Link to document:
Status
Electronic Resource
Call number
Publication
JPL 81 38; Report; May 1981.
Language
Library's review
ABSTRACT:
The objective of this experiment was to demonstrate electrical power generation using a small free-piston Stirling engine and linear alternator in conjunction with a parabolic solar collector.
A test bed collector, formerly used at the JPL Table Mountain Observatory, was renovated and used
The solar receiver was designed to absorb solar energy from the collector, then transfer the resulting thermal energy to the Stirling engine. Successful testing of receiver/collector assembly yielded valuable inputs for design of the Stirling engine heater head.
Phase I of this program involved solar concentrator renovation and recalibration, while Phase II covered initial receiver design and test, plus engine/ alternator development. Although these subassemblies were never tested as a completed system, the engine/alternator combination was successfully tested by the manufacturer.
This experiment ended after completion of engine/alternator tests, but Solar Stirling system development is continuing at JPL on another program with systems in the 15 - 20 kWe class.
The objective of this experiment was to demonstrate electrical power generation using a small free-piston Stirling engine and linear alternator in conjunction with a parabolic solar collector.
A test bed collector, formerly used at the JPL Table Mountain Observatory, was renovated and used
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to obtain practical experience and to determine test receiver performance. The collector was mounted on a two-axis tracker, with a cold water calorimeter mounted on the collector to measure its efficiency, while a separate, independently tracking radiometer was used to measure solar insolation. The solar receiver was designed to absorb solar energy from the collector, then transfer the resulting thermal energy to the Stirling engine. Successful testing of receiver/collector assembly yielded valuable inputs for design of the Stirling engine heater head.
Phase I of this program involved solar concentrator renovation and recalibration, while Phase II covered initial receiver design and test, plus engine/ alternator development. Although these subassemblies were never tested as a completed system, the engine/alternator combination was successfully tested by the manufacturer.
This experiment ended after completion of engine/alternator tests, but Solar Stirling system development is continuing at JPL on another program with systems in the 15 - 20 kWe class.
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