Solar Concentrator/Research Development
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Overview
Research pertaining to the Solar Concentrator.
Links to DIY Projects
- Fresnel Type, circular from the Ukraine - [1]
Research
- 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.
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.
Development status
Demonstrator SolarOSE (proof of concept of 1KW peak power) : completed
the Functional requirements Full builduing guide Open Hardware on Wikifab.org Full builduing guide Open Hardware 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: osefrance :)
AlphaSole (first module of 5KW Peak power) : on development
Planning
August: Design, final Functional requirements September: BOM + Models Octobre/Novembre: Workshop December-March : Testing March: on production
Functional requirements of Alphasole Prototype
English version here French version here Spanish version here
1) Design requirements
Within the scope of collaborative research, we work on the requirements of each element developped thereafter in the following sections. The discussion history between contributors is available through the links to the forum (in French):
Structure forum link [2] , Concentrator optic forum link [3] , Engines, Program, Captors forum link [4] , Absorber forum link [5] .
2) General
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Reduce risks // Pay a particular attention to parasitic reflexions // *optical risks; *risks related to high pressure and high temperature hydraulic circuit
Cost (material, production, manufacturing, assembling) // Minimum // Minimum<300€/m² // Savings possible with respect to demonstrator
3) Concentrator optic
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Optical efficiency // Reflectivity (at normal angle) 0.9 // 60-70% // To be set more precisely: relevant/optimized geometry, cf forum discussion; reflectivity of mirrors >= 0.9 ; other parameters : fouling, cleaning frequency, evolution through lifetime
Robustness and lifetime // no requirement // 3 to 5 years // To be studied : *time? warranty? how much efficiency loss? renewal point, maintenance frequency... *economic balance? *also to be written in other sections : structure, optic... *set more precisely: expensive elements, frame elements last longer: 20 years or more
Accesibility for cleaning and maintenance // no requirement // yes // *easy cleaning of the mirrors; *maintenance and tuning of the facets once mounted; *access to receptor once mounted
Thermal efficiency of the receptor // secondary concentration on the receptor > 1.5 // 70-80% efficiency as a goal
Total concentration factor // between 15 and 30 // between 15 and 30 // With 20 mirrors, it reaches about 15
Secondary reflector (CPC) : design coordinated with absorber // 60% // yes
4) Structure
Frame of the mirrors set and receptor
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Independant structure: mirror, receptor // yes // No // Fixed relative position, to be set in accordance with latitude
Resistance to ambiant environment // yes, punctually //yes, permanently // wind speed, hail, rain, snow, dust
Sufficient stiffness against vibrations and deformation // yes // yes // ?
Ground fixing // Adjustable feet // Fixed // Concrete base to be planned or fixation to an existing structure, roof... Study carefully stiffness, stability...
Assembling easiness // yes // yes // kit possible
Transport easiness // yes // no
Welding // the less achievable // Ok // No requirement initially, compromise between : building complexity and assembling easiness
Limitation of accident risks // yes // yes // at all stages : manufacturing, assembling...
5) structure of mirrors facets
Fresnel mirror: area 2x2 m² with 20 facets 10 cm wide for use, the requirement regarding the power is to be linked with the area
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Mirror deformation limitation // deflection lower than 5 mm // 0.1° facet orientation, respectively 1cm on the receptor // (a priori) depends on receptor height, valid for 1.5m height
Sun tracking (east west) // >120° respectively 8h tracking // 12h tracking // ?respectively rotation of 90° in 12h
Bad weather protection // yes // yes // for instance: 180° range (mirrors down)
Optical alignment possible through a tuning needless of special tools // yes // yes
Better: procedure to be updated for calibration
Easy switching of mirror facets // yes // yes // more generally: easy maintenance
6) tracking system (engines, program, sensors)
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Real time accurate tracking of the sun motion // yes // yes // Plan a failsoft mode in case of a failure of the tracking system
Motorisation of mirrors // yes // yes
Electricity consumption // - // Minimum achievable // Plan an autonomous working mode (no connection to electical grid)? (photovoltaic pannel?)
Number of engines // Minimum // One per module or one for all the system // To be validated regarding the other technical choices (structure)
Sun tracking to get the right angle // yes // yes, with necessary accuracy // Goal: send all the beams of each mirror on the width of the recptor (CPC width)
Sensors (weather condition detection) // yes // yes // *ambiant temperature, direct sun radiation. (as a complement of process sensors (boiler and use))
Fluid temperature and pressure measurements // yes // drive the circulating pump controlled by pressure and/or temperature (according to use). Steam flow rate sensor? Liquid water level sensor? => depends on type of use
System automatic shutdown // Optional // Safety in case of electrical outage (circulating pump stopped => temperature increase) + in case of a storm (mirrors down (if possible)). (Resistance to hail?)
Simple controlling panel // yes // Programming expert mode when needed, but simple to use
Ideas: remote access (ethernet)? Ease programming, viewing of operating information (and history?) => To be scheduled secondly. But Arduino ports shall be planned right now
7) Receptor (absorber)
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Specific design for the working fluid, natural or forced circulation // 100% // yes
Selective material // High absorption qualities through all the solar spectrum : 100% // Absorbance 90%, infrared emissivity 15% : material intrinsically absorptive (or absorptive coating) // = high absorbance through all the solar spectrum and low infrared emissivity
High thermal exchange between absorber and fluid // 60% // yes // material and conduction-convection in the fluid
The system should be thermally insulated (with respect to ambiant air, infrared radiation) // 60% // yes // see requirement for the overall thermal efficiency (insulation material above and glass below)
Good resistance to temperature variation (material expansion, tightness) // 60% // yes // In particular, risks related to high temperatures and pressure of fluid
Ideas: *modularity is hardly compatible with the high constraints of the absorber (pressure, temperature variation etc.) **In case of frost, the absorber should be emptied (or the frost might destroy it). =>Ambiant temperature sensor + electric valve? =>design of the absorber enabling the complete emtying.
8) Use
Requirements to be defined with user
Running
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Position: avoid building shadow and other masks // - // ?
Running range // - // ? // *for a sun exposure not in first hour nor in last hour, *for which hour range in the day, in the season, * for which latitude
Temperature level // - // ? // Optic and best technology may be different with respect to temperature. Example: *Hot water production at 80°C; *Steam production at 130°C from liquid water; *Steam Superheating from 150°C to 250°C
Hydraulic circuit
requirement // demonstrator // prototype // comment for proto
Pressure losses // - // Minimum // Limit pressure losses, above all for light fluids : air, steam
Open/closed circuit // - // ?
Mineral scale risks // - // ? // Gives good reason to run in a closed circuit...
Fluid // - // ?
Ideas: Could we have a feedback from the user? Which power (mini, maxi average) does he need? During how many hours? And for which season. At my parents', lavander distillery: July. Canned food and Jam from June to september.
See Also
- Solar to Electrical
- Solar Thermal Electrical Generation
- Parabolic Trough Prototype
- Other Solar Thermal Companies
- Solar Collector Calculations
- Linear Fresnel Solar Concentrator
