Abstract: New expansion compensating device and manufacturing method of the same, of those used in solar power absorber tubes featuring a dual bellows design where the height of the waves of the bellows is not regular, but the second wave is greater (where it supports more load) and diminishes towards the ends. With this design improving the performance of the receiver is achieved because it shortens the length of the device and consequently there is more surface area receiving solar radiation as well as it decreases the necessary diameter of glass tube and therefore its cost.

Abstract: A reflective photovoltaic solar concentration system is formed by a primary reflecting mirror (1) changing the direction of the light beams entering the system and redirecting the beams toward a secondary reflecting mirror (2), changing again the direction of the received light beams and redirecting them toward a tertiary optical element (3), which in turn transmits the received light beams to a photovoltaic receiver. The tertiary optical element (3) has a convex-curved input face (4) of circular section, and truncated pyramid section (5) which transmits the received light beams by complete internal reflection to a photovoltaic receiver. The leading end (6) of the truncated pyramid section (5) has, immediately after the input face (4), a circular cross-section (6) which is progressively transformed into a square cross-section until reaching the trailing end (7) of the truncated pyramid section (5).

Abstract: Manageable hybrid plant using photovoltaic and solar thermal technology and associated operating method, wherein said hybrid plant comprises three levels of generation: Level 1 (1) of photovoltaic generation (42) covering the self consumption of the plant; Level 2 (2) of generation of the solar thermal plant (44) and another part of photovoltaic generation (45) that covers the consumption of the auxiliary services of the solar thermal plant (43); Level 3 (3) of generation of another area of photovoltaic production (46) that improves the total production curve, the total power generated by the hybrid plant and discharged into the network (47), being the result of the sum of generation of the three levels. The photovoltaic modules of the invention are located in: in the north or south side of the tower not occupied by the cavity; the area surrounding the solar receivers of the tower; on covers or roofs of the plant at the rear of the heliostats; on land annexed to the tower plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel arrangement of non-evaporable getters for a tube solar collector, said tube collector being of the type that includes an outer glass tube (2); an inner metal tube (3) through which a heat-transfer fluid flows; a vacuum chamber between both tubes; and, at the ends, non-evaporable getter pellets (1) that absorb gas molecules that could produce a loss of vacuum between the inner tube (3) and the outer tube (2) and the covers (8) at which a bellows-type expansion compensating device (4) is positioned. The inner metal tube (3) and outer glass tube (2) are positioned eccentrically to one another, forming a thicker area and a narrower area in the cover (8), said narrower area being used for the positioning, by means of bonding, of the non-evaporable getter pellets (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a prestressed solar collector module forming a support structure for solar collectors, of the type formed by a lattice bar structure including a central beam (1) essentially characterized in that: the central beam or torque box (1) takes the form of a multi-face polyhedron or cylinder, that is divided into sections (3) each section (3) being formed by multiple bent or curved plates (4), a surrounding triangular lattice structure (16) is provided to support the parabolic reflector (17) which structure is formed with L-shaped elements, all of the connections being formed with rivets, and all of the structure is prestressed using a series of tension rods (13, 14, 15) which optimise the flexural behaviour of the structure and which include end anchoring points and intermediate through-points allowing the necessary curvature to be obtained and the tension to be maintained.

Abstract: Coil solar receiver for a Stirling disk, the main components of which are pipes (where the sun hits), collectors, tanks and cupolas (of which there are two types, one that houses the regenerator, and the expansion cupola that is the area where the working gas is at a higher temperature) that includes a series of pipes (1) that perpendicularly exit from one collector (2) and perpendicularly enter another (2) and where each pipe consists of two semicircumferential curved parts (10) and three straight parts (11) parallel to one another: a center straight part (between curve and curve) and two straight parts on the ends (between the curve and the exit of one collector (2)), the two straight end parts being located on the same plane, while the center straight part is located in a separate plane.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for the preparation of graphene or graphenic material films by the carbonization of biopolymers. The method comprises the following stages: preparation of an aqueous solution of a non-crystallizable water-soluble biopolymer or a derivative of said biopolymer at the suitable pH, coating of the substrate with the aqueous solution of the biopolymer prepared in the previous stage by immersion of the substrate in said solution or by using the spin coating technique, conditioning of the aqueous solution of the biopolymer by means of a hydrothermal process consisting of subjecting the coated surface to a flow of nitrogen saturated with water vapor at the temperature of between 100 and 250° C. for a time between 30 minutes and several hours, thermal decomposition of the biopolymer deposited on the substrate in the absence of oxygen at temperatures below 1200° C.

Abstract: An economizer in a solar tower plant and operating method of said plant the purpose whereof is to make use of the heat from the heat losses generated around the solar tower receivers (3) to preheat the fluid with which the saturated steam or superheated steam solar receivers are fed. When the heat from the losses absorbed by the economizer (2) is not sufficient to achieve the necessary minimum temperature, a secondary economizer (4) is used which takes live steam (prior to it entering the turbine) and increases the temperature of the feed water of the receiver (3).

Abstract: Molten salt solar receiver and procedure to reduce the temperature gradient in said receiver. The receiver consists of at least one panel of semi cylindrical geometry, formed by a combination of vertical pipes. The receiver (10) is supplied with a heat transfer fluid made up of molten salts which originate from a recirculation system which is composed of a mixture deposit (6), a hot salt storage tank (9) and a cold salt storage tank (8); the mixture tank (6) which is supplied by a part of the hot heat transfer fluid (4) which exits the receiver (10) and the cold heat transfer fluid (5) which exits the cold salt storage tank (8); the hot salt storage tank is connected to the exit of the receiver (10) so that a part of the heat transfer fluid which does not recirculate is stored (3).

Abstract: Structure with primary-reflector securing beams for a solar collector, which comprises the following essential components: at least two components (1) located in a parallel manner, which comprise a three-bar frame (11) in the form of an equilateral triangle, positioned such that one of the vertices (13) thereof is the lowest point of the structure, and which has three shorter interior bars (12) located so as to simulate the triangle having an inscribed hexagon, within which runs the central tube of the structure, or torque box; two cantilever beams (2) in each triangle with bars (1), one beam starting from one of the sides of the triangle and the other from the other, said beams being completely symmetrical and it being possible for said beams to be produced from tubes or a stamped metal sheet; at least two straps (3) that run along the structure longitudinally, i.e.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable reflectometer and to a method for characterizing the collector mirrors used in solar power plants for the in-field characterization of reflection coefficients. The equipment includes all of the components required for this measurement, such as a module to measure the reflection coefficient of the mirror, an electronic data acquisition and processing system, a system for processing data and controlling the equipment, a system for storing the data of interest, a user interface system, and a system allowing communication between the aforementioned systems and an outer casing. The equipment can be used to characterize the specular reflection coefficient of flat or curved mirrors of different thicknesses, without requiring adjustments to be made to the equipment, minimizing the influence of diffuse reflection on the measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar tracker having oleo-hydraulic cylinders that increase the rigidity of the system by keeping the two chambers of each cylinder pressurized, even while on stand-by. This makes the system more accurate, avoiding undesirable cylinder movement caused by oil compression. The system includes a circuit having at least one cylinder assembly (8,9), an oleo-hydraulic plant and a control system (5), wherein the oleo-hydraulic plant supplies the oil to the cylinders controlling the speed of movement of these latter, and the control system (5) supervises and controls the correct operation of the entire system and protects said system against possible accidents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure for a cylindrical solar collector, comprising a lattice bar structure (16) with a beam or torque box (1) at the centre thereof, said structure being capable of supporting receivers (2) of any shape and continuous or discontinuous primary reflectors (17, 17?) also of any shape (parabolic, parametric, etc.). The structure can also support a secondary reconcentrator. According to the invention, the torque box (1) is multi-face polyhedron or cylinder that is divided into various sections (3), each of the sections (3) in turn being formed by multiple plates (4). The surrounding triangular lattice structure (16) is formed with L-sections, all of the connections being formed with rivets or the like. The structure comprises multiple hexagonal frames (19) along the length of the torque box (1), surrounding and reinforcing the latter and multiple supports that hold the receiver above the torque box (1).

Abstract: Concave receiver for a Stirling dish the main components of which are tubes (which form the surface on which the concentrated solar light beam falls), collectors (welded to the tubes and place the fluid that runs through the tubes in communication with the tanks), tanks (the internal areas of the collectors from which the working gas is distributed to each of the tubes) and cupolas (of which there are two types, that for housing the regenerator and the expansion cupola which is the area where the working gas is at a higher temperature) comprising a series of tubes (10, 11) extending from one collector (2), perpendicular thereto, to the other (2), also perpendicular thereto, and having a straight part (12) running from the inside of each collector (2) to the point where the tube starts to curve and a central part (13) in the shape of an arc of a circumference.

Abstract: The invention can be used to improve the yield of degraded heat transfer oil (1) recovered from a solar thermal facility, comprising the successive separation of heavy components (4) (ortho-, meta- and para-terphenyl) and light components (7) (phenol and benzene). The plant comprises: an air-cooled cooler (2) which cools the degraded heat transfer oil (1) to obtain a cooled oil (12); a distillation column (3) which separates the heavy components (4) and a vapour (15) of light components (7) plus oil from the cooled heat transfer oil (12); and a rectifier (6) which separates the light components (7) and the regenerated oil (17) from the vapour (15). The method comprises the cooling of the degenerated heat transfer oil (1) in the air-cooled cooler (2), the separation of the heavy components (4) in the distillation column (3), and the separation of the light components (7) and the regenerated oil (17) in the rectifier (6).

Abstract: Method for distributing heliostats in a tower solar plant surrounded by a field of heliostats which reflect solar radiation on said tower. The distribution method for said heliostats consists of imitating the systems that are found in nature to maximize the collection of light (plant seeds, leaves and petals) and which is mathematically described by Fermat spirals in a number belonging to the Fibonacci series, through the placement, in polar coordinates, of each heliostat according to a radius and an angle defined by r n = c n · n ; ? n = n · 2 · ? ? 2 ; being: rn distance from the tower (2) to the position of the heliostat n (3), ?n the angle formed by the radius rn with the radius rn-1, n number of the heliostat (3) we wish to place, cn parameter that corresponds to the compactness index of the heliostats (3) in the plant, ? the irrational limit of the golden section, i.e.

Abstract: Portable spectrophotometer and method for characterizing solar collector tubes for simultaneously and on-field characterizing reflection and transmission coefficients. This device includes all the components needed to take this measurement, such as a module that takes the measurement of the reflection coefficient (R) of the inner tube (1?), a module that takes the measurement of transmission coefficient (T) of the outer tube (1?), an electronic data acquisition and processing system (12), an external computer (13) for controlling the device and sending the measured data (17) and a communication system (15) between device and the computer (13).

Abstract: A concentrated photovoltaic solar system has a Fresnel lens concentrator (1) with a constant facet thickness in a first zone, a the central area of the lens (1), then has a constant facet height in a second zone at the peripheral area of the lens (1), in order to maximize the optical efficiency of the lens (1) and maintain the typical system aberrations under control. The concentrated photovoltaic solar system also includes a secondary optical element 2 with a circular intake face (3) and convex curvature, a section to accommodate a rim (4), and a pyramid section (6), the transverse section changing from a circle into a square in the lower end (7) where the photovoltaic receiver is housed. This system improves optical and thermodynamic efficiency of existing systems, facilitates the production and installation in the photovoltaic module, and reduces manufacturing-related costs.

Abstract: A solar concentration plant which uses water/steam as a fluid, in any thermodynamic cycle for the exploitation of process heat, comprising an evaporation subsystem, where saturated steam is produced, a superheater subsystem through which the steam reaches the required conditions of pressure and temperature at the turbine inlet, and an attemperation system interconnected by a drum. A field of heliostats is pointed towards either of the subsystems (evaporator or superheater), in such a way to control both the pressure within the drum and the outlet temperature of the superheated steam.

Abstract: Novel glass compositions and method for producing a glass/metal join, in which the novel glass comprises: Oxide (%) B2O3 ??8-13.5 Al2O3 5-9 Na2O 3-9 K2O 0-5 CaO 2-4 MgO 0-4 ZnO 0-4 SiO2 Up to 100 depending on the necessary requirements, owing to the significance thereof the thermal expansion coefficient, such that this thermal expansion coefficient is adjusted to match that of the metal part or alloy with which the glass/metal weld is to be achieved, which makes it possible to satisfactorily produce said weld which results in a strong glass/metal join, that is free from tensile stresses and that is durable over time and may be used, inter alia, to obtain parts that form part of solar collectors.