Abstract: Solar concentrator plant using natural-draught tower technology, in which the tower is, in turn, used as cooling system. The tower houses saturated or superheated steam receivers in cavities with different orientations, with adaptive dynamic control of the heliostat field in order to direct said receivers towards different focusing points, for the production of electricity, process heat or solar fuels or for use in thermochemical processes.

Abstract: Dehumidifier for photovoltaic modules, of a series of photovoltaic concentration modules, formed by a common air inlet and outlet access that communicates all the modules, and which passes through a bed of moisture absorbing material, having an electrical self-adjusted resistance (15) installed therein. The circuit is completed with a solenoid valve (13), a flow switch (19), a non-return valve (12); a pressure switch (16) and a timer relay (20). The process is based on pressure differences existing within the photovoltaic modules throughout the day, and consists of two steps: drying air by passing through the bed of absorbent material before entering into the photovoltaic modules and the regeneration of the drying system, which can be automatically or manually by connecting a compressor or fan.

Abstract: Air- and steam-technology combined solar plant for use in the fields of electricity production, process heat, and solar fuels, as well as thermo-chemical processes, produced from the combination of a non-pressurised-air solar receptor, a saturated-steam solar receptor and a heat exchanger separate from the solar input that is used to produce overheated steam.

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: The invention relates to a solar receiver with natural circulation for generating saturated steam, which uses water/steam as a heat-transfer fluid and includes a combined circuit for fluid recirculation (forced circulation and natural circulation). The system comprises: water-walls which receive the radiation on the surface thereof and inside which the working fluid changes phase; riser pipes through which the water/steam mix exiting the pipes of the receiver rises towards the boiler; downpipes through which the recirculation water descends from the boiler to the receiver; and a support pump in order to increase the incident power in the receiver and start up the plant when necessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable-spectrum solar simulator for characterising photovoltaic systems. The simulator can be used to obtain a spectrum adjusted to the solar spectrum, both for a standard spectrum or a real spectrum adjusted to local irradiation conditions. The simulator also allows the spatial-angular characteristics of the sun to be reproduced.

Abstract: Which, using a heat transfer fluid in any thermodynamic cycle or system for using process heat, comprises: two-dimensional solar concentrator means for heating the heat transfer fluid from a temperature T1 to a temperature T2; three-dimensional solar concentrator means for overheating the heat transfer fluid from a temperature T2 to a temperature T3; such that the advantages of working at high-temperatures of the three-dimensional solar concentrator means are taken advantage of with overall costs similar to those of two-dimensional solar concentrator means. In a specific application for generating electric power, the two-dimensional solar concentrator means consist of a parabolic trough collector (1), while the three-dimensional solar concentrator means consist of a heliostat field and central tower (2) for generating overheated steam that expands in a turbine (6) coupled to an electric generator (7).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger configured to capture energy by radiation, comprising at least one flag-shaped basic exchanger (10), including: a) an input collector (5) and an output collector (6); b) a plurality of exchange tubes (1) connected to the input collector (5) and to the output collector (6), respectively, and stacked so as to halt the incident radiation, each tube (1) being provided in the form of a hairpin with one curved part at the head of the pin (4) and two arms (2, 3) adjoining essentially vertically and on the largest part of the length thereof, the end of the tubes (1) at the pin head (4) being free and the tubes (1) being self-supported at the ends thereof connected to said collectors (5, 6).

Abstract: Selective solar absorbent coating and manufacturing method, with solar absorption and low emissivity properties. The coating comprises a substrate (1) of metal, dielectric or ceramic material, at least one highly reflective metal layer (2) in mid-far infrared applied to the substrate itself which provides low emissivity properties, a multi-layer structure of alternating dielectric and metallic layers (3) of subnanometric thickness applied to the reflective metal layer and at least one dielectric layer (4) that acts as an anti-reflective layer for the solar spectrum. The coating is applicable as a selective absorbent coating in absorbent tubes for parabolic-trough solar collectors, in solar panels for hot water, heating or domestic cooling, both in the form of absorbent tubes and absorbent sheets, in capture systems in tower solar thermoelectric power plants, and in capture systems in Stirling disk systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed mechanical connection between glass and metal for receiver tubes used in solar plants of the type using a heat-transfer fluid, which uses a mechanical force in order to establish the seal between the inner metal tubes and the outer glass tubes, between which tubes a high vacuum is established in order to prevent heat losses. According to the invention, a flexible, deformable metal joint is used for the above-mentioned seal, which joint, when duly compressed, adapts to the corresponding surfaces of the tubes to be sealed, thereby establishing the seal between the respective tubes. In addition, the invention can include a continuous system for maintaining the necessary vacuum between both types of tubes.

Abstract: Low concentration solar plant and method for maximizing the electricity production of the photovoltaic modules thereof, that uses a combination of tracking and low concentration solar technologies for maximizing the electricity production of conventional photovoltaic modules, the system used to protect the modules being any method designed to protect photovoltaic modules from the damage they may suffer when subjected to very high intensity solar radiation. Preferably, to avoid possible damage, the invention proposes a temperature measurement and/or control system that assists a mechanism for defocusing the photovoltaic modules when said radiation reaches a predetermined level. The invention is applicable to photovoltaic solar electricity production.

Abstract: A light collection and concentration system includes a primary light concentrator, a light transport structure, and a light directing structure optically associated with the primary light concentrator. The system may include an optional secondary light concentrator. Each unit-system includes a plurality of the primary light concentrators and a respective plurality of the light directing structures, and only a single light transport structure. A photo-voltaic (PV) cell may advantageously be associated with each unit-system. Solar radiation is focused by the primary concentrators onto respective light directing structures incorporated in a low aspect ratio, sheet-type waveguide light transport structure. Each respective light directing structure intercepts the focused light and deflects it transversely to travel along the length of the light transport structure primarily via total internal reflection (TIR) towards an exit-end of the light transport structure, where it can be input to the PV cell.

Abstract: A light collection and concentration system includes a primary light concentrator, a light transport structure, and a light directing structure optically associated with the primary light concentrator. The system may include an optional secondary light concentrator. Each unit-system includes a plurality of the primary light concentrators and a respective plurality of the light directing structures, and only a single light transport structure. A photo-voltaic (PV) cell may advantageously be associated with each unit-system. Solar radiation is focused by the primary concentrators onto respective light directing structures incorporated in a low aspect ratio, sheet-type waveguide light transport structure. Each respective light directing structure intercepts the focused light and deflects it transversely to travel along the length of the light transport structure primarily via total internal reflection (TIR) towards an exit-end of the light transport structure, where it can be input to the PV cell.

Abstract: A solar concentration plant which uses water/steam as a heat-carrying fluid, in any thermodynamic cycle or system for the exploitation of process heat, which is comprised of an evaporation subsystem, where saturated steam is produced under the conditions of pressure of the system, and a superheater subsystem through which the steam reaches the required conditions of pressure and temperature at the turbine inlet, and in which an attemperation system (10) may be incorporated, these being physically separated and interconnected by means of a drum (5) in which the separation of water and steam takes place, and in which a strategic control of the pointing of the field of heliostats (1) towards either of the subsystems (evaporator or superheater) may be carried out, with individual or group pointing of the heliostats, in such a way that they jointly control both the pressure within the drum (5) and the outlet temperature of the superheated steam (11).