Low-Cost Distributed Solar-Thermal-Electric Power Generation

低成本分布式太阳能-热发电我们讨论了基于太阳能集热器（STC）与自由活塞斯特林发动机结合使用的低成本分布式太阳能-热发电技术的技术和经济可行性。太阳能集热器将由低浓度非成像聚光器和具有光谱选择性涂层的吸收器组成。斯特林发动机通过综合发电的方式将中等温度的热量转化为电能。尽管它的转化率相对较低。从效率上讲，所提议的系统可能是一个代价。太阳能光伏（PV）组件的有效替代方案，如项目描述中所述。该系统被设想在125℃至150℃的集热器温度范围内运行，这与使用低浓度非成像反射器的固定式太阳能集热器的使用是一致的。因此，该系统避免了与基于高浓度比浓缩器的跟踪收集器相关的成本和维护问题。我们认为花费是e。太阳能电力技术的有效性应该以每美元的输出功率来判断，而不是以e来判断。熟练或其他技术优点。这个视图是。他认为，在世界城市和农村地区都有大量未开发的选址机会。对光电的研究一直集中在改善e。由于硅片面积的固有成本没有明显的下降，所以效率很高。然而，拟议的太阳能-热电系统是为低成本材料制造而设计的。集热器由玻璃、铝、铜和绝缘材料制成，而发动机和发电机主要由钢、铝、铜和塑料制成。在大批量生产中，拟议系统的成本将由其散装材料的重量决定。这项太阳能-热电系统的研究包括寻找一种成本更高的方法。系统e之间的有效平衡。效率和材料成本。更广泛的影响通过使用可再生分布式能源实现能源独立和多样化对我们社会的未来至关重要。在项目描述中，我们提出了一个案例，即所提议的技术的成本约为每瓦峰值输出功率1美元。因此，这项技术将代表至少一个。在成本方面比光伏技术提高5倍。如果在10年的使用寿命中，每天平均运行4小时，对该技术的能源成本进行简单估算，成本约为0.066美元/千瓦时。虽然比不上最低的电力成本，但考虑到这项技术本身的额外优势，这无疑是一项使其非常有价值的能源成本。也就是说，这是一种分布式可再生能源，其可用性与高峰需求时间相当匹配。此外，该技术非常适合以类似于光伏发电的方式进行分布式部署。因此，对于没有公用事业基础设施或成本过高的偏远地区，以及住宅和商业场所，作为光伏发电的替代品，它将是有价值的。PI一直积极将研究纳入新的和现有的课程，并计划结合拟议的工作继续进行这项工作。PI还积极寻求在他的项目中包括代表性不足的学生群体。加州大学伯克利分校在伯克利分校举办了夏季工程研究本科项目，该项目面向代表性不足和少数民族的学生，网址为http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/cues/superb/index.html)program。PI计划在夏季期间积极招募SUPERB项目的学生参与拟议的项目。本文概述了一种通过寻求使成本与输出功率比最小化来实现可再生能源的直接策略。我们分析了包括太阳能集热器和低温斯特林发动机在内的集成系统的成本。提出了一种新的多相自由活塞斯特林机械设计方案，并对其设计和评价采用了严格的分析技术。具体地说，讨论了一个没有机械连杆，只有三个运动部件的斯特林机床。这种设计固有地允许较长的免维护寿命和非常低的摩擦损耗

Low-Cost Distributed Solar-Thermal-Electric Power GenerationWe discuss the technical and economic feasibility of a low-cost distributed solar-thermal-electricpower generation technology based on the use of a solar thermal collector (STC)in conjunction witha free-piston Stirling engine.The solar thermal collector is to be comprised of low-concentrationnonimaging concentrators and absorbers with spectrally selective coatings.The Stirling engineconverts moderate temperature heat to electricity by way of integrated electric generation.In spiteof its relatively low conversion e .ciency,the proposed system can be a cost-e .ective alternative tosolar photovoltaic (PV)modules,as discussed in the project description.The system is conceived to operate with collector temperatures in the range of 125 .C to 150 .C,which is consistent with the use of stationary solar thermal collectors employing low-concentrationnonimaging re .ectors.Thus,the system avoids the costs and maintenance issues associated withtracking collectors based on high concentration ratio concentrators.We take the view that cost e .ectiveness of solar electric technologies should be judged byoutput power per dollar rather than by e .ciency or other technical merits.This view re .ects theobservation that there are vast untapped siting opportunities in both urban and rural regions ofthe world.Research into photovoltaics has been focused on improving e .ciency because therehas been no signi .cant decrease in the inherent cost of silicon wafer area.However,the proposedsolar-thermal-electric system is designed for fabrication out of low-cost materials.A collector isbuilt of glass,aluminum,copper,and insulation,while engines and generators are primarily steel,aluminum,copper,and plastics.In high-volume manufacturing,the cost of the proposed systemwill be determined by the weight of its bulk materials.This study of solar-thermal-electric systemsinvolves searching for a more cost-e .ective balance between system e .ciency and materials cost.Broader Impacts Energy independence and diversi .cation through the use of renewable dis-tributed sources is essential for the future of our society.In the project description,we make a casethat the proposed technology will cost on the order of $1 per Watt of peak output power.As such,this technology would represent at least a .ve-fold improvement over photovoltaic technology interms of cost.A simple estimate of energy cost using the proposed technology based on an averageof only four hours per day of operation over a modest ten year lifetime indicates a cost of about$0.066/kW-hr.Although not equal to the lowest costs for electricity,this is certainly an energycost that makes the technology very valuable when considering the additional advantages of itsnature.Namely,this is a distributed renewable energy source with an availability that is fairly wellmatched to peak demand times.Further,this technology is well suited to distributed deploymentin an analogous manner to that of photovoltaic generation.As such,it will be valuable for remotesites where utility infrastructure is non-existent or too costly as well as for residential and businesssites as an alternative to photovoltaics.The PI has been active in integrating research into new and existing classes,and plans to con-tinue this in conjunction with the proposed work.The PI also actively seeks to include underrep-resented student groups in his projects.UC Berkeley hosts the SUPERB (Summer UndergraduateProgram in Engineering Research at Berkeley,http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/cues/superb/index.html)program which targets underrepresented and minority students.The PI plans to actively recruitin the SUPERB program for students to participate in the proposed project during the summerperiods.Intellectual Merit A direct strategy for enabling a renewable energy source by seeking to min-imize the cost-to-output-power ratio is outlined.We analyze the cost of an integrated systemincluding a solar thermal collector and a low-temperature Stirling engine.Novel multi-phase free-piston Stirling machine designs are proposed along with rigorous analysis techniques for their designand evaluation.Speci .cally,a Stirling machine with no mechanical linkages and only three movingparts is discussed.This is a design that inherently permits for a long maintenance-free lifetime andfor very low frictional losses.1