JP2022537691A - Hybrid Solar High Efficiency Thermodynamic Device and Hydrogen-Oxygen Pair for Multiple Energy Generation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power generation system comprising solar energy collection means and power generation means, the generator comprising an absorber (5) for receiving solar energy for heating a thermodynamic device, said absorber (5) ) are arranged in any heating zone (8) by means of burners.

Description

The present invention ensures heating of the heat transfer fluid to high temperatures up to 500° C. or above 700° C. in a heat collection element with an absorber placed at the focal point of a collector or series of collectors. It relates to the field of solar energy production from concentrator systems.

Generally, the purpose of solar energy conversion devices is to convert the energy of collected solar radiation to provide useful electrical power. To this end, solar energy conversion devices use an absorber, i.e. convert the incident solar electromagnetic energy into another form of useful energy (e.g., electrical energy in the case of photovoltaic and thermoelectric modules, solar water heaters, etc.). It comprises a physical element that has the function of transforming into (such as heat energy in the case of ). However, the useful power delivered by the device depends on factors such as the conversion efficiency of the absorber, the surface area of the absorber allocated to collecting solar radiation (or "collector area"), and the power of the incident solar radiation on the absorber. depends on several factors, including Since conversion efficiency depends on the technology used to manufacture the absorber, in some technologies the useful power is limited by the surface and radiation power allotted for collection.

Solar concentrators (e.g. Cassegrain systems, parabolic mirrors, standard or linear Fresnel lenses, series of lenses, etc.), especially if the surface allotted for collecting the solar radiation is small, e.g. to reduce the cost of the absorber is typically used to concentrate the power of the solar radiation onto the absorber. A solar concentrator is an optical system that concentrates solar radiation into a focal plane, where the collection area of a planar absorber coincides with the focal plane of the concentrator. Concentrating the radiation in the collection area of the absorber makes it possible to compensate for the small collection area.

However, solar energy conversion devices based on solar concentrators are sensitive to the angle of incidence of the solar radiation, and in particular to the reduced collection area of the absorber. In fact, there is always an angle of incidence of the solar radiation defined with respect to the optical axis of the solar concentrator, beyond which the absorber itself no longer collects light.

In addition, because the incidence of the sun varies throughout the day, centralized solar conversion systems are vehicleized to track the progress of the sun in the sky (trackers) to ensure normal solar radiation angles. etc.). However, this type of system requires very precise sun tracking, and small angular deviations (eg, 0.1°) with respect to the sun result in significantly degraded device performance.

PRIOR ART International patent application WO2013142911 is known to those skilled in the art and discloses a hybrid receiver combustor for capturing thermal energy from a solar source and a fuel source, the hybrid receiver combustor using the fuel source A chamber operable as a combustion zone for producing thermal energy by a combustion process, the opening capable of receiving solar concentrated through the chamber, and a fluid seal system associated with the opening. A fluid seal system is operable to establish a fluid seal for restricting fluid flow through the opening during a combustion process.

Also known is U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,481, which discloses a heat engine heater assembly for transferring heat from combustion gases produced by combustion of solar energy and fuel to a working fluid within the heater assembly. and the heater assembly includes:
- a housing forming a chamber;
- a plurality of heater tubes within said chamber for containing a working fluid, said heater tubes being arranged about a central axis, said heater tubes being substantially opaque to incident solar radiation; a plurality of heater tubes forming a surface;
- an opening in the housing that allows the heater tube to be inserted;
a fuel combustor that mixes and burns air and fuel within the housing to produce combustion gases;
- air supply means for supplying air to the fuel combustor;
- fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the fuel combustor;
- combustion gas circulation means for circulating the combustion gas through the heater tube;
- sealing means for inhibiting said combustion gases from exiting said housing through said opening;

Disadvantages of Prior Art A disadvantage of prior art solutions is that when the sun is not out or clouds cover, the level of energy production is greatly reduced and the expected energy supply becomes impossible. . Therefore, these facilities need to work with other facilities or have access to an independent power network to overcome the irregular production interruptions inherent in solar photovoltaic power plants.

Furthermore, the solution described in patent pending WO2006027438 causes significant losses in the primary and secondary working fluid circuits.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, the present invention relates to a system for generating power by means of solar energy collecting means and generating means, the generator comprising an absorber for receiving solar energy for heating the expanding gas, said It is characterized in that the absorber is arranged in an arbitrary heating zone by a burner.

Advantageously, the system according to the invention has all or part of the following characteristics: further comprising hydrolysis means; Designed to accept the resulting thermal energy The gas within the thermodynamic device is placed at the focal point of the concentrator Moreover, means for supplying electrical production means with an additional energy source in a reversible manner Prepare.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A free-piston thermodynamic device that operates with concentrated solar energy, solar fuel (no sun), or biogas or other conventional heat source. Heat source THT and Cold Operates at -253°C, variable speed HP and THT/TBT modules, fog passing detection = preheat, power generation by linear alternator.

NRE (New Renewable Energy) has become indispensable, but solar energy is the most suitable NRE (New Renewable Energy) to meet the world's energy demand and respond to the challenge of climate change. is undoubtedly a source of The present invention relates to the field of converting solar energy into electricity with an efficiency of 60%, ie more than ten times the efficiency of conventional PV (photovoltaic) technology.

Current NRE solutions like PV and CSP (concentrated solar power plants) have very low 'substantial' efficiencies of barely 6-20%, high prices, complex and expensive methods requiring specialists implementation, pollution during manufacturing, the need to make extensive use of limited land resources, the impossibility of recycling components, and the single production of electricity, reduce current and future energy demand. not adequately fulfilled. Known thermodynamic devices require heavy maintenance and have a limited useful life.

Furthermore, these methods require storage means based on molten salts or expensive and contaminated electrochemical cells, which are particularly limited in capacity and have a reduced and reduced service life.

The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a highly intelligent, efficient, durable and environmentally friendly solution for converting solar energy. This is a very simple, efficient and especially innovative method, very low cost, very high efficiency, stored by closed circuit solar fuel with a service life of 40 years. Additionally, the device can be easily manufactured with a near-zero carbon footprint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A thermally insulated vacuum chamber closed by a window transparent to solar radiation accepts solar energy concentrated in an absorber and transforms the solar energy into a high temperature thermal energy that can be 1200°C. to the working fluid, which is hydrogen, in the thermodynamic device.

The vacuum chamber can be insulated by a set of vacuum walls (dewar type) or suitable high temperature insulation. Heat loss is used to generate heat for various applications associated with the device (cryogenic manufacturing) and external applications (cooking, sterilization, hot air, etc.).

Besides solar irradiance, the thermodynamic process is supplied with heat via a burner that receives solar fuel (H2/O2), which creates a strong exothermic reaction that is transferred to the absorber. From a volumetric storage density standpoint, solar fuels are ideally in a liquid cryogenic state and become gaseous after passing through the exchanger, and their very low temperatures correlatively increase the efficiency of thermodynamic devices. enable The burner accepts any other suitable gas mixture (biogas, methane, oil, etc.) and the absorber accepts any suitable heat source.

The combustion residue of solar fuel is water vapour, which can be recycled indefinitely in a closed circuit manner. The heat produced by steam can ideally be recovered via an exchanger, and all heat loss in the present invention is accounted for by a certain number of thermal processes such as cooking, sterilization, and the production of potable water by distillation. and further thermodynamic devices that enable cryogenic production at a full range of temperatures, including cryogenics, the direct application of which is in the liquefaction of solar fuels. be.

The advantage of liquefaction is to obtain at least twice the storage capacity of compression, such as in a 70 MPa tank, where the density is 42 kg H2/m3 and 71 kg H2/m3 at cryogenic temperatures. Another advantage is that storing in a liquefied state avoids the explosion hazards associated with pressurized tanks.

This liquefaction is done with heat loss from the vacuum vessel/absorber via a module such as the Stirling type, thus making it possible to liquefy solar cell fuels almost free of charge, at no additional cost.

Solar fuel is composed of H2 and O2, and the device can be continuously charged with H2 working gas from a thermodynamic device, especially to compensate for losses due to gas diffusion phenomena. These losses usually preclude the use of H2 and require the use of non-renewable, rare and expensive gases such as helium, which has low performance.

The concentrated solar radiation heats up the absorber, over which water trickles and is decomposed into H2 and O2 under the influence of the high heat. part can be generated. A device is then added that allows the separation of the two gaseous compounds.

Furthermore, any thermodynamic device operates with a hot source and a cold source, and the ultimate efficiency is a function of the temperature difference, the greater the temperature difference the higher the ultimate efficiency. The best-known Stirling-type thermodynamic machine makes it possible to obtain an efficiency of 40% at a high temperature of 800°C and a low temperature linked to the ambient temperature, ie about 25°C.

The present invention makes it possible to obtain a higher operating temperature with a hot side temperature of about 1200° C. and a cold side temperature of minus 253° C., the temperature of liquid hydrogen, i.e. achieving an efficiency of more than 60%. make it possible to

High temperatures can come from absorbers that accept heat from concentrated solar flux, flames from solar fuel with hottest peaks of 2800° C., or other heat sources (biogas, methane, oil, etc.). Choosing an absorber made of suitable material allows operation in the 1200° C. temperature class, especially using specific materials and ceramics. The absorber transfers this high temperature to the working fluid, which due to its special properties is hydrogen. The absorber is designed to accept both concentrated solar radiation and flame, or to produce hot solar fuel by thermal decomposition of absorber water.

This thermodynamic device comprises a scheme in which the free piston is coaxial within a cylinder, entirely within a closed cavity filled with H2, a working fluid at high pressure, eg 15 or 20 MPa. A first piston, called the displacer, is placed in close proximity to the absorber. When the gas is heated, its volume increases and moves the displacer piston, and this volume change acts on a piston, called the second working piston, which moves in proportion to the first piston.

As the working gas loops between the two pistons from the outside of the coaxial cylinder, it creates a sharp imbalance that causes the working gas to flow in an exchanger ideally cooled with a liquid H2 circuit or any cryogenic coolant. Displaced, the sudden volume change causes a strong imbalance, causing the displacer piston to return to its original position and the cycle begins again. In the external circuit between the two pistons there is a device called a regenerator whose thermal inertia allows heat transfer to occur which contributes to the energy improvement of the overall efficiency.

Under ideal conditions of physical parameters such as pressure, temperature, stroke and frequency, this phenomenon is self-sustaining. As one of the parameters changes, the power available to the working piston changes and the latter drives the linear alternator, the output power changing proportionally to the amplitude of the stroke.

Highest energy production or efficiency occurs when the device is at resonance, meaning that the assembly is "tuned" and therefore all parameters are perfectly optimized and controlled. do. The latter particularly varies based on solar irradiance, as the output of the assembly varies with the heat output received. The known machine has a mechanical spring and is tuned to resonate at a given frequency, which produces alternating current of constant frequency suitable for electrical networks, such as 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Fixed. As a result, efficiency is limited due to the inability to adjust operating parameters such as resonance, particularly with respect to piston stroke.

Unlike known machines, the device according to the invention makes it possible to maintain this resonance by continuously acting on the stroke of the piston. To do so, the alternator's control electronics generate a back electromotive force, called the CEMF, that allows the alternator's output to vary, acting on the stroke of the piston while creating a spring effect that maintains resonance. This CEMF can be placed on both pistons if desired and is very finely adjustable for maximum efficiency, and each piston then has a static part of the electromagnetic circuit. and a linear "rotor", or moving part of the electromagnetic circuit.

To prevent wear and achieve long life of the device, the piston is moved and centered by the H2 "air cushion" called the H2 cushion. This H2 cushion is created by grooves on the outer circumference of the piston, creating micro-vortices within the cavity that create a localized overpressure and prevent the piston from contacting the cylinder wall. thus avoiding friction and wear, making it possible to produce closed units with a service life of the order of 40 years, such as refrigeration compressors.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a power generation system comprising solar energy collection means and power generation means, the generator comprising an absorber for receiving solar energy for heating a thermodynamic device, said absorber being powered by a burner. It is characterized by being arranged in an arbitrary heating zone.

Advantageously, the system comprises a vacuum chamber with internal/external insulation and anti-reflection windows.

The system also relates to using a cryogenic h2 of about -253°C and a heat source of about 1200°C with an efficiency of 60%.

In a modified example, a piston with a variable stroke is used under resonance by back electromotive force and electronic control.

This is different from mono-energy power sources (PV, CSP, etc.), poly-energy (electricity, cold, solar fuel (trade name), drinking water, UHT sterilization, steam, etc.) I will provide a.

An air/hydrogen cushion is used to reduce piston/cylinder wear.

Recovering the lost heat activates the cryogenic generator and activates the vacuum pump.

The system according to the variant further comprises hydrolysis means for producing hydrogen-oxygen pairs (trade name "solar fuel") by solar H2O condensation on the hot surface.

Compensation for H2 losses is ensured by gas diffusion by sampling a portion of the solar fuel (trade name) and reinjecting it into the thermodynamic module.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment.

The exemplary installation conditions the solar radiation to concentrate it at a point located in a trap formed by a vacuum chamber (3) that opens through a transparent window to the focused solar radiation (4). comprising a solar concentrator system schematically illustrated in the example illustrated by a flat collector (1) forming a fresnel sensor type diffraction grating back to a hemispherical concentrator (2) mounted on a possible structure. .

The vacuum chamber (3) defines an absorptive cavity that limits losses due to diffusion in air. The window (4) is covered with a suitable spectral anti-reflection coating to avoid optical/thermal losses of more than 30%. Common insulation can be obtained, for example, using aerogels, expanded perlite, or certain forms of carbon/graphite, which have excellent thermal insulation properties and are abundant and recyclable materials, thus reducing Cost. It can also be a set of vacuum type dewar chambers.

The chamber (3) contains an absorbent body (5) made of a suitable material such as ceramic. The surface of the absorber (5) has microcavities created during molding to approximate the properties of a black body.

The chamber (3) has multiple interfaces with pipes (6-9) - with pipes (6) for the exit of temperature-adjustable hot air for heating, cooking and all metallurgical or industrial chemical work. a pipe that allows the controlled transfer of hot air to additional equipment for use and also reduces the pressure in the chamber (3) and exhausts the combustion products. (6)
- a pipe (7) for injecting a water mist exposed to temperatures that can reach 2,500°C, using heat to dissociate the atoms that make up the water molecule H2O, cracking or heating the water. A pipe (7) that allows decomposition to yield hydrogen and oxygen, spontaneously chemically separating into the two elements H2 and O. This thermochemical reaction begins at high temperatures (between 850°C and 900°C) and completes at about 2,500°C - a pipe (7) for extracting jets of molecules of different masses, which are Pipe (7), separated using a suitable device to obtain two different streams of hydrogen and oxygen
- A pipe (8) for supplying a pre-stored HH0 burner, which enables the supply of energy to produce a flame of approximately 2800°C, allowing the system to operate even at night and in cloudy skies. A pipe (8) that allows it to work.

The absorption device is modular and allows the use of external heat, for example when the HHO tank is empty, and also allows the use of other fuels such as biogas.

The fog detection and preheat system (10) completes the installation.

Description of Second Embodiment FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

As in the previous examples, it comprises a controlled atmosphere chamber (3) which opens through a window (4) transparent to solar radiation and contains an absorber (5). This absorber (5) generates a high temperature to pyrolyze the water introduced into the chamber (3) in the mist. The energy converter (10) is also thermally coupled. This energy converter (10) comprises a FPSE or other type of thermodynamic device and converts the gas (H2/O2) produced by cogeneration associated with a Stirling liquefaction (or other) device into Allowing liquefaction for storage, then a Stirling (or other) refrigeration unit performs cold work in cogeneration with the consequent loss of liquefier.

Storage tanks of H2 and possibly liquefied O2 provide an energy carrier at night or during bad weather for re-injection via burners. Separation of the gas components obtained by pyrolysis is ensured by cells that separate the gases resulting from pyrolysis and can be either supersonic vortex, HT electrolysis, proton membranes or the like. The absorbent body (5) is by way of example made from eg ceramic or any suitable material.

In the example of Figure 2, the absorber (5) is thermally coupled to a generator (10) consisting of a thermally insulated containment chamber (11), inside which is a coaxial high pressure cylinder (12). placed. This high pressure cylinder (12) is also thermally insulated.

Within this high pressure cylinder (12), a high pressure piston (13) moves to ensure periodic compression of gas that actuates a second stage with a low pressure piston (14).

An air or water exchanger (15, 16) surrounds the containment chamber (11) and the electric coil (17).

Nested cylinders, a common configuration, allow optimization of surface and volume while minimizing head loss. Moreover, this type of arrangement allows for easy manufacturing and assembly. Sealing between the piston/cylinder segments can be achieved by micro-vortex generating grooves.

Possible additional stages of larger size can be used in more common materials such as aluminum, PTFE, steel and cast iron.

The device benefits from continuously adjustable feedback via the generator, which advantageously replaces mechanical springs or connecting rods with CEMF (back electromotive force). Therefore, by changing the electrical parameters, an adjustable stroke becomes available, allowing operation in continuous resonance mode.

Additionally, electromagnetic control of the piston allows easier starting of the piston by acting on it to initiate the starting process.

This type of motor is reversible to generate cold or heat. This configuration is possible using a linear generator as the motor via the control electronics.

The present invention has the appropriate sensors and computers to allow for proactive detection of cloudy walkways and predict operation of additional heat sources (etc.) before solar power is reduced.

Claims (4)

A power generation system comprising solar energy collection means and power generation means, comprising an absorber (5) receiving solar energy for heating a thermodynamic device, said absorber (5) being optionally powered by a burner (8) , characterized in that the surface of said absorber (5) has microcavities. A power generation system with solar energy collection means and power generation means according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a vacuum chamber with internal/external insulation and anti-reflection windows. said absorber (5) is thermally coupled to a generator (10) formed by a thermally insulated containment chamber (11), inside said generator (10) a coaxial high pressure cylinder (12) positioned and a high pressure piston (13) moves in said high pressure cylinder (12) to ensure cyclical compression of gas that actuates a second stage with a low pressure piston (14), A power generation system comprising solar energy harvesting means and power generation means according to claim 1 . Power generation including solar energy collection means and power generation means according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber (3) surrounding the absorber (5) has several interfaces with pipes (6 to 9). A system, wherein the pipe:
- a temperature-controlled hot air outlet pipe (6),
- a pipe for injecting water mist,
- a pipe for extracting jets of molecules of different masses, which are then separated using a suitable device to obtain two different streams of hydrogen and oxygen,
- pipes for feeding previously stored HH0 burners,
is a power generation system.

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