Concentrated solar tower systems:
- Large
- Moderate (neighborhood-size)
- eSolar : Sierra SunTower - 5MW CSP
- Areva Solar : Kimberlina_Solar_Thermal_Energy_Plant - 5MW Fresnel
- Small (block-size)
- Sopogy : Holaniku at Keahole Point - 0.1-2MW CSP
- Smaller (home-to-block-size)
- Compact_Linear_Fresnel_Reflector - 12kW Solar Fire P32 setup
- See interest from designers and OKFN enthusiasts Eerik and others: At OK Con, in use in Nepal
Concentrated solar model
editAn example point-collector of solar, installed in a new place. To flesh out CSP and temp-solar coverage and separate implenetation method from technology type. What follows is for the most abstract type of point collector. Currently most articles are about specific companies and installations, not theory or tech. Contrast with highly specific abstract formalism of different pure engine types.
- Team T&A - $ and Time
- T_A - accounts, logistics, materials.
- T_T - transport, packing. pre- and post-logistics (for a temp build)
- Team LC - Vision
- T_L - Logistics and land for a build, coalition of participants
- T_C - Communication about setup of a new power plant, events, education, community. coord of setup, safety, tests
- Team BS - Architecture
- T_B: Structure, design, setup of core building, physical plant. Construction
- T_S: Solarium: HQ, aggregator, monitors, places for visitors; phys. address, deliveries
- Team E&M - Physics
- T_E: Engine, solar collector, core power train.
- T_M: Mirrors, reflectors. Racks, rotation
- Team DP - Service
- T_D : Distribution, monitoring of power out to users. Central batteries. Mid-level feedback, use patterns. Visualization of usage.
- T_P : Power hubs, outlets, individual connection and stats. Hub batteries. Leaf-level feedback, use patterns. Comm. about power options.
- Notes
T_C varies from art and design and museums to a visual structure that broadcasts 'solar power!' to all who can see it (as in Spain).
T_D can include billing, or can be governed separately.
T_M can be a medley - all reflectors count. Can be built out farther with more precise reflector types.
- These can be changed out / added to over time
T_E has some Temp boundaries; T_M may need feedback to moderate how much power is focused on one point.
- This can be modular / can change from one engine to another over time.
Examples
edit- Ex - SolarFire simple model
Imagine what this looks like for A = a 10+kW SolarFire array on a cart with a small 10' central tower holding a water-based engine, with T_H of 500K.
- Ex - BRC solar acre
- T - 1 van, 6-person team
- A - $10k largely donated
- L - 1 15mx15m spot, with 1/4 for the panels and the rest for display
- C - regular events, a 24h light, reqs for shqred mirrors, groups of solarians. prelim signups to share, cold drink stream.
- B - rect. array w/ 15' central tower, veriical engine. shade space around the array, 8 stools, 2 benches for 10 can sit.
- S - a wooden slat w laminated poster, small wood plaque. sm. closed room under one eave, w plastic window, power, portable laptop monitor.
- E - water engine. ~30kWh. power split among central array (w/ outlets, signage, batteries) and 2 hubs 50m away (w/seats, roof light, batteries.) 2x more power used in the day, mainly for refrigeration.
- M - 6x10 array of mirrors, each 2-axis rotation (one axis for a whole row). On wheels.
- D - 2 50m cables, 25 shared power strips. 5 @ center, 10 @ each hub; dustcovers, airblower to clean. current monitor in the hub, tracking over the day. 5kWh of batteries
- P - 5x5m leantos. Friege / Ice cache, big coolers. Cold drink contests. 2 2-tier benches for 20 to sit. Projector, hanging, covered in plastic in day (for night use) 5kWh of batteries. Daily celeb / light festival / lightshow; also sunrise/set [w/ mirrors tilted to salute].