CN102803862A - Solar field and method of assembling a solar field - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically assembling a solar field, comprising the following steps: a) providing at least one solar energy collection unit (100) with a radiation concentrating collector comprising a radiation absorber having an absorber tube (106) for flowing a heat transfer medium therethrough and a parabolic mirror (102) for focusing solar radiation onto the absorber tube of the radiation absorber for heating the heat transfer medium flowing through the absorber tube; b) transporting the solar unit to a target location of the solar field; and c) assembling the solar unit at the target location of the solar field. Furthermore, a solar field with a plurality of prefabricated solar energy collection units is provided.

Description

Solar field and method of assembling a solar field

technical field

The present invention relates to solar fields and methods of assembling solar fields.

Background technique

With concerns about global warming and predictions of depletion of non-renewable energy sources and growing demand for electricity, there is an increasing search for alternative primary energy sources for energy supply. One such energy source is solar energy, and one way to harness it is through solar thermal plants.

One type of solar power plant includes solar fields utilizing "radiant concentration collectors", which concentrate solar radiation by focusing it onto a small area, for example using mirrors or lenses. In this system, reflectors, usually parabolic surfaces, receive and reflect (concentrate) incoming solar radiation onto radiation absorbers that form tubes. The tubular radiation absorber is concentrically surrounded by a treated glass-encapsulated tube to limit heat loss. The collector system further includes means for tracking the sun.

The tubular radiation absorber is made of metal with a coating having a high solar radiation absorption coefficient to maximize the energy transfer transmitted by the solar radiation reflected by the reflector. A heat transfer medium (eg heat transfer fluid (HTF)), typically a liquid like oil, flows within the tubular radiation absorber.

Thermal energy is transported through the HTF to provide energy to, for example, a thermal power plant to drive one or more of its power generation systems to produce electricity in a conventional manner, for example by coupling the shaft of each turbine to a generator. An example of such a thermal power plant is a steam power plant, which uses the thermal energy supplied to it to generate steam, which drives its turbine, which in turn drives an electric generator, thus producing electricity.

In a solar field, HTF flows inside a tube, of which a tubular radiation absorber forms part. The entire length of the tube should be designed to limit heat loss therethrough. Surrounded over most of its length by a tube or conduit of larger diameter, the space within is evacuated in order to limit heat loss due to convection.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple and cheap method for constructing a solar field. Another object of the invention is a solar field, which can be manufactured cheaper than prior art solar fields.

These objects are achieved by the claims.

According to the invention, a method for the automatic assembly of a solar field, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one solar collection unit with a concentrated radiation collector comprising a radiation absorber having a Absorber tubes through which the heat transfer medium flows and parabolic mirrors for focusing solar radiation onto the absorber tubes of the radiation absorber in order to heat the heat transfer medium flowing through the absorber tubes; b) transporting solar units to target locations in the solar field and c) assembling solar units at target locations in the solar field.

Providing a solar unit includes manufacturing a solar unit. The location of manufacture is different from where the solar unit is used.

In a preferred embodiment, a solar collection unit is used with tube support means for supporting the absorber tube and/or reflector support means for supporting the parabolic mirror and/or for supporting the parabolic mirror according to A mirror tracker where the beam direction of solar radiation tracks a parabolic mirror.

In another preferred embodiment, an inspection of said solar energy collection unit is performed prior to transporting said solar energy unit to said target location. Inspecting the solar energy collection unit preferably comprises measuring at least one characteristic of the absorber tube and/or measuring at least one characteristic of the parabolic mirror. Such characteristics are, for example, the absorption rate of sunlight by an absorber tube or the absorption rate of sunlight by a parabolic mirror. Before installing the solar unit, perform a test on the solar unit. Through this step, cost savings can be achieved since only the tested solar units are used in the solar field.

In another preferred embodiment, a plurality of solar collection units are provided and assembled together at target locations in the solar field. In particular, all solar units of the solar field are manufactured and tested before the solar units are used to construct the solar field.

For transporting the solar units, in principle different transport vehicles can be used. However, a specially designed transport vehicle for transporting the solar energy collection unit is preferred. The vehicle is designed such that the solar unit can be supported in a labor-saving manner.

According to another aspect of the invention, a solar field having a plurality of prefabricated solar collection units is provided. The solar collection units are assembled, wherein each solar unit includes a radiation concentrating collector including a radiation absorber having absorber tubes for passing a heat transfer medium therethrough and for absorbing solar energy Radiation is focused onto an absorption tube of a radiation absorber to heat a parabolic mirror of a heat transfer medium flowing through said absorption tube.

Description of drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention are disclosed by the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the schematic drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical solar concentrator as part of a solar thermal power plant;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a heat collection element (HCE) taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 .

Detailed ways

As shown in FIG. 1 , a solar concentrator 100 composed of a plurality of solar collection units is provided. The solar concentrator 100 is part of a solar thermal power plant (not shown) and includes a reflective surface of a mirror 102 which may include a plurality of light concentrating devices (LCDs) 104 . The reflective surface 102 extends straight and/or along a curved path for tens of meters and has a parabolic cross-section. The mirror is a parabolic mirror. Thus, a tracking mechanism (tracker, not shown) is provided to ensure that the reflective surface 102 faces the sun, thereby concentrating the solar radiation impinging thereon on its geometric focus. A heat collecting element (HCE, absorber tube of a radiation absorber) 106 is provided along the direction of the focus of the paraboloid of the reflective surface 102, thus receiving concentrated solar radiation.

As shown in Figure 2, the HCE 106 includes a tubular radiant absorber (TRA) 110 through which a heat transfer fluid flows and which is surrounded along its length by a glass tube 112. This tube is called a UVAC (Universal Vacuum Air Collector). The heat transfer fluid used to heat the working fluid in a separate circuit to drive the power generation cycle flows in the TRA. The heat transfer fluid is heated by concentrated solar radiation. The space between the TRA 110 and the glass tube 112 is evacuated to minimize heat loss through convective cooling of the heat transfer fluid in the TRA. Each end of glass tube 112 may be surrounded by a flexible outer shield (not shown).

For example, HCE support rods (absorber supports) 108 are provided at regular intervals along the length of the HCE to keep the HCE 106 at or near the focus of the parabola of the reflective surface 102. They are designed to pivot about their bottom ends in the direction in which the HCE extends.

The solar collection unit (solar field basic assembly) is about 12 meters long and 5.7 meters wide, including the main torque tube, reflector support and reflector. For example, 8 solar collector units are assembled together to form a solar collector assembly (SCA). The metal plinth rests on a concrete foundation, holding the parabolic mirror. The drive tower is where the hydraulic system is located to rotate the entire solar collection assembly in accordance with the movement of the sun. All electrical & communication panels are installed on these towers.

With the invention, a solar field that is part of an overall power plant can be assembled automatically.

The parabolic mirror (parabola) and three UVACs will be assembled on site at the Portable Assembly Building (PAB) and dispatched to the solar field to be installed according to construction drawings. The construction drawings also define the dispatch of the other components of the solar field (towers, jumpers, ball joints, risers) in order to coordinate their timing and installation to their location in the solar field. The parabolic reflector delivered at the exit of the PAB will be transported to the solar field on a specially designed parabolic reflector carrier (transport vehicle).

SCA includes metal components fabricated from steel structures by standard processes. The drive system is installed on the assembly line. The final stop includes a battery of tests to check and run the solar collection unit to guarantee the required performance of the solar collection unit.

Optical accuracy is achieved by drilling holes and installing the drilled parts on an automated assembly line.

The assembly line includes special equipment developed for the installation of parabolic components. At the end of the assembly line, a measuring station checks the final parabolic accuracy.

Special jigs were developed to transport the parabolic reflectors from the line to the truck and subsequently lift them onto the SCA.

The use of specially designed tools and vehicles with respect to the method of the present invention provides several advantages over existing methods that use traditional tools primarily by human power:

· Higher precision;

· Better quality assurance;

· Less assembly time;

· Less manpower;

· Less chance for human error;

· Less loss;

· Less sensitive to weather conditions;

· The assembly process is more flexible;

Better control of the assembly process;

· Better control of the entire process (project schedule, component flow, inventory management, etc.);

· Efficient statistics of assembly;

· The safety of the whole process;

· Reliability of the manufacturing method and reliability of the resulting solar field.

Claims (7)

1. method that is used for automatic assembling solar field, this method may further comprise the steps:

A) at least one solar energy collection unit with radiation centralized collection device is provided; This radiation centralized collection device comprises radiation absorber, and radiation absorber has and is used for absorption tube that heat transmission medium flows through and with being used for solar radiation focused on the absorption tube of said radiation absorber so that the parabolic lens of the heat transmission medium of said absorption tube is flow through in heating;

B) solar units is transported to the target location of solar energy field; With

C) assemble said solar units in the target location of solar energy field.

2. method according to claim 1, wherein used solar energy collection unit have and are used to support the pipe bracing or strutting arrangement of said absorption tube and/or are used to the mirror tracker that supports the reflector support structure of said parabolic lens and/or be used for following the tracks of according to the beam direction of solar radiation said parabolic lens.

3. according to claim 1 or the described method of claim 2, wherein before said solar units is transported to said target location, carry out the inspection of said solar energy collection unit.

4. method according to claim 3 checks that wherein said solar energy collection unit comprises at least one characteristic of measuring said absorption tube and/or at least one characteristic of measuring said parabolic lens.

5. according to the described method of one of claim 1-4, a plurality of solar energy collection unit are provided wherein, and they are fitted together in the target location of said solar energy field.

6. according to the described method of one of aforementioned claim, wherein, use the specially designed vehicle that transports in order to transport said solar energy collection unit.

7. solar energy field with a plurality of prefabricated solar energy collection unit that fit together; Wherein each solar units comprises radiation centralized collection device; This radiation centralized collection device comprises radiation absorber, and radiation absorber has and is used to let absorption tube that heat transmission medium therefrom flows through with being used for solar radiation focused on the absorption tube of radiation absorber the parabolic lens that flows through the heat transmission medium of said absorption tube with heating.

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