Device for collecting solar energy by means of a concentrator of the nonimaging type

Abstract

The present invention concerns a device for collecting solar energy by means of a concentrator of the nonimaging type and a receiver for the transfer of energy by heat exchange with a fluid which operates, independently, a thermodynamic cycle for the exploitation of energy, said concentrator comprising an inlet area, an underlying outlet area and an inner space between said inlet area and said outlet area; said receiver being positioned under said concentrator and said inner space of the concentrator and said receiver being connected by said outlet area, characterized in that said inner space of the concentrator and said receiver are in fluid communication through said outlet area, a plurality of solid particles are present inside said receiver, and said device for collecting solar energy comprises means apt to take a part of said solid particles from said receiver and to put them from below inside said inner space of said concentrator, said solid particles subsequently returning, by gravity, into said receiver, passing through said outlet area.

1 . Device for collecting solar energy by means of a concentrator of the nonimaging type and a receiver for the transfer of energy by heat exchange with a fluid which operates, independently, a thermodynamic cycle for the exploitation of energy, said concentrator comprising an inlet area, an underlying outlet area and an inner space between said inlet area and said outlet area; said receiver being positioned under said concentrator and said inner space of the concentrator and said receiver being connected by said outlet area, wherein said inner space of the concentrator and said receiver are in fluid communication through said outlet area, a plurality of solid particles are present inside said receiver, and said device for collecting solar energy comprises means apt to take a part of said solid particles from said receiver and to put them from below inside said inner space of said concentrator, said solid particles subsequently returning, by gravity, into said receiver, passing through said outlet area. 
     
     
         2 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 1 , wherein said means apt to take said solid particles from said receiver and to put them from below inside said inner space of said concentrator comprise an input device. 
     
     
         3 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 1 , wherein said means apt to take said solid particles from said receiver and to put them from below inside said inner space of said concentrator are made of streams of gases, vapours, or by a combination of the same, apt to raise said solid particles up to a height comprised between said inlet area and said outlet area of the concentrator. 
     
     
         4 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 2 , wherein said receiver and said means apt to take said solid particles from said receiver and put them inside said inner space of said concentrator are made of a spouted bed. 
     
     
         5 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 1 , wherein said concentrator is a CPC concentrator (Compound Parabolic Concentrator). 
     
     
         6 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 1 , wherein said solid particles are made of a material with high solar absorption and low emissivity. 
     
     
         7 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 1 , wherein said solid particles are made of oxides of the metallic type. 
     
     
         8 . Device for collecting solar energy according to  claim 7 , wherein said solid particles are made of chromite ((Mg,Fe)(Cr,Al) 2 O 4 ).