Thermal energy generation system

Abstract

A thermal energy generation system having a working fluid and a system fluid, including an energy system for heating the working fluid by applying heat thereto, a main heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat from the working fluid to the system fluid, a thermal energy consumption system for receiving the heated system fluid from the main heat exchanger assembly when the temperature of the system fluid is at or above a predetermined temperature, and a thermal energy conservation assembly for receiving the heated system fluid from the main heat exchanger assembly and for reintroducing the system fluid thereto when the temperature of the system fluid is less than the predetermined temperature.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A thermal energy generation system having a working fluid and a system fluid, comprising:
 an energy system for heating the working fluid by applying heat thereto;   a main heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat from the working fluid to the system fluid;   a thermal energy consumption system for receiving the heated system fluid from said main heat exchanger assembly when the temperature of the system fluid is at or above a predetermined temperature; and   a thermal energy conservation assembly for receiving the heated system fluid from said main heat exchanger assembly and for reintroducing the system fluid thereto when the temperature of the system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         33 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein said thermal energy conservation assembly is provided for conserving said thermal energy provided by the system fluid within said thermal energy generation system. 
     
     
         34 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein said energy system is selected from the group consisting of: a fossil-fuel based energy system, an electrical power energy system, a renewable energy system, a geothermal energy system, a wind energy system, a wave energy system, a solar energy system, a solar concentrating system, a solar tower energy system, a Fresnel lens solar energy system, a trough-Fresnel mirror solar energy system, a linear Fresnel solar energy system, a solar heliostat concentrating energy system and a parabolic trough solar concentrating energy system. 
     
     
         35 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein the working fluid is heated by solar radiation applied thereto following concentration of said solar radiation by a dish. 
     
     
         36 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein said working fluid is heated within a solar receiver by solar radiation impinging thereupon. 
     
     
         37 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein said thermal energy conservation assembly comprises an auxiliary heat exchanger assembly including at least one auxiliary heat exchanger in fluid communication with said main heat exchanger assembly, said at least one auxiliary heat exchanger including:
 a heat providing fluid volume for providing the system fluid to the auxiliary heat exchanger assembly when the temperature of the system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature; and 
 a heat receiving fluid volume, wherein the system fluid flowing therein is heated by the system fluid flowing within said heat providing fluid volume, and for reintroducing the heated system fluid to said main heat exchanger assembly. 
 
     
     
         38 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein the system fluid flows into said main heat exchanger assembly from a system fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         39 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 38  wherein the system fluid is reintroduced into said main heat exchanger assembly via said system fluid reservoir, wherein the temperature of the system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         40 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein the system fluid is reintroduced into said main heat exchanger assembly via conduits, wherein the temperature of the system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         41 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  wherein said main heat exchanger assembly comprises any one of:
 a preheater provided to heat the system fluid flowing therein by said heat transferred by the working fluid; 
 a vapor generator provided to vaporize the system fluid flowing therein from said preheater by said heat transferred by the working fluid; and 
 a superheater provided to heat the system fluid flowing therein from said vapor generator by said heat transferred by the working fluid. 
 
     
     
         42 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 41  wherein a vapor drum is in fluid communication with said vapor generator. 
     
     
         43 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 32  and comprising a vapor storage device for storing vaporized said system fluid. 
     
     
         44 . A thermal energy generation system having a working fluid and a system fluid, comprising:
 a solar energy system for heating the working fluid by applying solar radiation thereto;   a main heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat from the working fluid to the system fluid;   a thermal energy consumption system for receiving the heated system fluid from said main heat exchanger assembly when the temperature of the system fluid is at or above a predetermined temperature; and   an auxiliary heat exchanger assembly including at least one auxiliary heat exchanger in fluid communication with said main heat exchanger assembly, said at least one auxiliary heat exchanger including:
 a heat providing fluid volume for providing the system fluid to said auxiliary heat exchanger assembly when the temperature of the system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature; and 
 a heat receiving fluid volume, wherein the system fluid flowing therein is heated by the system fluid flowing within said heat providing fluid volume, and for reintroducing the heated system fluid to said main heat exchanger assembly. 
   
     
     
         45 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 44  wherein said solar energy system comprises a solar concentrating system operative to heat said working fluid by concentrated solar radiation. 
     
     
         46 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 44  wherein said main heat exchanger assembly comprises any one of:
 a preheater provided to heat the system fluid flowing therein by said heat transferred by the working fluid; 
 a vapor generator provided to vaporize the system fluid flowing therein from said preheater by said heat transferred by the working fluid; and 
 a superheater provided to heat the system fluid flowing therein from said vapor generator by said heat transferred by the working fluid. 
 
     
     
         47 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 44  and comprising a vapor storage device for storing vaporized said system fluid. 
     
     
         48 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 47  wherein said vapor storage device comprises a vapor drum designed to store vaporized said system fluid. 
     
     
         49 . A thermal energy generation system according to  claim 48  wherein said vapor drum is heated by said vapor generator. 
     
     
         50 . A thermal energy generation system having a working fluid and a system fluid, comprising:
 a system fluid reservoir for storing the system fluid;   a solar energy system for heating the working fluid by applying solar radiation thereto;   a main heat exchanger assembly for receiving the system fluid from the reservoir, for receiving the working fluid from the solar energy system, and for transferring heat therebetween, wherein the main heat exchanger assembly includes any one of:
 a preheater for heating said system fluid, by said heat transferred thereto by the working fluid; 
 a vapor generator for receiving the system fluid from said preheater and for vaporizing the system fluid by said heat transferred thereto by the working fluid therein; and 
 a superheater for receiving the system fluid from said vapor generator and for transferring heat to the system fluid from the working fluid; 
   a thermal energy consumption system for receiving the heated system fluid from said superheater when the temperature of the system fluid is at or above a predetermined temperature; and   an auxiliary heat exchanger assembly including at least one auxiliary heat exchanger in fluid communication with any one of said preheater, said vapor generator, said superheater and said system fluid reservoir, said at least one auxiliary heat exchanger including:
 a heat providing fluid volume for providing the system fluid to the auxiliary heat exchanger assembly when the temperature of the system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature and providing the system fluid to the system fluid reservoir; and 
 a heat receiving fluid volume, wherein the system fluid flowing therein from said system fluid reservoir is heated by the system fluid flowing within said heat providing fluid volume, and for reintroducing the heated system fluid to any one of said preheater, said vapor generator, said superheater and said system fluid reservoir. 
   
     
     
         51 . A method for generating thermal energy comprising:
 heating a working fluid by impingement of solar radiation thereon;   transferring heat from said working fluid to a system fluid flowing within a main heat exchanger assembly;   utilizing thermal energy provided by heat within said system fluid to operate a thermal energy consumption system, wherein said system fluid enters therein from said main heat exchanger assembly at or above a predetermined temperature; and   reintroducing said system fluid into said main heat exchanger assembly, wherein the temperature of said system fluid is less than said predetermined temperature.