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=Introduction=
=Introduction=


This page is dedicated to organizing all the aspects of the preparation for Open Solar 2 - OS2 - The Second Solar Power Generator Convergence at Factor e Farm.
This page is dedicated to organizing all the aspects of the preparation for Open Solar 2 - [[OS2]] - The Second Solar Power Generator Convergence at Factor e Farm, to be held August 1-31, 2009. This is a working conference for building a 3 kW prototype of a solar concentrator electric power system.


The main points are to refine the design of the system and prepare all the materials for integration.  
The main points are to refine the design of the system and prepare all the materials for integration.  


The points to develop until OS2 are:
The points to develop prior to OS2 are:


#Demonstrate a working reflector slat. This includes:
#Demonstrate a working reflector slat. This includes (including cost milestones for materials):
##Structure for holding mirrors
##Structure for holding mirrors ($6 per slat, without mirrors)
##Mirror attachment strategy
##Mirror sourcing
##Conrol electronics, motor, feedback sensor, and control logic
##Mirror attachment strategy ($1 per slat)
##Control electronics, motor, feedback sensor, and control logic ($5 per slat)
#Develop an explicit design for the collector tube ($500)
##Source materials
#Develop valving system for collector tube feedwater entry ($150)
#Develop digital fabrication of steam engine ($100)
#Modernize said steam engine with electronic steam injection ($50 for valve and controls)
#Develop a matching electrical generator ($150)
#Integrate additional steam cycle components - cooling, pumping, preheating, superheating ($150)


See [[OS2 Development Points]] for details.  
See [[OS2 Development Points]] for details.


First, we need to develop the single reflector slat mirror mounting and rotation control. The strategy for this is to have a small motor on each slat, plus feedback electronics that sense the location of reflected light on the collector tube, and make ongoing adjustments. While a linkage sounds easier to do, it appears from our research that it is insufficient to align all of the reflectors at one time. The sure bet is individually controlled reflectors, with feedback for adjustment – not a programmed solar tracking path. In this, electronics are cheap, and the price per controller with motor should be about $5 per slat. Our goal is to control 30 feet of length per motor, so 2 motors are required for a 60 foot long array. For 16 slats, that’s 32 motors/controllers.
=Teams=


The second point of development is the collector tube. We need an explicit design that addresses blackbody radiation, conduction, and heat loss from the back of the collector tube.
Development teams for the above are as follows:


The third part is collector tube feedwater. For the solar application, valving is a solution because is requires much less energy to operate than a feedwater pump – on the order of watts instead of hundreds of watts. This means that we’ll have hundreds of watts more usable power – not power that is fed back to water pumps. This valving solution needs to be creative, and may require several feed-in locations throughout the 60 foot long collector. Another company which is currently developing a solar thermal generator is also using valving for exactly the reason of lower power usage, and indeed claims it to be its key to success - (used by another solar power system without a heat engine (https://matteranenergy.us/Contact_Matteran_Energy.html)
#[[OS2 Reflector Team]]
#[[OS2 Collector Tube Team]]
#[[OS2 Collector Feedwater Team]]
#[[OS2 Steam Engine Team]]
#[[OS2 Electronic Steam Injection Team]]
#[[OS2 Generator Team]]
#[[OS2 Steam Cycle Team]]
#[[OS2 Marketing Team]]


The 4th part is the steam engine. These are available at $1370 for a 5 hp engine suitable for our purposes. Our goals is to produce these from scrap metal by casting and machining with digital fabrication assist, for an engine that costs $250 to produce. This is very ambitious, but given that the scrap steel required for this costs only $10, we think this will be feasible. Ball bearings for this engine are the most expensive part, at $20 each – or about $80 total.


The fifth development point is electronic control for the steam engine. The above steam engine is simplified with a major modern advancement – electronically-controlled steam injection. Arduino-based electronics will control a valve that controls the steam feed to optimize steam usage. This is not only a simplification, but also an efficiency boost. The catch is that such valves cost $300 today, so we will be developing an open source solenoid valve at a cost of materials.
Prior to the Convergence, we need to have the components to be tested.  


The sixth improvement that we have to do is a dedicated electrical generator that can be coupled directly to the steam engine for electrical production. We need a dedicated generator optimized for our application – so we need to opensource the electrical generator as well.
[[OS2]] will include the synthesis of the system into a working whole, as we will watch the steam engine spin and power being generated from the generator head.


The seventh development point for the solar power generator is steam cycle integration – from steam injection to the collector tube, to feedwater pumping up to the steam injection part, to cooling and heat recovery. This completes the project.
[[Category:GVCS]]
 
Prior to the Convergence, we expect components to be tested and in working order. In particular

Latest revision as of 08:59, 3 May 2011

Introduction

This page is dedicated to organizing all the aspects of the preparation for Open Solar 2 - OS2 - The Second Solar Power Generator Convergence at Factor e Farm, to be held August 1-31, 2009. This is a working conference for building a 3 kW prototype of a solar concentrator electric power system.

The main points are to refine the design of the system and prepare all the materials for integration.

The points to develop prior to OS2 are:

  1. Demonstrate a working reflector slat. This includes (including cost milestones for materials):
    1. Structure for holding mirrors ($6 per slat, without mirrors)
    2. Mirror sourcing
    3. Mirror attachment strategy ($1 per slat)
    4. Control electronics, motor, feedback sensor, and control logic ($5 per slat)
  2. Develop an explicit design for the collector tube ($500)
    1. Source materials
  3. Develop valving system for collector tube feedwater entry ($150)
  4. Develop digital fabrication of steam engine ($100)
  5. Modernize said steam engine with electronic steam injection ($50 for valve and controls)
  6. Develop a matching electrical generator ($150)
  7. Integrate additional steam cycle components - cooling, pumping, preheating, superheating ($150)

See OS2 Development Points for details.

Teams

Development teams for the above are as follows:

  1. OS2 Reflector Team
  2. OS2 Collector Tube Team
  3. OS2 Collector Feedwater Team
  4. OS2 Steam Engine Team
  5. OS2 Electronic Steam Injection Team
  6. OS2 Generator Team
  7. OS2 Steam Cycle Team
  8. OS2 Marketing Team


Prior to the Convergence, we need to have the components to be tested.

OS2 will include the synthesis of the system into a working whole, as we will watch the steam engine spin and power being generated from the generator head.

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