OS2 FAQ
FAQ on OS2
- Why are you going with a linear system, the linear Fresnel reflectors?
In short, Ausra is doing it, and they are to date the most successful solar thermal concentrator electric enterprise concept. For the longer answer - simplicity and low-to-the-ground mounting structure combine to the lowest cost possible. Other concentrator systems require large structures for windloading. Note that we are talking about the most effective way to concentrate a lot of sun onto a small target. The key to that is minimizing structure costs. The linear Fresnel system accomplishes this.
- Why are you going with flat collectors if parabolic collectors are able to focus sun to a finer line? After all, Ausra has curved collectors, and they are the best in the business.
Correct on your point. We are optimizing our system for a smaller scale, on the order of KW instead of MW. At this scale, it is more difficult to bend small mirrors of 6 or 12" width. Ausra mirrors are almost 6 feet across. Moreover, because we are not bending our mirrors, we are hoping for lower cost as well. As a third optical detail, you must consider that parabolic mirrors produce defocusing through the day, as the distance of solar rays from the reflectors to the collector tube changes throughout the day.