Proof of principles of a novel dual mirror solar concentrator

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Parabolic Solar Concentrator with Stirling engine is the most efficient solar technology to convert solar energy to electricity. However, the current technology suffers from high installation cost due to its primary tracking concentrators which are relatively expensive to construct and maintain. As a result, this system in its present form cannot compete economically with conventional systems using fossils fuels. Innovative Solar Power (ISP) Inc. is developing a new concept of the solar concentrator, which does not require tracking of the heavy dish collector and uses an immobile floor-level receiver. This is an alternative strategy to the current widespread approach that requires the bulky system to track the sun. The success of this highly advantageous proposed system lies in its simplification of the concentrator which would make it an affordable decentralized solar energy system with possible applications such as in electricity generation, water desalination, bio-fuels, waste-water treatment and heating/refrigeration systems while addressing environmental issues. In this project, a novel type of solar concentrator will be experimentally studied. The experimental device will consist of a stamped aluminum dish equipped with a receiver in its focal position. A heater head Solar Engine Simulator will be used as a receiver. The influence of the receiver and the position of second mirror on the optical performance of the system will be studied. The effect of heat loading and thermal expansion on the shape and optical performance of the concentrator will be investigated. In addition, it is expected that wind load will dynamically change the position of the second mirror. As a result its optical efficiency will be affected. Therefore, this aspect will be addressed by applying fast dynamic correction to the mirror position tracking system. The success of this technology will lead to the development of new line of products with applications in electricity generation, bio-fuels, hybrid heating and water treatment systems.