Patent ID: 8763397
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: F01K,F03G,F22B,F24S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of preserving heat and pressure in a solar-thermal receiver assembly, the method comprising: determining, by a processor having addressable memory, whether solar flux is incident on a receiver; wherein if the solar flux is not incident on the receiver, then determining, by the processor, a solar-thermal receiver state based on measuring at least one of: pressure and temperature in the superheater; determining, by the processor, a range of at least one of: a temperature value, a pressure value, and a steam flow rate value, wherein the range of temperature values, the range of pressure values, and the range of steam flow rate values are between a set of minimum values and a set of maximum values for temperature, pressure, and steam flow rate; measuring at least one of: pressure, temperature, and steam flow rate leaving the steam drum; and wherein if the measured at least one of: pressure, temperature, and steam flow rate leaving the steam drum is within the determined range of at least one of: the range of temperature values, the range of pressure values, and the range of steam flow rate values, then generating an actuating command for the superheater isolation valve to at least one of: a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein the actuated position of the superheater isolation valve corresponds to the determined range of at least one of: the temperature values, the pressure values, and the steam flow rate values.