Solar Concentrator/Research Development

Overview

Research pertaining to the Solar Concentrator.

Links to DIY Projects

• Fresnel Type, circular from the Ukraine - [1]

Research

• Category:Solar Power
• Category:Solar Turbine

• Google.org
• Wikipedia: Maximum Power Point Tracking
• build it solar projects
• Arduino Heliostat / solar tracking

http://openframeworks.cc could have some useful code and application to this. It would probably only use one of these systems displayed. Also generally an amazing resource for realtime 3d, robotics, arduino control.

• Solar Furnace
• non-imaging optics
• Desert Bloom fresnel lens collectors

Open Source Ecology driven projects

We proceeded using the iterated method product development lifecycle, defining the functional requirements, building table models, building the actual project. We started with a proof of concept developped in August 2015 during POC21 event in France, it was named Solar-OSE We are moving toward the first "alpha" version, not yet optimized in terms of costs, method of build and quality but full size, named Alpha-Sole it will be built in Autumn 2016. We will then develop the third and final version of this machine that will be fully optimized, yet to be named and conceptualized based on the findings over Alpha Sole and Solar Ose.

Demonstrator SolarOSE (proof of concept of 1KW peak power) : completed

the Functional requirements
Full builduing guid on Wikifab.org
Full builduing guid on instructables
Complementary to this manual, you can find online more information on:

   Software, Electronics, Modelling (once finalized), documentation, licence details: see Github
   discussions on our Forum
   the documentation and collaborative writing in French on our Wiki
   functional requirements giving a comparison between the present demonstrator and the next prototype
   the project in French:
   you can subscribe to our newsletter and more on our website: [www.opensourceecologie.org www.osefrance.fr] :)

Functional requirements

  English version here
  French version here
  Spanish version here

Planning

  August: Design
  September: BOM + Models
  Octobre/Novembre: Workshop
  December-March : Testing 
  March: on production

Functional Requirements of the Demonstrator SolarOSE

Open Source Ecologie team (OSE French chapter) is researching and developping the linear fresnel reflector. the team want to hear from you on the set of requirements you would expect as output from the solar concentrator of this kind. the current work in progress is located [| here]

you can see 2 columns describing the level required at the 2 different phases of the project, for each requirement we expressed the rate of achievement required.

Phase 1 - Demonstrateur : is the proof of concept that will be presented in the "[| Villages des alternatives]" in Paris the September 26th 2015 of 4m^2 of mirrors. Phase 2 - Prototype a: is the full scale product that we expect to deliver early 2016 after a crowdfunding campaign launched during the Villages des alternatives. This will be the Alpha prototype.

The French ethercalc version of this work-in-progress product specification requirement is located [| here]

this document is part of the Product Document Requirement

Introduction

Added to this list of specific requirements, the general [| OSE Specification for product design ] should be also applied during the conception and design.

After conception and design are completed, a score will be attributed based on the [[ http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/OSE_Specifications_Assessment_Template | Ose Specifications evaluation Template]] and its adherence to the below set of requirements.

the discussions can be carried out on the [open forum]

General

[General on the Forum]

   

  

  
Prototype A size 1
  Solar concentrator
  
Proof of concept / Demonstrateur
  
 

  
must be DIY
  friendly (which gives advantage to the linear fresnel reflector type of concentrator)
  
100%
  
50%
  
 

  
Linear fresnel
  reflector with double concentration CPC
  
100%
  
50%
  
 

  
5KW heat power
  output (about 10m^2)
  
100%
  
10%
  
 

  
able to reach
  more than 250øC
  
100%
  
70%
 
 

  
must allow
  (with additional modules) both N/S and E/W axis of installation
  
60%
  
60%
 
 

  

  
    
 

Structure

[Structure on the Forum]

	Prototype A size 1 Solar concentrator	Proof of concept / Demonstrateur
Must support the whole Solar Concentrator system	100%	100%
Must allow mirrors rotation of 270ø with a complete reverse of the mirror in case of bad weather conditions	100%
structure and design OSE Compatible http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/OSE_Specifications_for_Product_Design	100%	70%
Ground implantation must assure sufficient stability
Sufficent rigidity to assure resistance to vibrations or impacts	70%	70%
Easily assembled with modular-easy to transport components	70%	70%
Easy optical alignment (assured by any mean - ie. Tracks, giudelines, holes, etc)	100%	100%
Mobile support of the mirrors to avoid deformation due to weight, wind, vibrations, etc	100%
must be designed to reduce any risk concern	80%	60%
Cost optimized	80%	60%
Optionally without any weldering as much as possible
optionally the concentrator and the absorber have indipendent structures (pro: less vibrations, cons: harder to align correctly)
Optionally, if N/S oriented, allow to move the mirrors toward south in order to allow seasonal optimization
with E/W axis, must allow 1*focal lenght of mirrors lenght more than absorber on both W and E direction	100%	100%

Optical Concentration

[|Optical concentration]

	Prototype A size 1 Solar concentrator	Proof of concept / Demonstrateur
Mirror's Geometry to be (to define based on best optical optimization, in progress)
Mirrors with high reflectivity (>90% on wide spectrum)	100%	100%
resistant mirrors with high lifespan for external usage.	100%	100%
Mirrors easy to clean	100%	70%
Secondary concentration on the absorber higher than 2x	100%	70%
total factor of concentration 25	100%	70%
mirrors easy to fix and replace on their support	100%	70%
must be designed to reduce any risk concern	80%	60%
Cost optimized	80%	60%

Absorber

[Absorber]

	Prototype A size 1 Solar concentrator	Proof of concept / Demonstrateur
specially designed for the selected thermal fluid, with passive or forced circulation	100%	100%
Absorbing material with high optical absorbtion rate on wide spectrum	100%	100%
elevated thermal exchange Absorber / Fluid	80%	60%
high thermal insulation (from external air, from the point of contact with the structure, from IR radiations)	80%	60%
High resistance of thermal variation constraints (high temperature and valiration, high pressure and variation, thermal expansions and contractions)	80%	60%
Specially designed for the secondary concentrator	80%	60%
must be designed to reduce any risk concern	80%	60%
Cost optimized	80%	60%

Motors, Tracker, Programs

[Motors, trackers, programs]

	Prototype A size 1 Solar concentrator	Proof of concept / Demonstrateur
Must allow for a real time follow & programmed sun follow based on Lat/long	80%	60%
Automatically detect and self protect in case of bad weather	80%	60%
Must be able to track the sun and send the correct angle in order to optimize concentration	80%	60%
Must be able to sense temperature and pressure at fluid input and output	80%	60%
programmable to stop automatically	80%	60%
must provide an easy GUI control interface (optionally handled through cloud, with data collection)	80%

Modelling and studies

[Modeling and studies]

	Prototype A size 1 Solar concentrator	Proof of concept / Demonstrateur
Optimisation of Solar concentrator design	80%	60%
Self pilot of the solar concentrator (must perform a logical analysis of current solar concentrator of JB)	80%	40%
Tools to predict energetical production based on geography
Model of economical and technical conditions for optimal usage of the solar concentrator
Finalize localized business case	80%	40%
Identify technical modifications needed to adapt to new usage	80%	40%

See Also

• Solar to Electrical
• Solar Thermal Electrical Generation
• Parabolic Trough Prototype
• Other Solar Thermal Companies
• Solar Collector Calculations
• Linear Fresnel Solar Concentrator

The Global Village Construction Set
Habitat	CEB Press	Cement Mixer	Sawmill	Bulldozer	Backhoe
Agriculture	Tractor	Seeder	Hay Rake	Well-Drilling Rig
	Microtractor	Soil Pulverizer	Spader	Hay Cutter	Trencher
	Bakery Oven	Dairy Milker	Microcombine	Baler
Industry	Multimachine	Ironworker	Laser Cutter	Welder	Plasma Cutter
	CNC Torch Table	Metal Roller	Rod and Wire Mill	Press Forge	Universal Rotor
	3D Printer	3D Scanner	CNC Circuit Mill	Industrial Robot	Chipper Hammermill
	Drill Press	Induction Furnace
Energy	Power Cube	Gasifier Burner	Solar Concentrator	Electric Motor Generator	Hydraulic Motor
	Steam Engine	Heat Exchanger	Wind Turbine	Pelletizer	Universal Power Supply
	Nickel-Iron Battery
Materials	Aluminum Extractor	Bioplastic Extruder
Transportation	Car	Truck
Key	Design	Planning	Prototype	Almost done	Full Release