Solar powered engine and tracking system

Patent · Tue Apr 22 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5778215

Chromie, E

A solar powered engine and tracking system comprises a piston working within a cylinder for turning a drive shaft for driving an electrical generator or performing other useful work, a solar concentrator comprising a plurality of mirrors, each reflecting sun light on a common focal point on the end of the cylinder for heating a flash boiler located thereon, preheated water from a source is injected into the flash boiler by a pump powered by the drive shaft timed according to piston movement after operating the piston, the steam is then vented from the boiler by valve means operated from the drive shaft. A starter motor is provided to initially start the engine operating by rotating the drive shaft until the piston movement is self sustaining. The entire device is enclosed in a solar energy collector panel for elevating the temperature of the system so as to maintain the water at a sufficient temperature with a minimum of external heating. The collector may also be utilized for separate external heating purposes. Sensor controlled motors track the relative movement of the sun and earth and continually position the collector for maximum solar energy concentration.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-82-038809
• Patent Number(s): US 4198826
• OSTI ID: 5778215
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140700 -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
BOILERS
CONVERSION
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
HEAT ENGINES
POWER
RADIATIONS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEAT ENGINES
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR TRACKING
STELLAR RADIATION