VOLUMETRIC ABSORBER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a central solar radiation receiver that is associated with an optical concentration system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A central solar radiation receiver admits concentrated light at extremely high temperatures, commonly about 700°-1500°C, so that a solar absorber mounted therein, preferably a volumetric solar absorber, absorbs the incident concentrated light, converts it into heat and the so-generated heat is transferred to a heat carrier fluid, or is used to perform a thermochemical process.

Volumetric solar receivers generally have a tubular housing accommodating a volumetric solar absorber shielded by transparent window so as to form a sealed absorber chamber capable of holding a working fluid or a chemical reaction mixture in direct contact with the absorber. In operation, the working fluid or reaction mixture is caused to flow across the absorber chamber whereby heat is withdrawn from the absorber and is either

utilized for the chemical reaction or is transported outside the receiver. Typical solar receivers with volumetric absorber are disclosed, for example, in U.S. 5,245,986 and U.S. 5,323,764.

The transparent window that shields the volumetric solar absorber in a solar receiver must be capable of sustaining the extreme conditions of high solar flux, high temperature and pressures associated with the conditions of operation. In recent patents such as U.S. 5,323,764, it was shown that conical windows that are placed inside the receiver to shield the absorber and form the sealed absorber chamber so that the axis of propaga- tion of the solar light is along the axis of the conical window, perform extremely well under severe conditions of heat and pressure. Since the concentrated solar light is approaching the window at a wide angular distribution, it penetrates the window whenever it intersects therewith. The design of the window can be such that a small amount of light which is reflected in a single interaction between the light and the window will eventually penetrate the window after successive interactions.

For a solar receiver designed for use in large scale solar energy systems, large size transparent windows that meet the above requirements are required. However, windows with the necessary large dimensions and having the required optical qualities are not readily available. For example, the diameter of commercially available quartz or fused silica circular pieces does not exceed 40 cm, and pieces with larger dimensions have to be made to order.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an improved solar receiver window for a central solar receiver which can be made from commercially available elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a solar radiation receiver assembly comprising a housing having an aperture and holding a volumetric solar absorber, a transparent window capable of withstanding high temperature mounted in said aperture for the admission of incident concentrated solar radiation, shielding the volumetric solar absorber so as to form a sealed absorber chamber capable of holding a fluid medium, and means for the ingress and egress of said fluid medium, characterized in that the window consists of a plurality of discrete transpar- ent window segments set in a common matrix capable of withstanding high temperature.

There is further provided, in accordance with the present invention, a window for a solar radiation receiver assembly, capable of withstanding high temperature and adapted for admission of incident concentrated solar radiation, characterized in that the window consists of a plurality of discrete transparent window segments set in a common matrix capable of withstanding high temperature.

The matrix that holds the window segments may be a suitably shaped prefabricated body with apertures for receiving and holding the window fragments. Alternatively, the matrix may be made ad hoc from a ready-made frame in which the window segments are mounted with the aid of suitably shaped connecting members.

If desired, the window segments may have different dimensions, e.g. for the purpose of maximizing the window segment holding capacity of a circular matrix and, as a result, the transparency of the window. The window segments may also have different shapes such as flat, cylindrical, globular and conical.

The fluid medium inside the absorber chamber may be liquid or gaseous and may be a heat carrier or a chemical reaction mixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the annexed drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a solar radiation receiving assembly according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a window used in the solar radiation receiver assembly according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig 1 shows a central solar receiver with a volumetric absorber of the kind described in U.S. 5,245,986. As shown, the solar receiver 1 comprises a solar receiver housing 2 having an aperture 3 holding a transparent window 4 for the admission of incident concentrated solar radiation of the kind shown in Fig. 2 herein. Housing 2 accommodates a solar absorber 5 having a frame 6 secured to the housing, and a plurality of absorber elements 7 held in frame 6. The housing comprises an intake pipe 8 serving for the ingress of a working fluid surrounding the absorber 5 and an opening 9 for the egress of heated-up working fluid.

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the window 4 made in accordance with the present invention. The window 4 comprises a matrix 10 made of a high temperature resistant material holding a plurality of large diameter widow segments 11 and small diameter window segments 12, all made of quartz glass. Due to the different sizes of window segments 11 and 12, the transparency of window 4 is maximized so that about 80% of the aperture 3 admits concentrated solar radiation.

The window according to the invention may also be used with other configurations of central solar receivers with volumetric solar absorbers, for example, of the kind shown in Fig. 1 of U.S. 5,323,764 and described in description thereof, which Fig. 1 and description are incorpo-

rated herein by reference. As shown in Fig. 1 of U.S. 5,323,764, the solar receiver comprises an aperture and a frusto conical window with cylindrical rim portions and designed to withstand high pressure and temperature, shielding the solar absorber so as to form a sealed absorber chamber. In accordance with the invention the frusto conical window is replaced by a circular window of the kind of window 4 in Fig. 1 herein, to be mounted in aperture.