On-sun testing of the STM4-120 Stirling power conversion system
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
In March 1993, STM (Stirling Thermal Motors, Inc.) delivered a Power Conversion System (PCS) to the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia`s role was to perform an independent on-sun test and evaluation of the package using a Test Bed Concentrator. The PCS, which was designed and built by STM, consists of an STM4-120 Stirling engine, a direct illumination receiver, a cooling system, and a control system housed in a single fiberglass shell. There were a number of problems encountered before the system could be fully tested. These problems and their solutions will be discussed. The performance mapping of the PCS with the direct-illumination receiver was completed in October 1994. The goal of performance mapping was to measure various power levels and efficiencies as a function of input power and receiver control temperature. Net electrical power output ranged from 8.0 to 17.1 kWe. Total systems efficiencies, defined as net electrical power out to energy input to the mirrors, ranged from 18.2% to 22.4%. PCS efficiencies, defined as net electrical power out to power available to the receiver, ranged from 20.8% to 25.7%.
- OSTI ID:
- 163313
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950729-; TRN: IM9604%%418
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL (United States), 30 Jul - 5 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference. Volume 2; Goswami, D.Y. [ed.] [Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)]; Kannberg, L.D.; Somasundaram, S. [eds.] [Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)]; Mancini, T.R. [ed.] [Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)]; PB: 658 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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