Abstract: A hybrid receiver-combustor (100) for capturing heat energy from a solar source and a fuel source. The hybrid receiver-combustor (100) includes a vessel (110) for acting both as a combustion furnace and as a solar receiver, and a plurality of burners (180) for combusting an oxidant stream, such as an air stream, and a fuel stream. The vessel (110) includes a casing (120) defining a cavity (125) having an aperture (130) for receiving the concentrated solar radiation from the solar source. The cavity (125) provides a chamber defining a zone (126) which can function as a combustion zone for production of heat energy through a combustion process using the fuel and into which concentrated solar radiation can be received from the solar source through the aperture (130). A heat energy absorber (190) configured as a heat exchanger is provided to receive heat energy from concentrated solar radiation entering the cavity (125) through the aperture (130) and from combustion within the cavity.

Abstract: A hybrid receiver-combustor (100) for capturing heat energy from a solar source and a fuel source. The hybrid receiver-combustor (100) includes a vessel (110) for acting both as a combustion furnace and as a solar receiver, and a plurality of burners (180) for combusting an oxidant stream, such as an air stream, and a fuel stream. The vessel (110) includes a casing (120) defining a cavity (125) having an aperture (130) for receiving the concentrated solar radiation from the solar source. The cavity (125) provides a chamber defining a zone (126) which can function as a combustion zone for production of heat energy through a combustion process using the fuel and into which concentrated solar radiation can be received from the solar source through the aperture (130). A heat energy absorber (190) configured as a heat exchanger is provided to receive heat energy from concentrated solar radiation entering the cavity (125) through the aperture (130) and from combustion within the cavity.

Abstract: A fluid mixing device (1) includes a chamber (3) and a bluff body (4) defining one end of the chamber (3). A first fluid inlet (5) is located toward an opposite end of the chamber (3) from the bluff body (4) and arranged to direct fluid toward the bluff body (4). A region substantially surrounding the bluff body (4) has a flow divider (8) defining second fluid inlet(s) (11) to the chamber (3) and mixed fluid outlets (12) from the chamber (3). A fluid flow from the first fluid inlet (5) and/or from the second fluid inlet (11) establishes a recirculating vortex system (14) within the chamber and results in a mixture of fluids from the first fluid inlet (5) and the second fluid inlet(s) (11) being directed through the mixed fluid outlets (12).

Abstract: A fluid mixing device has a chamber with a fluid inlet and an opposite fluid outlet. The device causes a flow of a first fluid wholly occupying the inlet to separate from the chamber wall upstream of the outlet. The distance between the flow separation and the outlet is sufficiently long in relation to the width of the chamber for the separated flow to reattach itself asymmetrically to the chamber wall upstream of the outlet and to exit the chamber through the outlet asymmetrically. A reverse flow of the first fluid at the reattachment and/or a flow of a second fluid induced through the outlet thereby swirls in the chamber between the flow separation and the reattachment and induces precession of the separated/reattached flow. This precession enhances mixing of the flow with the second fluid from the exterior of the chamber.