Solar power system and heat exchanger

Abstract

The disclosed solar power system includes an oil circuit, a molten salt circuit, and a heat exchanger in communication with both the oil and molten salt circuits. The disclosed heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe, the ends of which are within first and second plenums provided by spaced-apart housings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least one heat pipe, the at least one heat pipe having a first end and a second end;   a first housing including a first plenum, the first end of the at least one heat pipe within the first plenum; and   a second housing including a second plenum, the second end of the at least one heat pipe within the second plenum, the second housing being spaced from the first housing to provide a double-layer boundary between the first plenum and the second plenum.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first plenum is in communication with a first fluid, and wherein the second plenum is in communication with a second fluid different from the first fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second fluids are reactive when brought together. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first fluid is oil and the second fluid is a molten salt. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one heat pipe has a working fluid contained therein. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the working fluid is non-reactive with oil and molten salt. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe has a longitudinal axis, and wherein first and second housings are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends are closed ends. 
     
     
         9 . A solar power system comprising:
 a concentrated solar receiver;   an oil circuit;   a molten salt circuit; and   at least one heat exchanger in communication with both the oil circuit and the molten salt circuit, wherein the at least one heat exchanger includes a first housing including a first plenum in communication with the oil circuit, and a second housing including a second plenum in communication with the molten salt circuit, wherein the first housing is spaced from the second housing to provide a double-layer boundary between the first plenum and the second plenum.   
     
     
         10 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe having a first end within the first plenum and a second end within the second plenum, wherein the first and second ends are closed ends. 
     
     
         11 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the second housing is a molten salt storage tank. 
     
     
         12 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the molten salt circuit includes a first and second molten salt storage tanks. 
     
     
         13 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second housing is separate from the first and second molten salt storage tanks, and is separate from the first housing. 
     
     
         14 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the oil and molten salt circuits each include a plurality of pipes and valves, the valves selectively adjustable to configure the oil and molten salt circuits for thermal energy charging and discharging conditions. 
     
     
         15 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 14 , further including a controller, the valves adjustable in response to the controller. 
     
     
         16 . The solar power system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger includes two heat exchangers, the valves adjustable to direct the oil and molten salt circuits to a particular one of the two heat exchangers based on whether the solar power system is in a thermal energy charging or discharging condition. 
     
     
         17 . A method of leak detection, the method comprising:
 providing a solar power system including a concentrated solar receiver, an oil circuit, and a molten salt circuits;   establishing a flow of oil within the oil circuit;   establishing a flow of molten salt within the molten salt circuit;   providing at least one heat exchanger in communication with both the oil and molten salt circuits, the at least one heat exchanger providing a double-layer boundary between the oil and molten salt; and   monitoring the at least one heat exchanger for a potential compromise in the double-layer boundary.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger includes two spaced-apart housings and at least one heat pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further including the step of providing at least one of the two spaced-apart housings and the heat pipe with a sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the monitoring step includes comparing, with a controller, a signal from the sensor with a predetermined threshold.