Molten salt central receiver arrangement and operating method

US10712048B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH · CH

Inventors

• John David McGrane · Longmeadow, US
• Pedro Inigo · South Windsor, US
• Apurba Das · Kanchinakote, IN
• Rahul J. Terdalkar · East Windsor, US
• Abhinaya Joshi · Glastonbury, US
• Michael M. Clark · Corning, US
• Joseph W. Quinn · Bloomfield, US
• Gary Pashko · Ludlow, US
• Robert J. DeRosa · Marietta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 2018
• Grant date: Jul 14, 2020
• Expiry date: Sep 17, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/44
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A molten salt central receiver arrangement for transferring heat from panels to a molten salt that flows through the panels. A control device allows to change the condition of at least one of the panel arrangements of the molten salt central receiver arrangement depending on at least an operating parameter of at least one panel and/or depending on an environment signal that characterizes the actual or forecast available heat for the heat transfer to the molten salt. In normal operation passes, each having one or more panels, are connected in series such that molten salt flows in a serpentine or alternating way upward and downward through subsequent passes. In a parallel flow condition, molten salt may flow upward through all of the panels in parallel. In a drain condition, the molten salt is forced out of one or more panels and replaced by compressed air.