Parabolic Tracking Solar Concentrator for use with a Stirling Engine
AEDesign has designed and developed a Tracking Solar Concentrator for use with a Stirling Engine (Specifically for Powering Solar Stirling Engine). The Sundish concentrator is to be used for solar thermal applications, to power a Solar Stirling Engine to generate electricity.
AEDesign’s solar dish design eliminates the need for a massive space frame structure, by using strong and stiff reflector panels mounted on spokes and a lighter truss frame connected to hub that holds the Stirling Engine at the other end. These are all supported on a monopole made of standard pipes that need simple foundation. This configuration has made the entire design lighter, modular, transportable, economical and easy to assemble on site. Compared to other technologies such as PV systems, the solar concentrator can work for up to 25 years with a degradation of only 2% over the entire period
As of 30/12/2011, the Pakistan Patent Office has successfully granted AEDesign a patent, no. 141320, on its design of the Tracking Solar Concentrator. The system has been successfully deployed in Sweden as well as a 10-dish solar park being installed in Dubai
The Concentrator
The reflector panels capture light on a parabolic solar collector that turns with the path of the sun. Mirrors concentrate the solar energy to a focus point on the engine where hydrogen gas is passed through a system of pipes. The gas drives the pistons in the Stirling engine without emitting any exhaust fumes. A generator then transforms the kinetic energy into electricity engine.
These panels give a high concentration ratio, focusing sunlight from 9 meter reflectors to a focus spot on the Stirling engine, where this enormous sun power is converted to electricity. The sundish structure is designed, simulated and field tested to work satisfactorily with wind speeds of 16 m/s and survive wind velocity of 44 m/s.
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