Solar thermal aircraft
Abstract
A solar thermal powered aircraft powered by heat energy from the sun. A heat engine, such as a Stirling engine, is carried by the aircraft body for producing power for a propulsion mechanism, such as a propeller. The heat engine has a thermal battery in thermal contact with it so that heat is supplied from the thermal battery. A solar concentrator, such as reflective parabolic trough, is movably connected to an optically transparent section of the aircraft body for receiving and concentrating solar energy from within the aircraft. Concentrated solar energy is collected by a heat collection and transport conduit, and heat transported to the thermal battery. A solar tracker includes a heliostat for determining optimal alignment with the sun, and a drive motor actuating the solar concentrator into optimal alignment with the sun based on a determination by the heliostat.
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 915243
- Patent Number(s):
- 7270295
- Application Number:
- 10/835,665
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B64 - AIRCRAFT B64D - EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Citation Formats
Bennett, Charles L. Solar thermal aircraft. United States: N. p., 2007.
Web.
Bennett, Charles L. Solar thermal aircraft. United States.
Bennett, Charles L. Tue .
"Solar thermal aircraft". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/915243.
@article{osti_915243,
title = {Solar thermal aircraft},
author = {Bennett, Charles L},
abstractNote = {A solar thermal powered aircraft powered by heat energy from the sun. A heat engine, such as a Stirling engine, is carried by the aircraft body for producing power for a propulsion mechanism, such as a propeller. The heat engine has a thermal battery in thermal contact with it so that heat is supplied from the thermal battery. A solar concentrator, such as reflective parabolic trough, is movably connected to an optically transparent section of the aircraft body for receiving and concentrating solar energy from within the aircraft. Concentrated solar energy is collected by a heat collection and transport conduit, and heat transported to the thermal battery. A solar tracker includes a heliostat for determining optimal alignment with the sun, and a drive motor actuating the solar concentrator into optimal alignment with the sun based on a determination by the heliostat.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}
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Reducing the Cost of Energy From Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants
conference, January 2009
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