Solar energy receiver

Abstract

A solar energy receiver comprises a panel, having a graphite core, a substantially gas tight housing encasing the graphite core, a heat exchanger comprising heat exchanger tubing, a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet. The heat exchanger tubing is at least partially embedded in the graphite core, and the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet extend through the housing. The housing is sealed around the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet. A method of manufacturing a solar energy receiver comprises: a) fabricating the heat exchanger in a serpentine coil shape; b) inserting grooved planks of graphite between individual coils of the heat exchanger to form the graphite core such that the coils are encompassed in the grooves; c) inserting the graphite and heat exchanger into the housing; and d) sealing the housing and sealing openings around the inlet and outlet where they pass through the housing.

1 . A solar energy receiver comprising a panel, the panel comprising a graphite core, a substantially gas tight housing encasing the graphite core, a heat exchanger comprising heat exchanger tubing including a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, the heat exchanger tubing at least partially embedded in the graphite core, the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet extending through the housing and the housing sealed around the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet. 
     
     
         2 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1  wherein one of the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet comprises a heat exchanger drain. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has two spaced apart side walls joined together about their periphery by one or more further walls to form a closed container. 
     
     
         5 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 4  wherein one of, or a portion of the one or more further walls is a bottom wall forming a base of the housing and the graphite core is located in thermal communication with the base and at least one of the two side walls of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 5  wherein at least two sides of the receiver element are in thermal communication with the graphite core. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the graphite core has a shape to conforming to an internal shape of the housing and has a portion shaped to conform to an internal shape of the bottom wall of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of. mounting flanges extending from the housing and capable of suspending and supporting the weight of the receiver element, the mounting flanges extending including mounting holes therein. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 9  wherein each mounting flange comprises an extension of one of the end walls beyond the respective side wall to which it is joined. 
     
     
         13 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the graphite core comprises a plurality of stacked graphite planks, at least a lower one of which is profiled to match the shape of the transition between the base and the lower portions of the side walls of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least some the heat exchanger tubes are in a coiled or serpentine form which is compressed when the heat exchanger is at ambient temperature, such that when the container expands due to thermal expansion under exposure to solar energy, the compression of the compressed coiled or serpentine tubes is released. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 14  wherein there are two or more coils in each panel. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the heat exchanger tubing and drain are arranged to allow drainage of liquid from top of the heat exchanger to the bottom of the heat exchanger when the panel is angled from the vertical orientation by up to 21° to one side whereby none of the connecting tube portions present an uphill course for liquid draining from the top of the heat exchanger to the bottom. 
     
     
         20 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the heat exchanger tubing is arranged to allow drainage of liquid from the top of the heat exchanger to the bottom of the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger inlet located at the bottom of a heat exchanger is also the drain outlet. 
     
     
         27 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 1  wherein shaped planks of graphite are located between each row of tubes and capping planks are placed over the inlet end rows of straight tube portions and the outlet end row of straight tube portions to encase a majority of the heat exchanger tubes. 
     
     
         28 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the graphite planks, other than the capping planks, each, include two opposed surfaces, having grooves conforming to the shape and radius of the straight tube portions such that adjacent pairs of the planks encompass the respective straight tube portions. 
     
     
         29 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 1  wherein void spaces within the housing are filled with an inert gas. 
     
     
         39 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 1  wherein void spaces within the housing are filled with graphite powder. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the solar energy receiver comprises two or more receiver panels configured and mounted to form a downward opening cavity. 
     
     
         42 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the cavity is formed with a combination of receiver panels and insulation panels. 
     
     
         43 . The solar energy receiver as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the solar energy receiver comprises a plurality of receiver panels arranged to form an opening which is in a shape of a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         44 - 114 . (canceled)