An apparatus and method for utilizing natural energy in the production of electricity having an alternating current is disclosed wherein the natural energy is utilized to pressurize hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid is temporarily stored within high pressure storage tanks to be utilized in the production of electricity. This electricity is supplied as needed to various consumers. Excess electricity which is generated by hydro electric devices driven by the pressurized hydraulic fluid is utilized to pressurize additional hydraulic fluid. The additional hydraulic fluid is then supplied to the high pressure storage tanks to be used at a later time for the production of electricity. In this way, excess electricity that is produced from the pressurized hydraulic fluid is reconverted into pressurized hydraulic fluid which may be stored in the high pressure storage tanks until needed. The high pressure storage tanks may be initially charged with a compressible fluid which is compressed by the pressurized hydraulic fluid. A piston may be provided within each storage tank in order to separate the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the compressible fluid. Depending upon the overall capacity of the natural energy system, a plurality of pressurized storage tanks may be necessary and may be conveniently provided underground.

Natural energy conversion, storage and electricity generation system

Combined cycle power plants and related methods are disclosed here. In the plants, a mediating thermal energy storage unit (18) is used to store waste or residual thermal energy recovered from a heat engine employing a top thermodynamic cycle (10) of the combined cycle power plant, so that the stored residual thermal energy may be used as an energy source in a bottom thermodynamic cycle (11) of the power plant. In the combined cycle power plants described here, the heat engine employing a top cycle may comprise a Brayton cycle heat engine and the heat engine employing the bottom thermodynamic cycle may be a Rankine cycle heat engine.

Combined cycle power plant

Receivers for use in solar energy collector systems and solar-powered electrical energy generating plants are provided. The receivers (400) comprise a solar radiation absorbing core (414) that converts absorbed solar radiation to thermal energy. The core (414) comprises a refractory material to allow the receivers to operate continuously at high temperatures reached by absorbing concentrated solar radiation. The thermal energy so generated in the core may be stored in the receiver for a transitory period, or for a more extended period. Receivers (400) may comprise one or more fluid channels (415) in and/or around the core for conveying a working fluid to facilitate extraction of stored thermal energy from the core.

Integrated solar energy receiver-storage unit

A multi-mode solar power generation system can include a first energy conversion system that generates electricity from a working fluid heated by a portion of solar radiation focused by a plurality of heliostats. The multi-mode solar power generation system can also include a second energy conversion system that generates electricity from an unused portion of the focused solar radiation using a different energy conversion mode than that of the first energy conversion system. The second energy conversion system can include one or more photovoltaic converters, which directly convert solar radiation to electricity. The unused radiation from the first energy conversion system can include radiation spillage or dumped radiation from a thermal receiver of the first energy conversion system.

Solar power generation with multiple energy conversion modes

A dynamic system for the utilization of solar energy which is most of the time in the ideal position in relation to the sun. Said device comprises at least one unit consisting of a solar collector and a stand carrying said collector, means for rotating the solar collector around its horizontal axis and means for rotating the solar collector and/or the stand around the vertical axis; means for simultaneous or independent actuation of the rotation means, means for the tracking control of said actuation means; and means for the transfer of the energy obtained.

System for the utilization of solar energy

A fan shaped array of spherical, concave mirrors are mounted for individual rotation about right angle axes and track the sun to concentrate reflected solar rays into the aperture of a tubular boiler/superheater with the superheated steam driving a turbine generator unit. Preferably, the solar powered turbine generator is sized to match generating capacity of an existing hydroelectric system, thus permitting the existing hydro-electric system to operate on a day-to-day basis at higher capacity during any day of clear weather where the solar power plant carries the complete electrical load during those hours when hydro-electric generation ceases.

Blake Floyd Alfred

Papers

Direct solar hydro-electric integrated system and concentrating heliostat for same

Kraftwerkanlage und sonnenkraftgenerator