Shipping systems and methods for insulated solar energy receivers

Abstract

Shipping systems and methods associated with solar concentrator receivers are disclosed herein. Representative securement devices extend into the interior of a receiver segment at both ends of the receiver segment. A first retention element and a second retention element, each having a first portion and a second portion configured to stack on top of each other, are configured to receive a corresponding securement device in notches manufactured into the first and the second retention elements. The first and the second retention elements can be configured to receive a vertical stability element to clamp the first portions to corresponding second portions, thereby retaining the securement devices. In these and other embodiments, a third retention element can be stacked on top of the first retention element and a fourth retention element can be positioned vertically adjacent to the first retention element.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for transporting at least one receiver segment, the system comprising:
 a first securement device and a second securement device, each positionable to grip an inside surface of an end of a receiver segment;   a first retention element and a second retention element, each having a first portion and a second portion,   wherein
 the second portion of the first retention element is stackable on top of the first portion of the first retention element, 
 the second portion of the second retention element is stackable on top of the first portion of the second retention element, 
 the first securement device is coupleable to the first retention element, and 
 the second securement device is coupleable to the second retention element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second securement devices each comprise:
 a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is threaded; 
 a collet attached to the second end of the rod, wherein the collet includes
 a proximal portion having a first width greater than an interior diameter of the insulated receiver tube and a second width less than the interior diameter and corresponding to a recess of the proximal portion, 
 a distal portion between the proximal portion and the second end of the rod, wherein the distal portion is threaded, and 
 a middle portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and 
 
 a stationary element between the proximal portion and the first end of the rod, 
 wherein
 the first and the second securement devices are positionable to extend a first distance into an interior of the receiver segment defined by the distance between the second end of the rod and the recess of the proximal portion, and 
 the middle portion of the collet is configured to moveable outwardly away from the rod as the distal portion is brought closer to the proximal portion by rotating the rod. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of claim I wherein each portion of the first and the second retention elements comprises:
 a first vertical side and a second vertical side, wherein each vertical side includes a first notch in a top edge portion of the vertical side and a second notch aligned with the first notch and in a bottom edge portion of the vertical side; and   a horizontal portion,   wherein
 the first vertical side, the second vertical side, and the horizontal portion are positioned in an H-shape, 
 at least one of the first notch or the second notch of the first retention element is positioned to receive the first securement device, and 
 at least one of the first notch or the second notch of the second retention element is positioned to receive the second securement device. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the first notch or the second notch is triangular. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the first notch or the second notch is rectangular. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the first securement device includes a flat positioned to interface with a side of at least one of the first notch or the second notch of the first portion and the second portion, respectively, and to inhibit rotation of the first securement device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded rod, wherein each portion of the first retention element includes a hole positioned to receive the threaded rod to clamp the first portion to the second portion thereby retaining the first securement device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third retention element having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the third retention element are positioned adjacent to the first and second portions of the first retention element, respectively, thereby forming a first row of retention elements. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a horizontal stabilization element attached to the first and the third retention elements, wherein the horizontal stabilization element is positioned to hold the first retention element to the third retention element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the horizontal stabilization element includes a first attachment end proximate to the first retention element and a second attachment end proximate to the third retention element, and wherein at least one of the first and the second attachment ends are positioned to attach to a shipping container. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third retention element having a first portion and a second portion stacked on top of at least the first portion of the first retention element, thereby forming a first column of retention elements, wherein the third retention element is positioned to receive a third securement device attached to an end of a receiver segment. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the first portion of the third retention element is the second portion of the first retention element. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a capping retention element stacked directly on top of the second portion of the third retention element, wherein
 the capping retention element includes a first notch in a bottom edge portion of the capping retention element;   the second portion of the third retention element includes a second notch in a top edge portion of the third retention element, the second notch being aligned with the first notch; and   the capping retention element and the third retention element are positioned to receive a third securement device in the first notch and the second notch.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one spacer positioned between vertically adjacent receiver segments to prevent vertically adjacent receiver segments from contacting one another. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one truss member attached to the first and the second retention elements, wherein
 each truss member comprises:
 a rectangular frame having two elongated sides generally in parallel with one another, and 
 a plurality of truss elements each attached to each of the elongated sides; and 
   the at least one truss member is positioned to hold the first retention element to the second retention element.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the receiver segment, the receiver segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein
 the first securement device extends a first distance into an interior of the receiver segment at the first end; and   the second securement device extends a second distance into the interiorof he receiver segment at the second end.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the receiver segment includes a receiver tube positioned annularly within an insulating tube. 
     
     
         18 . A method of packaging one or more receiver segments, the method comprising:
 installing a first securement device into a first end of a first receiver segment;   installing a second securement device into a second end of the first receiver segment;   positioning the first securement device into a first notch of a first portion of a first retention element;   positioning the second securement device into a first notch of a first portion of a second retention element;   stacking a second portion of the first retention element onto the first portion of the first retention element, wherein the first securement device is positioned in a first notch of the second portion of the first retention element; and   stacking a second portion of the second retention element onto the first portion of the second retention element, wherein the second securement device is positioned in a first notch of the second portion of the second retention element.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising installing a truss element to attach the first retention element to the second retention element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising installing a vertical stabilization element into the first retention element via vertical stabilization holes in the first portion and the second portion of the first retention element. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 installing a third securement device into a first end of a second receiver segment; and   positioning the third securement device into a second notch of the second portion of the first retention element.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising installing a spacer component on the first receiver component before positioning the third and the fourth securement devices. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising stacking a capping retention element onto the second portion of the first retention element, wherein the third securement device is positioned in a first notch of the capping retention element. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising installing a vertical stabilization element into the capping retention element and the first retention element via vertical stabilization holes in the first retention element and the capping retention element. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first securement device includes a flat, and wherein the first securement device is installed into the first receiver segment and positioned within the first notch of the first portion such that the flat interfaces with at least one side of the first notch and holds the first receiver segment in a first rotational orientation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 installing a third securement device into a first end of a second receiver segment;   positioning a first portion of a third retention element vertically adjacent to the first portion of the first retention element;   positioning the third securement device into a first notch of the first portion of the third retention element; and   stacking a second portion of the third retention element onto the first portion of the third retention element, wherein the third securement device is positioned in a first notch of the second portion of the third retention element.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising installing a horizontal stabilization element across the first retention element and the third retention element. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising attaching at least one of the first retention element and the third retention element to a shipping container via the horizontal stabilization element.