Turntable/collector concept for DOE/General Electric photovoltaic concentrator application experiment

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5982989

Kirpich, A; Concannon, M

As part of the Department of Energy's PRDA-35 program, General Electric has entered into the fabrication and construction phase for a Photovoltaic Concentrator Application Experiment (PCAE) to be located on a two-acre site within Sea World Park near Orlando, Florida. The PCAE will consist of three turntable solar arrays, each containing twenty-four 7' x 30' parabolic trough concentrators. Vee-mounted solar cells connected in series will produce a peak output of 90 kilowatts at a nominal voltage of 360 Vdc. The solar cells will be actively cooled by a fluid loop, and the accumulated thermal energy will be used to operate a lithium-bromide absorption chiller. The mechanical and structural design of the azimuth-tracking turntable and parabolic trough collectors are highlighted. The concept selected for this application is based on field erection and assembly of these elements. The unique feature of the collectors is the means by which the relatively low weight-to-area ratio of 3 lbs/ft/sup 2/ is achieved while high torsional stiffness is maintained. This is necessary to provide the 35:1 concentration ratio for operation in wind speeds up to 35 mph. An elevation tracking system is used in which all 24 collectors are driven by a single drive unit.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Philadelphia, PA
• OSTI ID: 5982989
• Report Number(s): CONF-810509-(Vol.2)
• Journal Information: Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States), Vol. 4.2; Conference: Annual conference of the International Solar Energy Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 26 May 1981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR TRACKING
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
DESIGN
COOLING SYSTEMS
INSTALLATION
PARABOLIC TROUGH REFLECTORS
PERFORMANCE
POSITIONING
TILT MECHANISMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
PARABOLIC REFLECTORS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR REFLECTORS
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems