Patent ID: 9255569
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: F01K,F02C,F03G,F22B,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. A method of operating a solar thermal system to generate electricity, comprising: using a programmable control system, which is configured to generate scheduling signals used by the solar thermal system to control operating configurations during a diurnal operation of the solar thermal system, to generate a first startup signal commanding a first startup period operation of the solar thermal system, the first startup signal coinciding with a first level of insolation; responsively to the first startup signal, controlling the solar thermal system to use a non-solar source of steam to heat a first solar receiver portion, the first solar receiver portion being connected to receive a heat transfer fluid from a second solar receiver portion upstream; using the programmable control system to generate a second startup signal commanding a second startup period of operation of the solar thermal system, the second startup signal coinciding with a second level of insolation that is greater than the first level of insolation; responsively to the second startup signal, heating the second solar receiver portion with insolation, the second solar receiver portion having a recirculation loop with a fluid separation drum configured to be bypassed responsively to the second startup signal; using the programmable control system to detect a first threshold temperature and pressure in the second solar receiver portion and to generate a third startup signal commanding a third startup period of operation of the solar thermal system responsively to the detected first threshold temperature and pressure; responsively to the third startup signal, continuing to heat the second solar receiver portion with insolation while directing fluid from the second solar receiver portion to the first solar receiver portion by way of the fluid separation drum; using the programmable control system to detect a second threshold temperature and pressure in the first solar receiver portion and to generate a fourth startup signal commanding a fourth startup period of operation of the solar thermal system responsively to the detected second threshold temperature and pressure; and responsively to the fourth startup signal, heating the first solar receiver portion with insolation while continuing to heat the second solar receiver portion with insolation and to direct fluid from the second solar receiver portion to the first solar receiver portion by way of the fluid separation drum.