The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 01, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 15, 2012
Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc., Barberton, OH (US);
Melvin J Albrecht, Homeworth, OH (US);
Jason M Marshall, Wadsworth, OH (US);
Justin A Persinger, Norton, OH (US);
Thanneeru D Rao, Copley, OH (US);
David T Wasyluk, Mogadore, OH (US);
Andrew G Heap, Pasadena, CA (US);
Phani Meduri, Mountain View, CA (US);
James E Pacheco, Sierra Madre, CA (US);
Gaurav Soni, Pasadena, CA (US);
The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Barberton, OH (US);
Abstract
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.