High-temperature pipeline

Abstract

A solar insulation capturing and transporting system includes a solar insulation receiving member configured in combination with a dual walled conduit. Fluid is flowed through one portion of the conduit and into the solar insulation receiving member and thence into a second portion of the conduit. Heat energy captured in the fluid is then transferred, in the flowing fluid, to a use location where the energy may be usefully exploited.

1 . An solar energy capture and transfer apparatus, comprising: 
 a dual walled conduit having an inner volume sealed from an outer volume, said inner and outer volumes forming a continuous pathway for fluid to flow along one of said inner and outer volumes and then flow therefrom into the other of the inner and outer flow volumes; and    at least one solar insulation collection member including a flow inlet, a flow outlet and an insulation receiving volume extending between said inlet and outlet;    wherein, one of said inner and outer volumes of said flow conduit is interconnected to said inlet, and the other of said inner and outer flow annulus is connected to said outlet, such that a working fluid may flow through the conduit, into the solar insulation receiving volume of said collection member, and thence through the flow conduit and thereby capture energy from said solar insulation in said working fluid and transport said energy to a location where the captured energy may be recovered for use.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said solar insulation collection member is a Karni style collector.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said conduit is in fluid communication with a heat exchanger.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with a steam turbine.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit is in fluid communication with a subsurface formation.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of solar insulation collector members are in fluid communication with said conduit.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said conduit is supported in a substantially vertical position.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further including at least one reflector for reflecting and concentrating solar insulation at said solar insulation collector members.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said reflectors change orientation to cause the reflected solar insulation to be directed at said solar insulation collector members as the sun moves relative to the reflector.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a heat exchanger in fluid communication with said conduit and a source of compressed gas, and a flow passage connecting the compressed gas side of the heat exchanger to a gas turbine.  
     
     
         11 . A method of capturing and transporting energy from solar insolation, comprising: 
 a. providing a flow conduit having an inner conduit portion and an annular outer flow conduit portion in surrounding relationship with said inner flow conduit portion;    b. providing a solar insulation receiver in fluid communication with the inner and outer flow conduit portions;    c. directing reflected solar insulation at the solar insulation receiver while flowing fluid through the solar insulation receiver; and    d. flowing the fluid to a location where heat may be recovered from the working fluid.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of flowing the fluid to a subsurface formation.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the steps of capturing solar insulation in the fluid in the solar insulation receiver; and, flowing the fluid to an electrical generating facility.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical generating facility includes a gas turbine.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical generating facility includes a steam turbine.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of flowing the fluid to a heat exchanger.