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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Solar Central Receiver Test Facility

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5926647
The world's largest high intensity solar experimental facility became fully operational October 1978. The Central Receiver Test Facility is capable of delivering 5 million watts of thermal power to experimental equipment. The primary CRTF testing programs will involve prototype components (receivers and heliostats) for central receiver solar electric power plants. The CRTF also provides unique capabilities for other high solar flux and high temperature research and development work. Two hundred twenty-two sun tracking heliostats are used to concentrate the sun's energy to an experiment located on the 61 meter tall concrete tower. Testing of the first gas cooled receiver was completed in March 1979. The first steam cooled receiver and prototype power plant heliostats are currently under test at the CRTF.
Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
5926647
Report Number(s):
SAND-79-1730C; CONF-790924-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English