Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower
Ceramic particles for use in a solar power tower and methods for making and using the ceramic particles are disclosed. The ceramic particle can include a sintered ceramic material formed from a mixture of a ceramic raw material and a darkening component comprising MnO as Mn 2+ . The ceramic particle can have a size from about 8 mesh to about 170 mesh and a density of less than 4 g/cc.
1 . A solar energy-based power generation system, the system comprising:
a solar receiver at or proximate the top of a solar power tower, wherein the solar receiver comprises a plurality of ceramic particles disposed within the solar receiver, the ceramic particles comprising:
a ceramic material formed from a mixture comprising a raw material and MnO, wherein the raw material comprises kaolin or bauxite or a mixture thereof, and wherein the ceramic material further comprises:
about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % MnO, and
about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % Mn 2 O 3 ;
one or more heliostats configured to transmit solar radiation to the solar receiver for heating the ceramic particles; and
a heat exchanger configured to cool the heated ceramic particles by transferring heat from the heated ceramic particles to a heat exchange medium.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material further comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % FeO.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the ceramic material further comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % Fe 2 O 3 .
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more heliostats are configured to track the sun to reflect light onto the receiver.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a direct contact heat exchanger.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a high temperature solids storage vessel configured to collect a heated ceramic particle.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the solar system further comprises a solid particle process flow loop, and wherein the solid particle process flow loop circulates the ceramic particles for a period of about 50 hours to about 5,000 hours to expose a portion of the MnO to a temperature of about 100° C. to about 1,000° C., thereby oxidizing the MnO into Mn 2 O 3 .
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more heliostats are configured to track the sun to reflect light onto the receiver.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a low temperature solids storage vessel configured to collect cooled ceramic particles.
10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising recycling the cooled ceramic particle to the solar receiver.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heliostats are configured to track a solar source to reflect light onto the solar receiver.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic particles are darkened to a Munsell Value of less than 9.
13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a falling curtain of the ceramic particles disposed within the solar receiver.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the solar receiver includes a solid particle process flow loop.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heliostats are arrayed.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heliostats are spaced and positioned to provide calculated financial return over a life cycle.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the financial return over a life cycle is calculated according to predictive weather data and at least one optimization goal.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one optimization goal includes total solar energy utilization, energy storage, electricity production, or revenue generation from sales of electricity.
19 . A solar energy-based power generation system, the system comprising:
a solar receiver at or proximate the top of a solar power tower, wherein the solar receiver comprises a plurality of ceramic particles disposed within the solar receiver, the ceramic particles comprising:
a ceramic material formed from a mixture comprising a raw material and MnO, wherein the raw material comprises kaolin or bauxite or a mixture thereof, and wherein the ceramic material further comprises about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % FeO;
one or more heliostats configured to transmit solar radiation to the solar receiver for heating the ceramic particles; and
a heat exchanger configured to cool the heated ceramic particles by transferring heat from the heated ceramic particles to a heat exchange medium.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein;
the solar system further comprises a solid particle process flow loop, and
the solid particle process flow loop circulates the ceramic particles for a period of about 50 hours to about 5,000 hours to expose a portion of the MnO to a temperature of about 100° C. to about 1,000° C., thereby oxidizing the MnO into Mn 2 O 3 .