Thermal transfer apparatus and method therefor

Abstract

An apparatus includes a closed loop circuit that has a concentrated solar receiver and a particulate thermal transfer media moveable through the closed loop circuit. The particulate thermal transfer media has a melting temperature of greater than 600° C./1112° F. A heat exchanger is in communication with the particulate thermal transfer media.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a closed loop circuit including a concentrated solar receiver   and a particulate thermal transfer media moveable through the closed loop circuit, the particulate thermal transfer media having a melting temperature of greater than 600°C./1112° F.; and   a heat exchanger in communication with the particulate thermal transfer media.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further including a storage vessel within the closed loop circuit between an outlet from the concentrated solar receiver and an inlet into the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further including a storage vessel within the closed loop circuit between an outlet of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the concentrated solar receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further including a reactor vessel in thermal communication with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media includes bauxite. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media includes silicon carbide. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media includes silica. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media includes first particles having a first composition and second, different particles, having a second, different composition. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media includes particles, the particles, on average, having a size of greater than 1 micrometer. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating an apparatus, the method comprising:
 moving a particulate thermal transfer media through a closed loop circuit into a concentrated solar receiver to absorb thermal energy into the particulate thermal transfer media;   moving the particulate thermal transfer media from the concentrated solar receiver into a heat exchanger; and   heating a working fluid using the thermal energy extracted from the particulate thermal transfer media in the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further including storing the particulate thermal transfer media in a storage vessel after absorbing the thermal energy in the concentrated solar receiver and, at a later time, moving the particulate thermal transfer media into the heat exchanger in response to a demand to heat the working fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further including storing the particulate thermal transfer media in a storage vessel after extraction of the thermal energy from the particulate thermal transfer media in the heat exchanger and, at a later time, moving the particulate thermal transfer media into the concentrated solar receiver in response to an availability of thermal energy in the concentrated solar receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media is selected from the group consisting of bauxite, silicon carbide, silica and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the particulate thermal transfer media includes first particles having a first composition and second, different particles having a second, different composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further including circulating the working fluid through the heat exchanger to extract the thermal energy from the particulate thermal transfer media and heating a reactant material using the thermal energy in the working fluid to chemically disassociate the reactant material into a solid material and a gas material. 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating an apparatus, the method comprising:
 moving a particulate thermal transfer media through a closed loop circuit into a concentrated solar receiver to receive solar energy and absorb thermal energy from the solar energy into the particulate thermal transfer media;   moving the particulate thermal transfer media from the concentrated solar receiver into a heat exchanger;   circulating a working fluid through the heat exchanger to extract the thermal energy from the particulate thermal transfer media; and   heating a reactant material using the thermal energy in the working fluid to chemically disassociate the reactant material into a solid material and a gas material.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including circulating the gas material from the chemical disassociation of the reactant material as the working fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the reactant material includes a metal carbonate and the gas material is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including removing the gas material to establish a steady state gas pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including heating the reactant material within a sealed volume. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including storing the particulate thermal transfer media in a storage vessel after absorbing the thermal energy in the concentrated solar receiver and, at a later time, moving the particulate thermal transfer media into the heat exchanger in response to a demand to heat the working fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including storing the particulate thermal transfer media in a storage vessel after extraction of the thermal energy from the particulate thermal transfer media in the heat exchanger and, at a later time, moving the particulate thermal transfer media into the concentrated solar receiver in response to an availability of the solar energy in the concentrated solar receiver.