Ballast member for reducing active volume of a vessel

Abstract

A ballast member may be disposed within a vessel to reduce an active volume of the vessel through which the working fluid can circulate. For instance, a solar power system may include a solar receiver through which a working fluid can be circulated and at least one solar collector that is operative to direct solar energy toward the solar receiver to heat the working fluid. A tank is fluidly connected with the solar receivers such that the working fluid can be circulated through the tank. The tank includes an internal chamber and at least one ballast member within the internal chamber that reduces the active volume of the internal chamber.

1 . A solar power system comprising:
 a solar receiver through which a working fluid can be circulated;   at least one solar collector operative to direct solar energy toward the solar receiver to heat the working fluid; and   a tank fluidly connected with the solar receiver such that the working fluid can also be circulated through the tank, the tank including an internal chamber and at least one ballast member within the internal chamber that reduces an active volume of the internal chamber through which the working fluid can circulate.   
     
     
         2 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ballast member includes a sealed shell having an interior volume and a core material disposed within the interior volume. 
     
     
         3 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the sealed shell includes a corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
         4 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the corrosion resistant material is a ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the corrosion resistant material is an alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the sealed shell comprises a tube. 
     
     
         7 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the core material comprises a refractory material. 
     
     
         8 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the refractory material comprises aluminate. 
     
     
         9 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the refractory material is a granular material. 
     
     
         10 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the core material is selected from a group consisting of sand, gravel, mine tailings, dirt, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the core material has a moisture content of less than 5 wt %. 
     
     
         12 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the core material comprises at least one elongated rod. 
     
     
         13 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ballast member includes a plurality of ballast members arranged with gaps therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a screen extending between at least two of the plurality of ballast members. 
     
     
         15 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the at least one ballast member is such that a level of the working fluid within the tank is above a return inlet into the tank. 
     
     
         16 . A solar power system comprising:
 a solar receiver through which a working fluid can be circulated;   at least one solar collector operative to direct solar energy toward the solar receiver to heat the working fluid;   a hot tank fluidly connected to receive the heated working fluid from the solar receiver;   a electric generator fluidly connected to receive the heated working fluid from the hot tank;   a cold tank fluidly connected to receive the working fluid from the electric generator, the hot tank and the cold tank including respective internal chambers and respective ballast members within the internal chambers that reduce an active volume of the internal chambers through which the working fluid can circulate.   
     
     
         17 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the ballast members each include a sealed shell having an interior volume and a core material disposed within the interior volume, and the sealed shell is a corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
         18 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the corrosion resistant material is a ceramic material. 
     
     
         19 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the corrosion resistant material is an alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the ballast members each comprise a plurality of elongated ballast members arranged with gaps therebetween. 
     
     
         21 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the ballast members each comprise a plurality of ballast members and a screen extending between at least two of the plurality of ballast members. 
     
     
         22 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the electric generator includes a heater, a steam turbine and a condenser operative to circulate water that is heated by the working fluid. 
     
     
         23 . A method for controlling a working fluid in a solar power system, comprising:
 circulating a working fluid through an internal chamber of a tank that is fluidly connected with a solar receiver that receives solar energy from at least one solar collector to heat the working fluid; and   controlling a fill level of the working fluid in the tank by disposing at least one ballast member within the internal chamber of the tank to reduce an active volume of the internal chamber through which the working fluid can circulate.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited is  claim 23 , further including removing debris from the working fluid using a screen that is attached to the at least one ballast member. 
     
     
         25 . A vessel comprising:
 a working fluid disposed within the vessel, the working fluid being selected from a group consisting of liquid salt, oil, liquid metal, fluoride salt and mixtures thereof; and   at least one ballast member disposed at least partially within the working fluid.   
     
     
         26 . The vessel as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the at least one ballast member includes a sealed shell having an interior volume and a core material disposed within the interior volume. 
     
     
         27 . The vessel as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the sealed shell includes a corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
         28 . The vessel as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the corrosion resistant material is a ceramic material. 
     
     
         29 . The vessel as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the corrosion resistant material is an alloy. 
     
     
         30 . The vessel as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the sealed shell comprises a tube. 
     
     
         31 . The vessel as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the core material comprises a refractory material. 
     
     
         32 . The vessel as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the refractory material comprises aluminate. 
     
     
         33 . The vessel as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the refractory material is a granular material. 
     
     
         34 . The vessel as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the core material comprises at least one elongated rod. 
     
     
         35 . The vessel as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the at least one ballast member includes a plurality of ballast members arranged with gaps therebetween. 
     
     
         36 . The vessel as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising a screen extending between at least two of the plurality of ballast members. 
     
     
         37 . The vessel as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the vessel is a conduit, a tank, or a reactor. 
     
     
         38 . The vessel as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising a support structure supporting the at least one ballast member and limiting movement thereof within the working fluid.