Abstract: A heat storage and transfer method, having: providing a plurality of heat storage and transfer modules, arranged thermally in series, each module of the plurality having a bed of fluidizable solid particles as a heat storage and transfer means; adducting a flow of a heat transfer fluid (HTF) to cross the modules in serial thermal sequence; fluidizing each of the beds of fluidizable solid particles so as to foster heat exchange between the bed particles with said heat transfer fluid, the arrangement being such that the heat transfer fluid can cross the modules in sequence according to opposite directions, to transfer or extract thermal energy, respectively, from the beds of particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation and transfer of thermal energy is disclosed including a thermal energy charging device having a bed of fluidizable solid particles received within a casing and acting as heat accumulation means by being exposed to a thermal energy source, heat exchange means operating in counter-current, configured for an exchange of thermal energy between a heated vector mass of the bed particles and an operative fluid, transport means configured for feeding the vector mass of the bed particles from the device to the heat exchange means and for returning part of the vector mass, downstream the heat exchange means, to the device, and a control unit associated with parameter detecting means arranged selected locations of the apparatus to control the flow of the vector mass within the apparatus.

Abstract: A transport system for high temperature bulk materials in industrial plants, having a plurality of volumetric containers arranged in sequence along a direction of transport and fastened to a movable conveyor belt, which containers have lateral walls which engage mutually to form a continuous transport region.

Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation and transfer of thermal energy is disclosed including a thermal energy charging device having a bed of fluidizable solid particles received within a casing and acting as heat accumulation means by being exposed to a thermal energy source, heat exchange means operating in counter-current, configured for an exchange of thermal energy between a heated vector mass of the bed particles and an operative fluid, transport means configured for feeding the vector mass of the bed particles from the device to the heat exchange means and for returning part of the vector mass, downstream the heat exchange means, to the device, and a control unit associated with parameter detecting means arranged selected locations of the apparatus to control the flow of the vector mass within the apparatus.

Abstract: A treatment system for solid bulk materials such as limestone or mineral ore is provided having a belt conveyor configured for receiving the solid bulk material upon a transportation surface thereof and for displacing the material from a charging region to a discharging region according to a rectilinear path and a heating chamber, configured to receive a solar radiation conveyed by an external field of heliostats. A length portion of the transportation surface passes within or below the heating chamber so that thermal energy associated with the solar radiation is transferred to the bulk material by direct impingement or by reflection or re-irradiation by internal surfaces or walls of the heating chamber.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for the storage and transfer of solar thermal energy which includes a casing having a irradiation opening for the entry of incident solar radiation in a irradiation region of the casing. a bed of fluidizable solid particles received within the casing, and a plurality of reflecting and radiating surfaces arranged within the irradiation region and configured to convey the solar radiation entering through the irradiation opening, after multiple reflections, on the bed of particles.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to use the high temperature thermal power stored in the fluid bed in conjunction with thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technology. TPV technology requires thermal emitters at high temperature (>600° C.) to produce electricity from thermal radiation. TPV thermal emitters are located immersed in or exposed to a hot particles fluidized bed, protected by suitable layers of high temperature resistant material, like ceramic or refractory walls. Such high temperature fluidized bed, will provide thermal power to the TPV cells, to produce electricity.

Abstract: A plant for the accumulation and transfer of thermal energy, which plant has an accumulation device of the kind with a bed of fluidizable solid particles. The plant further has for each accumulation device: electric resistor means arranged within the casing and thermally connected with the bed of particles, which electric resistors are configured for transmitting thermal energy generated by Joule effect to the particles and they are fed by exceeding electric energy from wind or photovoltaic source; and heat exchange means, also thermally connected with the bed of particles and which can be selectively actuated to receive thermal energy therefrom, the overall configuration being such that the thermal energy is transferred from the resistor means to the fluidizable solid particles of the bed and from the fluidizable solid particles to the heat exchange means.

Abstract: A device for accumulation and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin is provided. The device includes: a casing which defines an internal compartment and has an irradiation opening configured to allow the entry of concentrated solar radiation, the opening puts in direct communication the inner compartment with the external environment being devoid, in use, of closure or screen means; a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the inner compartment of the casing, the bed has an operative region directly exposed to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through the opening, in such a way that the particles of the operative region absorb thermal energy from solar radiation; and fluidization means of the bed of particles, configured to adduce a fluidizing gas into the compartment at the operative region.

Abstract: A conveyor belt (10) of closed-path type comprising a plurality of transport plates (50), defining a transport surface for the material in a forward run of the conveyor belt itself, which plates are arranged in sequence along a longitudinal transport direction (L), wherein each plate bears a first (55) and a second (56) longitudinal end portion thereat, in said forward run, it is respectively superimposed on an adjacent plate arranged upstream of the sequence with respect to the longitudinal transport direction and placed under an adjacent plate arranged downstream in such sequence, or vice versa; and an annular structure (51) for connecting said plates being arranged, in said forward run, below said plates, wherein at least one of said plates, at said first or second longitudinal portion of superimposing or placing under an adjacent plate, has a cross section with thickness (s) decreased with respect to a remaining portion of the plate itself.

Abstract: A device for storage and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin, which device is configured to receive a concentrated solar radiation using an optical system of “beam down” type, which device comprises: —a containment casing which defines an internal compartment and has an upper opening configured to allow entry of the concentrated solar radiation, which opening puts in direct communication the internal compartment with the external environment having no closure or screen means; —a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the internal compartment, which bed has an irradiated operative region directly exposed, in use, to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through said opening and a heat accumulation region adjacent to said operative region; —fluidization elements of the bed of particles, configured to feed fluidization air within the compartment, which fluidization means is configured to determine different fluid-dynamic regimens in the operative region and in the accumulation region,

Abstract: A device for accumulation and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin is provided. The device includes: a casing which defines an internal compartment and has an irradiation opening configured to allow the entry of concentrated solar radiation, the opening puts in direct communication the inner compartment with the external environment being devoid, in use, of closure or screen means; a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the inner compartment of the casing, the bed has an operative region directly exposed to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through the opening, in such a way that the particles of the operative region absorb thermal energy from solar radiation; and fluidization means of the bed of particles, configured to adduce a fluidizing gas into the compartment at the operative region.

Abstract: A transport system for the transport of combustion waste, comprising:—a belt conveyor for transporting the waste, arranged at the bottom of a combustion chamber and apt to transport the waste onto a transport surface (311) movable along a longitudinal direction of advancement; and—side boards (81, 82) for containing the waste in a transport region (80), arranged above said transport surface, ratably connected to a casing of the conveyor and bearing wearable members (811, 812) apt to establish a sliding seal with lateral fins (312, 313) of the movable transport surface of the conveyor belt, so that the transported material be confined in the transport region defined by said movable transport surface and by said boards bearing the wearable members.

Abstract: A secondary optical system to increase efficiency in collecting solar radiation concentrated by primary mirrors in “beam-down” plant configurations is described. Such secondary optical system is formed at least by two reflectors—preferably in form of plane mirrors arranged at different heights—oriented to associate to each of them a sub-section of a primary field of heliostats. The secondary reflectors—each one associated to a different primary focus F1,i (i=1, . . . , n) corresponding to a sub-set of primary concentrators—allow concentration of solar rays towards a single secondary focus F2.

Abstract: A conveyor belt (10) of closed-path type comprising a plurality of transport plates (50), defining a transport surface for the material in a forward run of the conveyor belt itself, which plates are arranged in sequence along a longitudinal transport direction (L), wherein each plate bears a first (55) and a second (56) longitudinal end portion thereat, in said forward run, it is respectively superimposed on an adjacent plate arranged upstream of the sequence with respect to the longitudinal transport direction and placed under an adjacent plate arranged downstream in such sequence, or vice versa; and an annular structure (51) for connecting said plates being arranged, in said forward run, below said plates, wherein at least one of said plates, at said first or second longitudinal portion of superimposing or placing under an adjacent plate, has a cross section with thickness (s) decreased with respect to a remaining portion of the plate itself.

Abstract: A device for storage and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin, which device is configured to receive a concentrated solar radiation using an optical system of “beam down” type, which device comprises:—a containment casing which defines an internal compartment and has an upper opening configured to allow entry of the concentrated solar radiation, which opening puts in direct communication the internal compartment with the external environment having no closure or screen means;—a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the internal compartment, which bed has an irradiated operative region directly exposed, in use, to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through said opening and a heat accumulation region adjacent to said operative region;—fluidization elements of the bed of particles, configured to feed fluidization air within the compartment, which fluidization means is configured to determine different fluid-dynamic regimens in the operative region and in the accumulation region, bas

Abstract: A secondary optical system to increase efficiency in collecting solar radiation concentrated by primary mirrors in “beam-down” plant configurations is described. Such secondary optical system is formed at least by two reflectors—preferably in form of plane mirrors arranged at different heights—oriented to associate to each of them a sub-section of a primary field of heliostats. The secondary reflectors—each one associated to a different primary focus F1,i (i=1, . . . , n) corresponding to a sub-set of primary concentrators—allow concentration of solar rays towards a single secondary focus F2.

Abstract: A transport system for the transport of combustion waste, comprising:—a belt conveyor for transporting the waste, arranged at the bottom of a combustion chamber and apt to transport the waste onto a transport surface (311) movable along a longitudinal direction of advancement; and —side boards (81, 82) for containing the waste in a transport region (80), arranged above said transport surface, ratably connected to a casing of the conveyor and bearing wearable members (811, 812) apt to establish a sliding seal with lateral fins (312, 313) of the movable transport surface of the conveyor belt, so that the transported material be confined in the transport region defined by said movable transport surface and by said boards bearing the wearable members.

Abstract: A device (1; 10; 11; 12) for storage and transfer of thermal energy associated with an incident solar radiation, which used in a solar plant for the production of energy, based on an optical plant configuration which makes solar radiation converge from above, and comprises: —a containment casing (2); and—a dual bed (31, 32) of fluidizable particles received inside the casing (2) and arranged the one circumscribed to the other one, wherein the casing (2) has at least one receiving cylindrical cavity (20) which extends through the bed (3) of particles and has a open top inlet (21) for receiving the solar radiation concentrated by a field of heliostats and an open or closed bottom (22) at the level of the base of the bed of particles, the overall arrangement being such that one of the beds of particles (31) is arranged in contact with the side skirt (23) of the cylindrical cavity (20) for storing thermal energy received from the solar radiation and the other one bed of particles (32) is arranged in contact with

Abstract: A device for storage and conveyance of thermal energy for an energy production system apt to receive solar radiation and based on the use of a modular fluidizable granular bed and a heat exchanger associated thereto is described.