US 12,379,135 B1
Systems and methods for high temperature bulk solid storage and handling
Clifford K. Ho, Albuquerque, NM (US); Kevin Albrecht, Albuquerque, NM (US); Jeremy Niko I. Sment, Albuquerque, NM (US); Joshua M. Christian, Albuquerque, NM (US); Timothy A. Harvey, Columbus, OH (US); and Matthew Lambert, Columbus, OH (US)
Assigned to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US); Timothy A Harvey, Columbus, OH (US); and Allied Mineral Products, Inc., Columbus, OH (US)
Filed by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US); Matrix PDM Engineering, Columbus, OH (US); and Allied Mineral Products, Inc., Columbus, OH (US)
Filed on May 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/876,450.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/849,065, filed on May 16, 2019.
Int. Cl. F24S 20/20 (2018.01); F24S 60/10 (2018.01); F24S 80/20 (2018.01); F24S 80/30 (2018.01); F24S 80/65 (2018.01); F24S 80/00 (2018.01)
CPC F24S 20/20 (2018.05) [F24S 60/10 (2018.05); F24S 80/20 (2018.05); F24S 80/30 (2018.05); F24S 80/65 (2018.05); F24S 2080/012 (2018.05)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A storage bin for particles heated by a concentrating solar power receiver, comprising:
a shell and a base that define an internal volume, the shell comprising a bin inlet and the base comprising a bin outlet;
wherein the shell comprises an outer shell and an insulative layer between the outer shell and the internal volume; and
wherein the base includes an internal surface facing the internal volume that is within 10° of horizontal when the storage bin is operational; and
wherein the bin inlet is connected to a particle feed that provides particles heated by the concentrating solar power receiver to the internal volume; and
wherein the internal volume is accessible only by the bin inlet and the bin outlet; wherein the storage bin further comprises:
a feed tube extending from the inlet into the internal volume, wherein the feed tube comprises an end cap opposite the inlet that prevents particles falling through the feed tube from directly impacting the base; and
wherein the feed tube further comprises a plurality of openings that distribute particles from within the feed to the internal volume.