Importance

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Abstract

One disclosed embodiment is a concentrated solar thermal system for re-melting recycled or scrap metal. The system includes a solar receiver configured to receive concentrated solar flux reflected from one or many reflecting surfaces to heat a quantity of the recycled metal and cause at least a portion of the recycled metal to melt. The molten metal is then passed to a solidification stage where the molten metal may be cast into any type of solid form useful for sale or the subsequent production of metal products. The solidified metal may be sold or otherwise removed from the system. In certain embodiments, heat exchange is made to occur between the molten metal and the working fluid of an electrical power generation cycle resulting in electrical power generation. Methods of remelting metal using solar thermal power and methods of generating power using a molten metal heat transfer material derived from recycled metal or scrap are also disclosed.

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First Claim