Research applied to solar-thermal power systems. Semiannual progress report, July 1, 1972--December 31, 1972

Technical Report · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1972

OSTI ID:7221165

This project undertakes an integrated program of research and development focused on key technology of photothermal conversion for efficient utilization of solar energy in large-scale production of electricity. The program includes (1) research and development on components of the system, (2) heat transfer studies on system components, (3) systems performance and tradeoff analysis, and (4) design, construction, and demonstration testing of a modular unit of the proposed collection system. Two basic features of this solar-thermal power conversion system are the use of a selective solar absorption coating capable of operating at high temperatures, and a heat pipe for absorbing and conveying the collected solar energy to a transfer loop or to a thermal storage unit. The main system components are a solar concentrator which focuses solar energy on a heat pipe, a heat pipe with a selective optical coating, a heat transfer loop connecting the heat pipe to a thermal storage unit, and a thermal storage unit which receives thermal energy from the transfer loop and releases it to the power cycle working fluid. Eight study tasks are to be undertaken (including experimental work on many of them) as follows: (1) solar reflector surface life, (2) solar absorber coating life, (3) gravity-aided long heat pipes, (4) heat transfer and pressure drop in a transfer loop, (5) heat transfer in a central storage facility, (6) heat transfer in a decentralized storage facility, (7) system design, and (8) module demonstration. Progress to date is reported.

• Research Organization: Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis (USA); Honeywell, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (USA). Systems and Research Center
• OSTI ID: 7221165
• Report Number(s): NSF/RANN/SE/GI-34871/PR/72/4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140703* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems-- Distributed Collector
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
142000 -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
ALKALI METALS
COATINGS
COMPUTER CODES
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
EUTECTICS
FLUIDS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT LOSSES
HEAT PIPES
HEAT STORAGE
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LATENT HEAT STORAGE
LIQUID METALS
LIQUIDS
METALS
MIRRORS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARABOLIC REFLECTORS
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE DROP
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
S CODES
SERVICE LIFE
SODIUM
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR REFLECTORS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE SURFACES
STEAM
STORAGE
SURFACES
TESTING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMAL INSULATION
WATER
WIND