Solar thermal power generation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9957954-B2
Application number	US-201514964185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

The object is to simplify systems in a solar thermal power generation plant and thereby provide a solar thermal power generation system achieving reduction in the construction cost and the power generation cost. The solar thermal power generation system comprises: a solar heat collection device which collects solar heat and thereby heats up molten salt as a primary heat medium; a solar heat accumulation/radiation device including a low-temperature tank which stores molten salt to be supplied to the solar heat collection device, a high-temperature tank which stores high-temperature molten salt heated by the solar heat collection device, and a secondary heat medium heater which heats up a secondary heat medium by using the high-temperature molten salt supplied from the high-temperature tank as a heating medium; and a compressor/high-temperature turbine power generation device including a compressor which generates compressed air as the secondary heat medium by compressing air taken in from the atmosphere to a prescribed pressure and a high-temperature air turbine which drives a generator by taking in the compressed air heated by the secondary heat medium heater.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solar thermal power generation system comprising:
a solar heat collection device which collects solar heat and thereby heats up molten salt as a primary heat medium;
a solar heat accumulation/radiation device including a low-temperature tank which stores molten salt to be supplied to the solar heat collection device, a high-temperature tank which stores high-temperature molten salt heated by the solar heat collection device, and a secondary heat medium heater which heats up a secondary heat medium by using the high-temperature molten salt supplied from the high-temperature tank as a heating medium; and
a compressor/high-temperature turbine power generation device including a compressor which generates compressed air as the secondary heat medium by compressing air taken in from the atmosphere to a prescribed pressure, a high-temperature air turbine which drives a generator by taking in the compressed air heated by the secondary heat medium heater, and a line connected to the at least one compressor and the high-temperature air turbine;
an electric motor which drives the at least one compressor;
an inverter which supplies power to the electric motor, wherein the electric motor receives revolution speed control from the inverter;
a bypass system which leads the compressed air heated by the secondary heat medium heater to a high-temperature air turbine exhaust header pipe while bypassing the high-temperature air turbine, the bypass system being branched from the line;
a bypass valve for adjusting flow rate of the compressed air flowing through the bypass system;
an inlet valve for adjusting flow rate of the compressed air flowing into the high-temperature air turbine; and
a control unit regulating the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air to be introduced to the high-temperature air turbine at predetermined values by adjusting open angles of the bypass valve and the inlet valve.

2. The solar thermal power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor/high-temperature turbine power generation device includes:
the compressor which compresses air taken in from the atmosphere;
an intercooler which cools down the compressed air discharged from the compressor; and
another compressor which takes in the compressed air cooled down by the intercooler and compresses the cooled air to a prescribed pressure.

3. The solar thermal power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a regenerator which is arranged upstream of a channel on the secondary heat medium side of the secondary heat medium heater and heats up the compressed air by using exhaust air from the high-temperature air turbine as a heating medium.

4. The solar thermal power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein a drier which dries intake air by removing water vapor in the intake air is arranged on the air intake side of the compressor for compressing the air taken in from the atmosphere.

5. The solar thermal power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein a carbon dioxide removal unit which removes carbon dioxide from intake air is arranged on the air intake side of the compressor for compressing the air taken in from the atmosphere.

6. The solar thermal power generation system according to claim 2 , comprising:
a first electric motor which drives the compressor;
a first inverter which supplies power to the first electric motor;
a second electric motor which drives the other compressor; and
a second inverter which supplies power to the second electric motor,
wherein the first and second electric motors receive revolution speed control from the first and second inverters, respectively.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Sys

Inventors

• Mishima Nobuyoshi
• Nagafuchi Naoyuki

Classifications

• F03G6/064 Primary

  having a gas turbine cycle, i.e. compressor and gas turbine combination · CPC title

• Y02A40/966

  Powered by renewable energy sources · CPC title

• F02C1/05 Primary

  characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy · CPC title

• Y02E10/465

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F03G6/121

  Controlling or monitoring · CPC title