Concentrated Solar Power System Receiver

Abstract

Systems and methods for concentrating and storing solar energy are provided. A solar energy receiver for use with the systems and methods may include a container for holding a solar absorption material, such as a phase change material, and a cooled cover disposed above the container for condensing and collecting vaporized phase change material collected along an underside of the cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A solar energy receiver forming an inlet aperture disposed along a side thereof, the solar energy receiver further comprising:
 a container structure adapted to contain a molten salt pond with an exposed surface, the container structure defining an opening that permits passage of solar radiation directly from the inlet aperture therethrough to impinge on at least one of:   the exposed surface and penetrate into the pond; and   an underside of the any cover prior to impinging on the exposed surface and penetrating into the pond; and   a vertically movable divider plate disposed horizontally in the container structure so as to divide the container structure into an upper portion and a lower portion, the divider plate forming an annular gap space that allows flow of the molten salt between the upper and lower portions of the container,   wherein the exposed surface is exposed across an entirety of the opening of the container structure and the exposed surface is exposed to ambient environment.   
     
     
         16 . The solar energy receiver of  claim 15 , further comprising a door for closing the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The receiver of  claim 15 , further comprising a vertical motion actuation system to control a vertical position of the divider plate. 
     
     
         18 . The receiver of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller for driving the actuation system to move the divider plate. 
     
     
         19 . The receiver of  claim 18 , wherein the controller moves the divider plate so as to maintain a high temperature region of the salt in the upper portion of the container structure as solar energy is added and thermal energy is extracted by flowing molten salt from the upper portion, through a heat exchanger, and back to the lower portion of the container structure. 
     
     
         20 . The receiver of  claim 19 , wherein the controller moves the divider plate such that a location of the divider plate substantially coincides with a boundary between thermally stratified hot and cold molten salt layers in the container structure. 
     
     
         21 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the divider plate is neutrally buoyant when the receiver is filled with molten salt. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein a radial dimension of the annular gap space is selected so as to prevent mechanical binding between the divider plate and the container. 
     
     
         28 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein a radial dimension of the annular gap space is selected such that relative motion of the divider plate within the container promotes salt plume expulsion and mixing on a hot side of the divider plate. 
     
     
         29 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The receiver of  claim 15 , further comprising an air curtain disposed across the inlet aperture.