Expansion system in the heat-transfer-medium circuit of a solar-thermal power plant

Abstract

In an expansion system ( 11 ) of the heat transfer medium circuit ( 1 ) of a solar thermal power plant, comprising a plurality of expansion tanks ( 12 a, 12 b, 12 c ) and/or flooding tanks which are arranged in the heat transfer medium circuit ( 1 ), a solution is to be created which enables a technically simplified and constructionally less costly compensating or expansion system to be created. This is achieved by the expansion system ( 11 ) comprising a plurality of expansion tanks ( 12 a, 12 b, 12 c ) which are arranged at basically the same height level and are in fluid-conducting communication.

1 . An expansion system of a heat transfer medium circuit of a solar thermal power plant, comprising a plurality  - of expansion tanks and/or flooding tanks which are arranged in the heat transfer medium circuit,
 wherein   the expansion system comprises a plurality of expansion tanks which are arranged at basically the same height level and in fluid-conducting communication with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one expansion tank is in fluid-conducting communication with a cross-sectionally widened section of a pipe of the heat transfer medium circuit which conducts heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         3 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cross-sectionally widened pipe section opens into an expansion tank. 
     
     
         4 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cross-sectionally widened pipe section, at least in the upstream direction of the heat transfer medium circuit, has a transition section, which opens into the normal cross section of the pipe which conducts the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         5 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein that the cross-sectionally widened pipe section, in the upstream direction and downstream direction of the heat transfer medium circuit, has in each case a transition section which opens into the normal cross section of the pipe which conducts the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         6 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expansion tanks are pressurized with a gas cushion of equal pressure formed from the same protective gas. 
     
     
         7 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pressure of the gas cushions lies above the vapor pressure of the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         8 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one expansion tank has a safety valve in the form of a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         9 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one expansion tank has a degassing valve. 
     
     
         10 . The expansion system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the degassing valve can be controlled, via a signal line, from a control room. 
     
     
         11 . A solar thermal power plant with a solar field formed from parabolic trough collectors, wherein it has at least one expansion system as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The solar thermal power plant as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein it exclusively has an expansion system, or a plurality of expansion systems, as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The expansion system as claim in  claim 4 , wherein the transition section of the cross-sectionally widened pipe section has a uniformly constant change in cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The expansion system as claim in  claim 5 , wherein each transition section of the cross-sectionally widened pipe section has a uniformly constant change in cross-section.