| WO/1988/005518 | SOLAR RADIATION COLLECTOR |
| JP55063352 | SOLAR ENERGY ABSORPTION SYSTEM |
| JP61008562 | SOLAR HEAT COLLECTING PIPE |
KLAPWALD, Shmulik (6 Hama'ayan Street, Jerusalem, 95903, IL)
SHARON, Yigal (3 Hakarkom, Mevaseret Zion, 90805, IL)
SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (Wittelsbacherplatz 2, München, 80333, DE)
GIL, Ori (33 Katz Street, Petach Tikva, 49374, IL)
KLAPWALD, Shmulik (6 Hama'ayan Street, Jerusalem, 95903, IL)
SHARON, Yigal (3 Hakarkom, Mevaseret Zion, 90805, IL)
| Patent claims 1. Solar collector assembly (1) with - at least one arrangement (10) of at least one parabolic reflector (11) and at least one reflector holder (12) for holding the parabolic reflector (11) and with - at least one torque triangle truss (20) for supporting the arrangement (10) and for driving the solar collector assembly (1) · 2. Solar collector assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reflector holder (12) is fixed to at least one edge (111) of the parabolic reflector (11) . 3. Solar collector assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein - the reflector holder (12) is fixed to at least one further edge (131) of at least one further parabolic reflector (13) and - the parabolic reflector (11) and the further parabolic reflector (13) are arranged side by side such, that a reflecting surface (112) of the parabolic reflector (11) and a further reflecting surface (132) of the further parabolic reflector (13) form an entire reflecting surface (142) and a focal line (113) of the reflecting surface (112) and a further focal line (133) of the further reflecting surface (132) form a contiguous entire focal line (143) of the entire reflecting surface (142) . 4. Solar collector assembly according -e to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the parabolic reflector (11) and the reflector holder (12), building blocks (21) of the torque triangle truss (20) truss among themselves and/or the torque triangle truss (20) and the arrangement (10) are linked together by at least one clinching connection (30) . 5. Method for manufacturing the solar collector assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 4 with following steps: a) Providing the torque triangle truss (20) and the arrangement (10) of at least one parabolic reflector (11) and of at least one reflector holder (12) and b) Linking the torque triangle truss (20) and the arrangement (10) together . 6. Method according to claim 5, wherein linking together comprises a clinching mechanism. 7. Use of the solar collector assembly according to one of the claims 1 to 4 in a power plant for converting solar energy into electrical energy. |
SOLAR COLLECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH A TORQUE TRIANGLE TRUSS , METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SOLAR COLLECTOR ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THE SOLAR COLLECTOR ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a solar collector assembly, a method for manufacturing the solar collector assembly and a use of the solar collector assembly. 2. Description of the Related Art
A solar field is a modular distributed system of solar collector assemblies (SCA) connected to each other via a system of pipes. Each SCA is an independent unit for collection and for transfer of energy, with its own power to rotate and to communicate within an electronic network.
The SCA is a linear parabolic focusing collector with one dimensional (usually East-West ) tracking system. Solar radiation is focused onto a heat collection element consisting of a hollow tube through which a heat transfer fluid is circulated.
The solar field comprises loops, which are for instance assembled from two SCAs. Each SCA comprises for instance 8 parabola segments.
For each of the parabola segments a truss is used. The truss has two main functions: It supports parabolic reflectors of the SCA and it provides an interface to a drive system of the collector. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a solar collector assembly with a reliable support and drive structure.
Further objects of the invention are a method for manufacturing the solar collector assembly and a use of the solar collector assembly.
These objects are achieved by the invention specified in the claims .
A solar collector assembly is provided with at least one arrangement of at least one parabolic reflector and at least one reflector holder for holding the parabolic reflector and with a torque triangle truss for supporting the arrangement and for driving the solar collector assembly. Additionally a method for manufacturing the solar collector assembly with following steps is described: a) Providing the torque triangle truss and the arrangement of at least one parabolic reflector and of at least one reflector holder and b) Linking the torque triangle truss and the arrangement together.
Finally a use of the solar collector assembly in a power plant for converting solar energy into electrical energy is provided.
Building blocks of the triangle truss are e.g. pipes, which are produced with loosened tolerances and are highly stackable during shipment, and junctions/intersections, which are used to connect the pipes and the intersections. The torque triangle truss is built of unique diagonal pipes connected in every intersection. These diagonal pipes enable high torque stiffness of the torque triangle truss.
The reflector holder can be fixed at the centre of the parabolic reflector (averted to a reflecting surface of the reflector) . But it is advantageous to fix the reflector holder at an edge of the reflector. Therefore in a further embodiment the reflector holder is fixed to at least one edge of the parabolic reflector. In a further embodiment the reflector holder is fixed to at least one further edge of at least one further parabolic reflector and the parabolic reflector and the further parabolic reflector are arranged side by side such, that a reflecting surface of the parabolic reflector and a further reflecting surface of the further parabolic reflector form an entire reflecting surface and a focal line of the reflecting surface and a further focal line of the further reflecting surface form a contiguous (and straight) entire focal line of the entire reflecting surface. In contrast to the state of the art each reflector holder holds two adjacent reflectors. By this measure for instance a reflector is fixed on both sides of the reflector (with exception of outer reflectors of a solar collector assembly) . As a result a number of reflector holders can be reduced. The arrangement and the torque triangle truss can be connected by different methods, e.g. by welding. But it is advantageous to use clinching. As a result the parabolic reflector and the reflector holder, building blocks of the torque triangle truss among themselves and/or the torque triangle truss and the arrangement are linked together by at least one clinching connection .
For instance the torque triangle truss and the arrangement are linked together by a clinching connection. The linking comprises a clinching mechanism. For a manufacturing of the torque triangle truss a clinching mechanism is used.
By using the clinching it is not necessary, that each of the building blocks (reflector, reflector holder, support structure, etc) is accurately manufactured . There is an acceptable tolerance (deviation), which is compensated by the clinching. As a result the manufacturing is simplified. Additionally a high optical accuracy is reached.
Summarizing the invention has following main advantages:
- The solar collector assembly with the torque triangle truss comprises a high torque stiffness and a high optical accuracy. This is reached by the unique diagonal pipes connection in every intersection. A stability of the solar collector assembly with the high optical accuracy is guaranteed for more than 25 years.
- Compared to the state of the art a bigger aperture with is reachable. This allows a reduction of a loop length and by that a reduction of the number of driving elements and piping connection elements and a reduction of the number of receivers.
- The number of driving elements and piping connection elements and a number of foundations for the solar collector assembly can be reduced.
- Due to an acceptable loosened accuracy of the building blocks of the torque triangle truss and the solar collector assembly the manufacturing by the clinching reduces the manufacturing costs of the solar collector assembly. The single (highly stackable) building blocks can be shipped separately and can be connected together in the field. A connecting of the building blocks before the shipping is not necessary.
- There is a separation between the triangle truss and the reflector holder. This character enables to build the triangle truss using a relatively simple assembly process and to still gain the required high optic accuracy. The building blocks of the solar collector assembly can be prefabricated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHEMATIC DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows an engineering drawing of the solar collector assembly with a drive pylon.
Figure 2 and figure 3 show perspective views of the solar collector assembly. Figure 4 shows a side view of the solar collector assembly.
Figure 5 and figure 6 show perspective views of the torque triangle truss of the solar collector assembly. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a reflector arrangement of reflector and reflector holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The solar collector assembly 1 comprises at least one arrangement 10 of at least one parabolic reflector 11 and at least one reflector holder 12 for holding the parabolic reflector 11. The solar collector assembly 1 comprises additionally at least one torque triangle truss 20 for supporting the arrangement 10 and for driving the solar collector assembly 1. The reflector holder 12 is fixed to at least one edge 111 of the parabolic reflector 11.
Additionally the reflector holder 12 is fixed to at least one further edge 131 of at least one further parabolic reflector 13. The parabolic reflector 11 and the further parabolic reflector 13 are arranged side by side such, that a reflecting surface 112 of the parabolic reflector (11) and a further reflecting surface 132 of the further parabolic reflector 13 form an entire reflecting surface 142 and a focal line 113 of the reflecting surface 112 and a further focal line 133 of the further reflecting surface 132 form a contiguous straight entire focal line 143 of the entire reflecting surface 142.
The torque triangle truss 20 and the arrangement 10 with the parabolic reflector 11 and the reflector holder 12 are linked together by a clinching connection 30 (figure 4) .
Single building blocks 21 of the torque triangle truss 20, e.g. diagonal pipes, are connected together by a clinching connection, too.
Within the focal lines 113, 133 and 143 of the reflecting surface 112, the further reflecting surface 132 and the entire reflecting surface 142, respectively heat receiver tubes 16 are located. Within these heat receiver tubes 16 a heat transfer fluid is circulating. By the heat receiver tubes solar energy is absorbed and transferred to the heat transfer fluid. By this the solar collector assembly can be used in a power plant for converting solar energy into electrical energy. The collected solar energy is used to generate steam. The steam drives a turbine which is connected to a generator for generating electricity.
The solar collector assembly 1 is connected to a drive pylon 15. The complete solar collector assembly comprises a number of parabola segments 16. For each parabola segment a torque triangle truss 20 is used.
Summarizing the solar collector assembly 1 (and the reflectors 11 and 13 respectively) has following features:
Aperture 114: 8728 mm
Rim angle: 89.5°
Focal length (115) : 2200 mm
SCA length: 192 m
Segment Length 161 of the segments 16: 24 m
Segments quantity: 8
Deflections :
Self weight: 30 mm
Torsion (at the end under 170 kg-m/m) : 23 Mrad Length of the torque triangle truss 20: 24 m
Weight of the torque triangle truss 20: 2500 kg (12 kg/m 2 ) Length of the reflector holder 12: 24 m Weight the reflector holder 12: 1000 kg (4.8 kg/m 2 ) Entire length of the reflectors 11, 13: 24 m
Entire weight of the reflectors 11, 13: 2310 kg (11 kg/m) Total weight of the complete solar collector assembly 1: 28.5 kg/m 2 Height 151 of the drive pylon 15: 5,2 m Width 152 of the drive pylon 15: 1,4 m
Complete height 200 of the solar collector assembly 1 and the drive pylon 15: 7,5 m
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