Solar Thermal Electrical Generation

Introduction

We are building a solar thermal concentrator electrical generation system prototype at Factor e Farm, starting in mid August. We have a Google group organized around this, and a development wiki here.

Some of the highlights are shown in the description below

Research Areas

Key developments involve:

• Reflector structure optimization - lighweight, low-cost support structure is needed
• Tracking system - accurate daily tracking is needed - RedRok tracker may need improvement
• Collector structure optimization - minimize reflective, conductive, emissivity losses
• Steam engine development - digital fabrication molding, casting, and machining of modern steam engine
• Steam cycle optimization of temperature, pressure, cooling, preheating, and energy regeneration regimes

Based on the outcomes of the August prototype, we will continue. Presently, we need to procure a heat engine and test the fabrication procedure of collector/reflector structure to verify cost predictions of $1950 for a 30kW solar intercept system that generates between 500 and 3500 watts of electrical power.

Email Group

Join the Solar Turbine email group

Introduction

We are building a replicable solar thermal concentrator electric power system - on the kW scale. The closest system that we found to our design is:

Source. We should identify and contact the designers.

Design Drawings

The site will be prepared by leveling with a tractor and blade. We are building on the conceptual drawings in Solar Concentrators and Solar_Concentrator_Technical_Drawings:

1. Solar Concentrator Foundation - CEB posts are presently our first choice, but we may revert to lumber if technical difficulties arise
2. Concentrator Structure - collector tube mounting, slat mounting, connecting posts together
3. Mirror Slats - rotation support bearing, bearing mounts, rod, slats, mechanical fasteners
4. Tracking - sensor, actuator, gearing
5. Solar Concentrator Tube - glazing, insulation and cover, tubing connection, attachment to support structure, alignment mechanism

Reflectors, Collector, and Data Acquisition

Overview. Steam is our preferred choice due to its simplicity. I am not sure whether steam will yield the highest efficiency, but we can optimize this point by going to higher temperatures. Advantage: a sustainable resource. Disadvantage: freezes in winter

Updated Designs

Here is an updated proposition from Ben, end of July, 2008:

Marcin proposes the following implementation:

Additional Information

See Solar_Turbine