/solidification protection to the receiver. A controller may be configured to receive sensed temperatures of the fluid, components, ambient air, etc., and use these temperatures relative to a threshold temperature to activate, vary output, and deactivate one or more alternate heat sources.

Freeze protection system for solar receiver

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Gaurav Soni