Integrated Cascading Cycle Solar Thermal Power Plant

Competitive Advantages

•    Increases the efficiency of concentrating solar power
•    Multiple thermodynamic systems
•    Multiple solar thermal plants

Summary

Inventors at USF have developed a thermodynamic system which employs multiple types of thermodynamic cycles and solar thermal fields. The invention introduces new ways to combine existing solar collectors and thermodynamic cycles to increase efficiency. By using multiple thermodynamic systems, it can operate different types of thermodynamic cycles at different temperature ranges. The invention improves the methods of how the existing solar collectors and thermodynamic cycles are combined for use which results in the overall efficiency much closer to the theoretical maximum. 

An Embodiment of a Thermodynamic System that Includes Multiple Cycles and Solar Collectors 

Desired Partnerships

  • License 
  • Sponsored Research
  • Co-Development
Patent Information:
Title App Type Country Serial No. Patent No. File Date Issued Date Expire Date
Integrated Cascading Cycle Solar Thermal Plants Utility United States 13/665,270 10,690,121 10/31/2012 6/23/2020 2/22/2037