Patent ID: 8276379

Claim:
A solar-thermal power generation plant, comprising: one or more towers; a plurality of heliostats disposed around each of the one or more towers; a direct solar evaporator mounted at an elevated position on each of the one or more towers, the heliostats being configured to reflect solar radiation toward the direct solar evaporator such that concentrated solar radiation heats a receiving surface on the direct solar evaporator; and a heat engine mounted at an elevated position on each of the one or more towers, attached to the direct solar evaporator, and configured to use the heat from the receiving surface on the direct solar evaporator to generate electricity; wherein the heat engine comprises: a turbine that is in fluid communication with the direct solar evaporator; a generator that is coupled to the turbine via a common shaft; a condenser that is in fluid communication with the turbine; and a pump that is in fluid communication with the condenser and the direct solar evaporator; and wherein: the direct solar evaporator is mounted to a first end of a main housing and provides the receiving surface against which the plurality of heliostats are focused; downstream from the direct solar evaporator and in fluid communication therewith, the turbine is positioned within the main housing; adjacent to the turbine and connected via a common shaft, the generator is positioned within the main housing; and at a second end of the main housing that s substantially opposite from the first end of the main housing, the condenser is positioned.