Bottom supported solar receiver panel apparatus and method
US7011086B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/40
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bottom supported solar receiver tube/header assembly having a bottom clip for supporting the entire load of a plurality of tubes carrying a heat absorbing fluid. The tubes are allowed to expand vertically upwardly under thermal flux conditions created when the fluid absorbs heat from the solar receiver panel. A receiver panel assembly incorporating a plurality of the bottom supported receiver tubes requires less piping than a comparably sized, conventional receiver panel assembly with top supported tubes and even better facilitates access and maintenance of valves associated with the receiver panel assembly. The invention further allows a solar receiver panel assembly to be constructed with significantly fewer drain and vent valves than previously developed, top supported receiver panel assemblies.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.