Testing of the prototype facets for the stretched-membrane faceted dish
The Faceted Stretched-Membrane Dish Program is part of a DOE-sponsored effort to develop a commercial 25 kWe dish/Stirling system employing a twelve-facet dish concentrator. The facets will utilize the stretched-membrane technology originated in the heliostat development program. Each facet is constructed with a thin metal membrane stretched over both sides of a steel ring. When a small vacuum is induced between the membranes they assume a parabolic contour capable of concentrating sunlight at a predetermined focal length. A reflective polymer film is attached to the face of the facet of the facet to enhance the optical performance. During Phase II of the Faceted Stretched-Membrane Dish Program, Science Applications International Corp. and Solar Kinetics, Inc., constructed prototype 3.5-meter facets utilizing different design approaches to demonstrate their manufacturability and optical performance. Sandia engaged in a program to determine the on-sun performance of the facets (for f/Ds of 2.7 to 3.0). A uniformly distributed slope error was used as the basis for comparison. Flux arrays based on slope error from a computer model were compared to a measured flux array for each facet. The slope error for the facet was determined by the value that would produce a modeled array with the minimum mean square difference to the measured array. The facet produced by SAIC demonstrated uniform slope errors of 2.2 to 3.0 milliradians with peak flux intesities of 334 to 416 kW/m{sup 2}. The SKI facet had slope errors of 1.6 to 1.9 milliradians with peak flux intesities of 543 to 1186 kW/m{sup 2}.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5669830
- Report Number(s):
- SAND91-2202; ON: DE92009559
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Analysis and Design of Two Stretched-Membrane Parabolic Dish Concentrators
Testing of the SAIC facets on the stretched-membrane dish
Related Subjects
PARABOLIC DISH COLLECTORS
TESTING
C CODES
MEMBRANES
POLYMERS
REFLECTIVE COATINGS
REFLECTIVITY
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
STIRLING CYCLE
COATINGS
COMPUTER CODES
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
EQUIPMENT
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
CSP
Concentrating Solar Power
140702* - Solar Thermal Power Systems- Central Receiver
141000 - Solar Collectors & Concentrators