SOLAR RECEIVER
A solar receiver includes a manifold, a sealed enclosure around the manifold and a plurality of tubes connected to the manifold and extending through the sealed enclosure.
1 . A solar receiver comprising:
a manifold;
a sealed enclosure around the manifold; and
a plurality of tubes connected to the manifold and extending through the sealed enclosure.
2 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure defines a volume between the sealed enclosure and the manifold, the sealed enclosure substantially sealing the volume from convective air flow between the volume and an exterior of the sealed enclosure.
3 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 2 , wherein the volume is at a lower pressure than the exterior.
4 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 2 , wherein the volume includes an insulating gas different than air.
5 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 4 , wherein the insulating gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen-based gas, helium-based gas, carbon dioxide-based gas and combinations thereof.
6 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure includes at least one seal element.
7 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure includes at least one seal element between a panel of the sealed enclosure and the plurality of tubes.
8 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure includes a top wall above the manifold, a bottom wall below the manifold, a forward wall in front of the manifold, a back wall behind the manifold, and side walls adjacent ends of the manifold.
9 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a thermal shield arranged adjacent the sealed enclosure.
10 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 9 , wherein the thermal shield includes a support and ceramic panels mounted in an array on the support.
11 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 10 , wherein the ceramic panels include respective openings there-through and fasteners arranged partially within the respective openings and securing the ceramic panels on the support, and plugs arranged at least partially within corresponding ones of the openings.
12 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure includes a heater.
13 . The solar receiver as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealed enclosure includes an insulator panel sealed against the plurality of tubes.
14 . A method for use with a solar receiver, the method comprising:
sealing an enclosure around a manifold that is connected with a plurality of tubes such that there is a volume between the enclosure and the manifold that is sealed from an exterior of the enclosure.
15 . The method as recited in claim 14 , including substantially sealing the enclosure around the manifold from convective air flow with the exterior of the enclosure.
16 . The method as recited in claim 15 , including establishing the volume to be at a lower pressure than the exterior.
17 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the volume has an insulating gas different than air.
18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the insulting gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen-based gas, helium-based gas and carbon dioxide-based gas.
19 . A thermal shield comprising:
a support;
ceramic panels mounted in an array on the support, the ceramic panels including respective openings there-through;
fasteners arranged partially within the respective openings and securing the ceramic panels on the support; and
plugs arranged at least partially within corresponding ones of the openings.
20 . The thermal shield as recited in claim 19 , wherein the plugs are ceramic plugs.
21 . The thermal shield as recited in claim 19 , wherein the ceramic panels include lap joints.
22 . The thermal shield as recited in claim 19 , wherein the array is planar.