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U.S. Department of Energy
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Solar collector field subsystem program on the fixed mirror solar concentrator. Final report, March 28, 1976--September 30, 1976. [For Sandia Solar Total Energy System]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7257628· OSTI ID:7257628
The work done by General Atomic Company (GA) to complete the preliminary design of a fixed mirror solar concentrator (FMSC) for Sandia Laboratories as part of Phase I of the Sandia Solar Total Energy System is described. The objective of this work was to establish an FMSC preliminary design, based upon a GA patent, that would deliver approximately 2 x 10/sup 6/ Btu/day to the Sandia Solar Total Energy System. The complete design requirements are specified. A fluid loop was designed to route the Therminol 66 heat-transfer fluid from the supply system through the heat-receiver assembly (HRA) and back to the source. The preliminary design includes pumps, valves, and pipe sizing and a specification of operating modes. Overall system design considerations were addressed through further development of tools to (1) analyze heat receiver performance (with the SOLCOL code), and (2) calculate overall system static performance (with the SUNPOW code), which included quite detailed modeling of the FMSC and its insolation loss mechanisms. This effort is also described. A collector design was established that would optimize the energy collection under the specific insolation conditions and latitude of Albuquerque. Pertinent physical parameters of the collector - such as length, width, and aperture angle - were determined from this optimization effort. The HRA (which absorbs the energy concentrated on it by the collector mirrors), its support, and its positioning and solar tracking mechanism are also described. The transient performance of the system was analyzed by computer and results are discussed. Also, the test program on the system is described.
Research Organization:
General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
7257628
Report Number(s):
GA-A-14209(Rev.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English