Patent ID: 6957536
Filing Date: 2005-10-25
Classification: F03G,F24S,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A system capable of producing electrical power from solar energy through the use of an air cycle without fossil fuel combustion, the system comprising: a liquid metal source; a solar receiver adapted to receive liquid metal from the liquid metal source and to transfer solar generated heat to the liquid metal; a heated liquid metal storage tank sized according to electrical power requirements and having a heating element capable of heating and maintaining the liquid metal stored in the tank in a molten liquid state when solar thermal energy is not available; a pump for pumping the heated liquid metal from the storage tank when needed to generate electrical power; a compressor adapted to receive and compress air; a heat exchanger adapted to receive the heated liquid metal and the compressed air, the heat exchanger allowing the heated liquid metal to transfer thermal energy to the compressed air; a generator for producing electrical power; an expander coupled to the generator and the compressor, the expander receiving and expanding the heated compressed air from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to produce electricity, and to drive the compressor to compress the air.