Patent ID: 8039984

Claim:
A system for converting thermal energy derived from a solar field into electricity and wherein said system is adapted to operate in accordance with at least two modes of operation, depending upon the thermal energy intake, and wherein said system comprising: a first power generation sub-system comprising means to heat water into superheated steam by exchanging heat with a first heat transfer fluid being heated at said solar radiation collecting field, and a back pressure turbine for producing electricity; a second power generation sub-system comprising means to heat a second working fluid, and wherein said second working fluid is used to operate a second turbine for producing electricity; and wherein said system is characterized in that when the thermal energy received at said first power generation sub-system exceeds a predetermined threshold of a selected criterion, both power generation sub-systems are operative to produce electricity and at least part of the heat required to heat said second working fluid is derived from steam derived from said first power generation sub-system, whereas when the thermal energy received at said first power generation sub-system does not exceed said threshold, the thermal energy conveyed by said first heat transfer fluid is used essentially to heat said second working fluid and the electricity is generated only by said second power generation sub-system.