BrightSource Industries (ISRAEL), Ltd. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150015975 | HELIOSTATS, AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLY THEREOF - A solar energy collection system can include a plurality of heliostats configured to reflect sunlight to a target mounted on a tower. Each of the heliostats can include (i) a mirror assembly, which can include at least one mirror, at least one support arm and a pair of diagonals attached to each end of the support arm, the support arm attached to the backside of the mirror along its entire length, (ii) an elongated central support element, (iii) at least one connecting element configured to attach the mirror assembly to the elongated central support element. The location of attachment points on the at least one connecting element can define the curvature of the mirror in at least one dimension. | 01-15-2015 |
20140326236 | HIGH ABSORPTIVITY, HEAT RESISTANT COATINGS AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS - A paint formulation can include an inorganic oxide-based pigment and an organic binder. The organic binder can be irreversibly converted to an inorganic binder upon curing of the paint formulation at a temperature greater than 200° C. The oxide-based pigment and/or the paint formulation itself can have an absorptivity of at least 80% with respect to the AM 1.5 spectrum. The paint formulation can also include at least one organic solvent, an inorganic filler, and/or at least one additive. Such paint formulations may be stable at high temperatures (e.g., 750° C.) and can be used as solar-radiation-absorbing heat-resistant coatings for components of a solar tower system. | 11-06-2014 |
20140152024 | CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER PLANT WITH INDEPENDENT SUPERHEATER - Steam can be generated using insolation by a solar collection system. A thermal storage system can store enthalpy in insolation-generated steam at times and can generate steam from stored enthalpy at other times. During some operating periods, a gas-fired superheater can further heat the generated steam to provide superheated steam to generate electricity. Steam at a substantially uniform electricity generating temperature may be produced selectively and at different operating periods from insolation only, from insolation and gas firing, from transfer of enthalpy from a thermal storage system and gas firing, or from a combination of insolation, stored enthalpy transfer, and gas firing. Operating periods can be characterized by at least one of an insolation level, a time of day, or a stage in the operation process. The generated steam can be used in the production of electricity. | 06-05-2014 |
20140146741 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS IN A SOLAR FIELD - Embodiments relate to methods and systems of controlling and operating a wirelessly controlled solar field. By placing a higher density of access points in regions close to the solar field border, communication interference may be mitigated. A method of mitigating interference between an access point and a heliostat in a wireless communication system located in a solar field, may include in a first section of the solar field, deploying a first plurality of access points such that each of the access points is a first distance from its neighbor; and in a second section of the solar field, deploying a second plurality of access points such that each of the access points is a second distance from its neighbor. The first distance is greater than the second distance and the second section of the solar field may be closer to a perimeter of the solar field. | 05-29-2014 |
20140141236 | SOLAR-RADIATION-ABSORBING FORMULATIONS AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS - Paint formulations having a high absorptivity with respect to solar radiation are disclosed herein. The disclosed paint formulations are also thermally and mechanically durable, thereby enabling the paint formulations to be used on components in solar thermal applications where exposure to high temperatures and environmental conditions may be an issue. The paint formulation can include an oxide-based pigment, an organic binder, one or more additives, an inorganic filler, and/or an organic solvent. The pigment can have a relatively high absorptivity with respect to light having a wavelength in the range from 250 nm to 3000 nm. Curing of the paint formulation can irreversibly convert the organic binder into an inorganic binder. | 05-22-2014 |
20140083413 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAPPING CLOUD SHADING ON THE GROUND IN A LARGE AREA - Shading by clouds can affect the amount of flux on a heliostat which in turn can affect the energy generated by the solar device. Real-time monitoring of cloud shading of at least a portion of the solar field can allow for more efficient operation of the entire solar power system. For example, diffuse solar radiation and global horizontal radiation may be measured in certain parts of the field in order to estimate the direct normal radiation at any point in the solar field. A cloud map generated based on an image taken of the cloud may be used in calculating the direct normal radiation. By knowing the amount of direct normal radiation at any point in the solar field, the solar energy system can be changed or maintained. For example, the operating parameter may include aiming directions for one or more of the heliostats. | 03-27-2014 |
20140026566 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SOLAR STEAM SYSTEM - Methods, apparatus and systems for operating a solar steam system in response to a detected or predicted reduced or impending reduced insolation event are disclosed herein. Examples of transient reduced insolation events include but are not limited to cloud-induced reduction in insolation, dust-induced reduction in insolation, and insolation events caused by solar eclipses. In some embodiments, in response to the detecting or predicting, steam flow is regulated within the solar steam system to reduce a flow rate into a steam turbine. Alternatively or additionally, one or more heliostats may be responsively redirected onto a steam superheater or steam re-heater. | 01-30-2014 |
20140000215 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INSERTING SUPPORT MEMBERS INTO THE GROUND | 01-02-2014 |
20130307273 | SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM INCLUDING THREE OR MORE RESERVOIRS - A first period may be characterized by relatively high insolation, while a second period may be characterized by relatively low insolation. At the first period, steam is generated using insolation. A portion of the steam produces electricity, while a second portion of the steam is directed to a heat exchanger in thermal communication with thermal reservoirs. A storage fluid is flowed through the heat exchanger from a first reservoir to a second reservoir and/or from the second reservoir to a third reservoir such that enthalpy in the steam second portion is transferred to the storage fluid. At a second period, the storage fluid is reverse-flowed through the heat exchanger from the third to the second reservoir and/or from the second to the first reservoir such that enthalpy in the storage fluid generates steam to produce electricity. Enthalpy during high insolation periods can thus be stored for use during low insolation periods. | 11-21-2013 |
20130292084 | INTEGRATED SOLAR ENERGY THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHODS - A solar energy thermal storage system can include a receiver in which a first storage medium is heated by insolation. First and second thermal storage reservoirs for a second storage medium can be provided. A first heat exchanger can be configured to transfer heat in the first storage medium to the second storage medium. A buffer tank can be located at a height above the receiver and can be fluidically connected to the first heat exchanger at its inlet and the receiver at its outlet. A second heat exchanger can be configured to transfer heat between the second storage medium and pressurized water and/or steam. The use of a buffer tank in conjunction with the first storage medium increases the overall efficiency of the system and results in a higher temperature for the thermal storage system, which can be used to generate superheated steam. | 11-07-2013 |
20130285380 | THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHODS - Insolation can be used to heat a solar fluid for use in generating electricity. During periods of relatively higher insolation, excess enthalpy in a superheated solar fluid can be stored in a thermal storage system for subsequent use during periods of relatively lower insolation or at times when supplemental electricity generation is necessary. Enthalpy from superheated solar fluid can be transferred to the thermal storage system so as to heat a storage medium therein, but the enthalpy transfer can be limited such that the superheated solar fluid does not condense or only partially condenses. The remaining enthalpy in the de-superheated solar fluid can be used for other applications, such as, but not limited to, preheating the solar fluid for an evaporating solar receiver, supplementing the input to a superheating solar receiver, industrial applications, resource extraction, and/or fuel production. | 10-31-2013 |
20130239952 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING SOLAR TOWER SYSTEMS - A solar energy system can be controlled and operated responsively to detected and/or predicted changes in insolation conditions. By placing an imaging aperture of an imaging device as part of an external surface of a solar receiver, an orientation of each heliostat in a heliostat field can be determined. The imaging device can be used to image at least a portion of the heliostat field based on light passing through the imaging aperture, which is proximate to, adjacent to, or at least partially within the capture area of the solar receiver so as to acquire at least one image indicating a change in a distribution of insolation levels falling on the portion of the field. Characteristics of heliostats within the portion of the field can be calculated based on the at least one image. Aiming directions of one or more can be changed based on the calculated characteristics. | 09-19-2013 |
20130192589 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SOLAR STEAM SYSTEM DURING REDUCED-INSOLATION EVENTS - A solar energy system can be controlled during periods of reduced insolation. For example, one or more environmental condition sensors can detect environmental properties indicating current or expected insolation levels and can generate at least one signal indicating a current or impending transient reduced-insolation event. The at least one signal can be received (for example, by a controller) from the sensors that indicates changes in insolation. Responsively to the at least one signal, characteristics of a current reduced insolation event or of an impending transient reduced-insolation event can be calculated. In response to the calculated characteristics, a quantity of available insolation can be calculated. An attemperation flow rate in the solar steam system can be controlled responsively to the calculated quantity of available insolation such that the temperature of steam entering the steam turbines is maintained within a predefined range. | 08-01-2013 |
20130139804 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL AND CALIBRATION OF A SOLAR POWER TOWER SYSTEM - A solar energy collection system can include a plurality of heliostats configured to reflect sunlight to a target mounted on a tower. Each of the heliostats can have a heliostat controller configured to control a respective heliostat so that the sunlight reflected therefrom is directed to at least one of a plurality of cameras. The cameras can be oriented to image the heliostat. A second controller can be configured to compute geometry data that defines a geometry of the surface of the heliostat from captured images thereof. The geometry data can designate a plurality of subsections of the surface. The computing by the second controller can include storing data indicating sections of the captured images corresponding to the plurality of subsections of the heliostat. The second controller can also calculate data indicating respective surface normals of each of said subsections of each of said heliostat. | 06-06-2013 |
20130133641 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR WIND-RESPONSIVE OPERATION OF SUN-TRACKING ASSEMBLIES - The present disclosure relates to operating sun-tracking assemblies in response to one or more wind parameters or conditions. By judiciously reorienting one or more sun-tracking assemblies in response to detected or predicted wind conditions, the potential for wind- damage may be reduced. Some of the sun-tracking assemblies may act as a wind buffer for more fragile or sensitive components, thereby protecting them from damage. Such wind- sensitive components may be other sun-tracking assemblies arranged downwind from the reoriented assemblies. The downwind sun-tracking assemblies may continue to operate normally or substantially normally (i.e., to track the sun) despite the presence of the wind. During times of reduced or no wind, the sun-tracking assemblies may continue to track the sun until wind conditions require reorientation. | 05-30-2013 |
20130091842 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR OPERATING A SOLAR THERMAL ELECTRICITY GENERATING SYSTEM - In a startup period for a solar thermal electricity generating system, a non-solar source of steam heats a downstream receiver (for example, a superheating receiver) prior to insolation being available. Insolation, once available, heats an upstream receiver (for example, an evaporator). The upstream receiver can be arranged in a recirculation loop with a steam separation drum, which may be bypassed during the initial heating of the upstream receiver by insolation. Once sufficient temperature and pressure have been reached, steam from the upstream receiver is directed to the downstream receiver by way of the steam separation drum to replace the non-solar source of steam. Heating of the downstream receiver using steam from the upstream receiver continues until a threshold temperature and pressure are reached. Insolation is then directed at both the upstream and downstream receivers to generate steam for electricity production by a turbine. | 04-18-2013 |
20130087139 | SOLAR FIELD LAYOUT AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARRANGING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING HELIOSTATS THEREIN - At least some of the heliostats can be arranged and operated in such a manner that the maintenance vehicle can pass through the solar field along conditional pathways. The arrangement and control of the heliostats to allow access to heliostats by a maintenance vehicle can enable different heliostat patterns as compared with conventional arrangements. In particular, heliostats in one section of the solar field, which may be less geometrically efficient, can be arranged at a higher density as compared to heliostat in another section of the solar field. In addition, the locations of heliostats in various sections of the field can be optimized based on ground coverage as viewed from a vantage point in the solar tower and/or revenue generation without constraining the locations to particular line or arc patterns. | 04-11-2013 |
20120227401 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A SOLAR STEAM SYSTEM - The disclosed subject matter relates to methods and systems for operating a solar steam system in response to a detected or predicted reduced insolation condition (for example, sunset or a cloud condition). In some embodiments, for a period of time, enthalpy stored within a solid material of a conduit via which steam travels en route to a steam turbine is used to heat the steam to drive the turbine. In some embodiments, a net migration of heliostats away from the steam superheater is carried out in response to the detected or predicted reduced insolation condition. | 09-13-2012 |
20120024282 | METHOD AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SOLAR POWER TOWER SYSTEM - A solar energy collection system includes a primary solar receiver and a secondary solar receiver. The secondary solar receiver generates steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. The primary solar receiver receives the generated steam from the secondary solar receiver and superheats the steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. A plurality of heliostat-mounted mirrors reflects incident solar radiation onto one of the primary and secondary solar receivers. A controller aims a portion of the heliostat-mounted mirrors at the primary solar receiver such that a predetermined thermal profile is provided on a surface of the primary solar receiver. | 02-02-2012 |
20110220091 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM TO ACCOUNT FOR CLOUD SHADING - Images representative of cloud shadows with respect to a field of heliostats can be used to adjust operation of a solar energy system. For example, images of a field of heliostats and shadows produced by the clouds can be obtained. Additionally or alternatively, images of the sky and clouds can be obtained. The images can be analyzed to determine a shading parameter. Based on the shading parameter, an operating parameter of the solar energy system can be changed or maintained. For example, the operating parameter may include aiming directions for one or more of the heliostats. Cloud characteristics in addition to the location of the cloud shadow can be used in determining the shading parameter. Such characteristics can be used in determining if and/or how to change the operating parameter of the solar energy system. | 09-15-2011 |
20110126883 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ENERGY FROM INSOLATION - Light management systems and related methods disclosed herein are able to re-direct solar insolation. In some embodiments, a system for harvesting insolation may include a solar target, such as one or more photovoltaic assemblies and/or bioreactor targets. In some embodiments, a substantially uniform light distribution is provided within and/or on the targets. | 06-02-2011 |
20110088396 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SOLAR STEAM SYSTEM - Methods, apparatus and systems for operating a solar steam system in response to a detected or predicted reduced or impending reduced insolation event are disclosed herein. Examples of transient reduced insolation events include but are not limited to cloud-induced reduction in insolation, dust-induced reduction in insolation, and insolation events caused by solar eclipses. In some embodiments, in response to the detecting or predicting, steam flow is regulated within the solar steam system to reduce a flow rate into a steam turbine. Alternatively or additionally, one or more heliostats may be responsively redirected onto a steam superheater or steam re-heater. | 04-21-2011 |
20100282242 | SOLAR POWER TOWER SYSTEM OPERATION AND CONTROL - A solar energy collection system includes a primary solar receiver and a secondary solar receiver. The secondary solar receiver generates steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. The primary solar receiver receives the generated steam from the secondary solar receiver and superheats the steam using energy from solar radiation incident thereon. A plurality of heliostat-mounted mirrors reflects incident solar radiation onto one of the primary and secondary solar receivers. A controller aims a portion of the heliostat-mounted mirrors at the primary solar receiver such that a predetermined thermal profile is provided on a surface of the primary solar receiver. | 11-11-2010 |
20100236239 | SOLAR RECEIVER - A method for generating steam for a turbine electric power plant uses solar radiation. Solar radiation is directed onto a solar receiver. The solar receiver includes a first section, which receives feedwater input and is arranged to heat the feedwater input to generate steam using the directed solar radiation. Feedwater flows through a feedwater vessel to serve as feedwater input to an inlet of the first section of the receiver. Water is separated from the steam in steam separation vessel, which is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first section of the receiver. The feedwater input may be selectively preheated by a source of preheat other than solar energy in response to system operating conditions, predicted insolation schedule, or an electrical energy tariff schedule. | 09-23-2010 |
20100191378 | DISTRIBUTED POWER TOWERS WITH DIFFERENTIATED FUNCTIONALITIES - A concentrating solar system has multiple receivers, in some embodiments mounted on multiple towers, on which solar energy is concentrating using heliostats. At least some heliostats are controlled such that they may direct energy onto different receivers to achieve any of various control goals, such as temperature or flux uniformity of the receiver. In preferred embodiments, the receivers or receiver portions are fluidly connected in stages such that there are high temperature targets, e.g., superheated receivers or portions, and low temperature targets, e.g. evaporating receivers or targets. By doing so, it is possible to selectively control heliostats to track for directing energy on the targets to, for example, achieve temperature uniformity of the high temperature target by selecting heliostats for that control goal under varying circumstances. | 07-29-2010 |
20100139644 | HELIOSTAT CALIBRATION - Embodiments relate to solar energy systems and methods of operating the same. In some embodiments, the solar energy system comprising: a plurality of heliostats configured to reflect sunlight to a target mounted on a tower, each heliostat including a respective heliostat controller, the target, the target being selecting from the group consisting of an energy conversion target and/or a secondary reflector; and a macro-array of light-intensity sensors characterized by a maximum sensor-sensor distance and mounted on the tower such that when any heliostat of the plurality of heliostats reflects a beam of light onto the macro-array of light-intensity sensors, the maximum dimension of the reflected beam's projection on the macro-array is at most twice the maximum sensor-sensor distance, wherein each heliostat controller is operative to control its respective heliostat so that the light beam reflected by the heliostat traverses the macro-array of light-intensity sensors. | 06-10-2010 |
20100006087 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF A SOLAR POWER TOWER USING INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for directly monitoring energy flux of a solar receiver in a solar energy-based power generation system include measuring infrared radiation emanating from the solar receiver. Such measurement can be achieved using one or more infrared thermography detectors, such as an IR camera. Resulting thermal data obtained by the imaging can be used to determine energy flux distribution on the receiver. A user or a system controller can use the determined flux distribution to adjust heliostat aiming to achieve a desired operation condition. For example, heliostats can be adjusted to achieve a uniform energy flux distribution across the external surface of the receiver and/or to maximize heat transfer to a fluid flowing through the receiver within system operating limits. | 01-14-2010 |