Catalyzed hot gas heating system for pipes

Abstract

A heating system for heating a fluid pipe in an industrial process system includes at least one gas tank fluidically connected to a first catalyst via a gas supply pipe. A first pipe heating zone is fluidically connected to the first catalyst via a first hot gas pipe. The first pipe heating zone has at least one passage extending along a first portion of the fluid pipe, in thermal contact with the fluid pipe.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of using solar energy and catalyzed hot gas to generate electricity, the method comprising:
 (a) using solar energy to heat a heat transfer medium;   (b) using a catalyzed chemical reaction to provide a heated gas;   (c) using the heated gas to heat the heat transfer medium;   (d) using the heated heat transfer medium to generate electricity.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the heat transfer medium comprises molten salt. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein step (b) comprises:
 mixing a fuel with compressed gas to create a gaseous mixture;   catalytically combusting the gaseous mixture to produce the heated gas.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the fuel is hydrogen or methane. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein step (b) comprises catalytically combusting Tridyne. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein step (d) comprises transferring heat from the heated gas to the heat transfer medium without mixing the catalyzed hot gas with the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein steps (b) and (c) occur responsive to solar conditions. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein catalyst comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         29 . A concentrated solar power generation system comprising:
 a central receiver;   at least one solar collector system that directs concentrated solar energy at the central receiver;   a heat transfer medium that is heated by the solar energy directed at the central receiver;   a catalyzed hot gas as a supplemental heat source and controllable to supplement heating of the heat transfer medium;   a steam turbine generator that converts the heated heat transfer medium into electrical energy.   
     
     
         30 . The concentrated solar power system of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one tank to store the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         31 . The concentrated solar power system of  claim 29 , wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a molten salt. 
     
     
         32 . The concentrated solar power system of  claim 29 , wherein the catalyzed hot gas is generated by a heating system comprising a
 a combustible fuel   a compressed gas   a catalyst that catalytically combusts the combustible fuel and compressed gas to provide a hot gas.   
     
     
         33 . The concentrated solar power system of  claim 32 , wherein the fuel is hydrogen or methane. 
     
     
         34 . The concentrated solar power system of  claim 32 , wherein the catalyst comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         35 . A concentrated solar power generation system, comprising:
 a plurality of heliostats that provide concentrated solar energy;   a combustible fuel   a catalyst that catalytically combusts the combustible fuel to provide a heated gas;   a heat transfer medium that is heated by the heated gas and the concentrated solar energy, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a molten salt; and   a steam turbine generator that converts thermal energy from the heated heat transfer medium into electrical energy.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the combustible fuel is hydrogen or methane. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the catalyst is a noble metal. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the molten salt comprises alkaline earth fluorides and alkali metal fluorides and combinations thereof.