Ormat Industries Ltd.

Brightsource Industries (israel), Ltd.

Electric Fuel (e.f.l.) Ltd.

Brightsource Energy, Inc.

Yoel Gilon

Lucien Y Bronicki

Israel Kroizer

Joseph Sinai

Gil Kroyzer

Shlomo Bugdagzad

Uriel Fisher

Nadav Amir

Uriyel Fisher

Arnold J Goldman

Yaron Shrim

Rotem Hayut

Gideon Goldwine

Vladimir Schneider

Gilbert Riollet

Gabriel Kaufmann

Leon Afremov

Meir Rigal

Alex Moritz

Arieh Meitav

Asher Elovic

Shmuel Huss

Moshe Grassianni

Sergey Kimberg

Yuri Kokotov

Ophir Chernin

Danny Franck

Nadiv Amir

Susan Walzer

Ilia Yakupov

Shlomo Budagzad

Dan Franck

Ziv Aumann

Alex Gutkin

Hagai Huss

Systems and methods for directly monitoring energy flux of a solar receiver in a solar energy-based power generation system include measuring infrared radiation emanating from the solar receiver. Such measurement can be achieved using one or more infrared thermography detectors, such as an IR camera. Resulting thermal data obtained by the imaging can be used to determine energy flux distribution on the receiver. A user or a system controller can use the determined flux distribution to adjust heliostat aiming to achieve a desired operation condition. For example, heliostats can be adjusted to achieve a uniform energy flux distribution across the external surface of the receiver and/or to maximize heat transfer to a fluid flowing through the receiver within system operating limits.

Systems and methods for control of a solar power tower using infrared thermography

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 collection system includes a primary solar receiver and a secondary solar receiver. The secondary solar receiver generates steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. The primary solar receiver receives the generated steam from the secondary solar receiver and superheats the steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. A plurality of heliostat-mounted mirrors reflects incident solar radiation onto one of the primary and secondary solar receivers. A controller aims a portion of the heliostat-mounted mirrors at the primary solar receiver such that a predetermined thermal profile is provided on a surface of the primary solar receiver.

Method and control system for operating a solar power tower system

A solar energy collection system has a solar receiver with an external surface configured for high absorption of light incident thereon. The solar receiver also has a plurality of light-reflecting elements arranged on the external surface. The light-reflecting elements produce at least partially diffuse reflection of light energy incident thereon. Heliostats concentrate solar radiation onto the external surface of the solar receiver. An imaging device provides a digital image of at least a portion of the external surface of the solar receiver. A controller can control the heliostats in response to apparent brightness of the light-reflecting elements as represented in the digital image.

Solar receiver with energy flux measurement and control

Solar power tower system operation and control

A solar heliostat and system are described with various characteristics particularly suitable for concentrating systems with a relatively large number of small heliostats. Other features contribute to high performance, low cost, high durability, and high temperature operation, such as desired for high efficiency thermal power generation.

Heliostats and solar concentration systems employing heliostats

A multi-mode solar power generation system can include a first energy conversion system that generates electricity from a working fluid heated by a portion of solar radiation focused by a plurality of heliostats. The multi-mode solar power generation system can also include a second energy conversion system that generates electricity from an unused portion of the focused solar radiation using a different energy conversion mode than that of the first energy conversion system. The second energy conversion system can include one or more photovoltaic converters, which directly convert solar radiation to electricity. The unused radiation from the first energy conversion system can include radiation spillage or dumped radiation from a thermal receiver of the first energy conversion system.

Solar power generation with multiple energy conversion modes

The invention provides receivers which can be used to heat a working fluid to high temperature. In preferred embodiments, concentrated solar radiation is received and converted to heat at varying depths in the receiver such that multiple layers of surface are used to heat the working fluid. In addition, the depth-loading configuration helps to trap received heat to reduce radiant thermal loss.

High temperature solar receiver

The power produced by a gas turbine system is augmented by a direct contact heat exchanger for contacting and cooling humid ambient air with cooler water for producing cooled ambient air and warmed water, and a precompressor device for compressing said cooled ambient air to produce pressurized air that is warmer than ambient air and has a lower relative humidity. An evaporative cooler, which is supplied with the warmed water, is provided for cooling said pressurized air to produce cooled pressurized air at about ambient air temperature and relative humidity, which is supplied to the main compressor.

Apparatus for augmenting power produced from gas turbines

The power produced by a gas turbine system is augmented by a heat exchanger for contacting and cooling humid ambient air with cooler water, and a precompressor device for compressing said cooled ambient air to produce pressurized air that is warmer than ambient air and has a lower relative humidity. An evaporative cooler, which is supplied with the warmed water, is provided for cooling said pressurized air to produce cooled pressurized air at about ambient air temperature and relative humidity, which is supplied to the main compressor. Cold storage means aids compressor inlet air cooling during peak use.

Method of and apparatus for augmenting power produced from gas turbines

The invention provides a modular zinc air cell for use in an electrochemical zinc-air multi-cell battery, each cell being of the type provided with a housing having, two outer major surfaces, and two spaced-apart inner walls, the inner walls defining a first inner chamber for containing therein a zinc electrode, and in conjunction with the outer major surfaces defining two outer chambers for receiving reaction air; two generally planar, gas-permeable, but liquid-impermeable air electrodes, each of the electrodes being installed in a window-like opening provided in each of the inner walls, an electrolyte in contact with the zinc electrode and the air electrodes, and means for directing a flow of the reaction air into a first inlet provided in a first outer side surface of the housing through both of the outer chambers substantially in a uniform flow distribution across the outer faces of both of the air electrodes, and out of a second outlet provided in an opposite outer side surface of the housing.

Cell for a metal-air battery

A geothermal power plant operating on high pressure geothermal fluid includes a primary separator for separating the geothermal fluid into two channels, one containing high pressure steam and the other containing high pressure liquid. A primary steam turbine in the high pressure steam channel is responsive to high pressure steam for generating electricity and producing heat depleted high pressure steam. A secondary separator separates the heat depleted high pressure steam into a steam component and a liquid component. A primary heat exchanger is responsive to the high pressure liquid and the steam component for transferring heat to said steam component thereby producing low pressure steam and cooled high pressure liquid. At least one power plant module includes a low pressure steam turbine responsive to the low pressure steam for producing electricity and heat depleted low pressure steam; a condenser/vaporizer containing an organic fluid for receiving the heat depleted low pressure steam and converting it into condensate, and for vaporizing the organic fluid; an organic vapor turbine responsive to vaporized organic fluid produced by the condenser/vaporizer for generating electricity and for producing heat depleted organic fluid; a condenser for condensing the heat depleted organic vapor into a liquid; a preheater for heating the liquid; a pump for returning heated liquid from the preheater to the condenser/vaporizer; and a conduit for directing condensate from the condenser to the preheater.

Geothermal power plant operating on high pressure geothermal fluid

Growing community of inventors

Jerusalem, Israel

Yoel Gilon