Development of advenced hybrid heat pipe receivers in dish/stirling systems for decentralized power production

Objective

Project Objectives
The objective of the project is to contribute to a commercialization of the dish Stirling technology that can provide the decentralized power demand of small communities in Mediterranean countries utilizing concentrated solar radiation. Key component is the solar receiver which will have to be improved with respect to lifetime and economy, and will have to be hybridized, in order to increase the availability of electric power supply. Therefore, the following three goals are pursued: To develop heat pipe receivers with specially adapted combustion systems (natural, biogas) for a possible 24 h / d operation, to considerably decrease the investment costs by a new manufacturing method for the wick structure of the heat pipes and to demonstrate technical maturity by a one year's routine operation in two dish Stirling systems.
Technical Approach
A low emission, high efficiency and high density combustion system, based on proved burners used in small co-generation units, will be developed. This work includes heat transfer calculations for the development of a new preheater, investigations of appropriate high temperature materials, the adaption of the air and fuel systems and finally the construction of two burners. Parallel to the construction of two heat pipe receivers with conventional wick structure, a new production method using the high frequency plasma spraying (HF-PS) technique will be developed. After investigating the influence of HF-PS parameters on produced coatings (porosity, grain size, etc.), various samples with respect to permeability, wettability (heat transfer medium Sodium), capillary height, thermal conductivity, etc., will be tested. Based on the results, a prototype heat pipe will be manufactured and bench scale tests will be carried out.
After the complete electronic control system has been provided, all components will be installed in the DISTAL Dish system. System start-ups in gas only and solar as well as hybrid operation will be followed by a 14 hours/day routine operation for 12 months.
Expected Achievements & Exploitation
Two low emission combustion systems, attached to two heat pipe receivers for Dish/Stirling systems, will be constructed and tested under real conditions. Also a new wick structure for heat pipes that is easy to produce and therefore very inexpensive will be developed. As well as benefits for other heat pipe applications and for a further increasing market of co-generation units, the chances of a commercialization of Dish/Stirling systems in developing countries will be clearly enhanced. The experiences of this project will be offered to interested organizations and industries. The installation of several units in planned demonstration plants, where 100 dish modules at 10 kW are clustered, has been considered.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electrical engineering › electric energy
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › control systems
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electrical engineering › power engineering › electric power generation › combined heat and power
• engineering and technology › materials engineering › coating and films
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels

Programme(s)

• FP4-NNE-JOULE C - Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0308 - Energy storage and further options

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTRE

Address

Pfaffenwaldring 38-40
70569 Stuttgart
Germany

Participants (4)

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS, MEDIAMBIENTALES Y TECNOLOGICAS

Spain

Address

S/n,carretera Senes S/n
04200 Tabernas

Intersol KB

Sweden

Address

Marbäck
305 94 Halmstad

SBP GMBH

Germany

Address

Hohenzollernstrasse 1
70178 Stuttgart

UNIVERSITAET STUTTGART

Germany

Address

31,pfaffenwaldring 31
70569 Stuttgart