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
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 915243
- Patent Number(s):
- 7,270,295
- Application Number:
- 10/835,665
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
- 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. 2007.
"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 = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/915243},
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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