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Content archived on 2022-12-27

CONCENTRATING PV GENERATOR FOR AGRICULTURAL COOLING AND HEATING

Objective

To demonstrate that a photovoltaic generator (30 KWp) using linear parabolic reflectors can provide power for an agricultural cold store and heat for a greenhouse. The solar cells are cooled by a fluid which in turn delivers heat to the greenhouse.
Despite the early interest in this technology, the project had to be abandoned due to system development difficulties.
This novel project required the development of an entirely new form of solar collector embodying solar cells for electricity production and a fluid circuit for heat collection. The reflectors and the tracking mechanism were also of a new design.
The generator consisted of 28 modules, each at 1.1 KWp and comprising 6 linear parabolic reflectors of axial length 1 m and width 2.5 m. The receiver was triangular in shape with a theoretical concentration ratio of x 25. The reflectors were made of aluminised Mylar, sandwiched between two acrylic sheets. The array was designed for assembly in units. Each unit had 2 modules supported on a light alloy and steel framework, and orientated by a sun-tracking mechanism which incorporated automatic start-up and shut-down facilities. The tracking unit also contained safety features to protect the modules from excessive wind stresses and overheating.
The Ansaldo cells were made specially for concentrated sunlight in a square section (50 mm x 50 mm)from monocrystalline silicon. The cells were bonded to two sides of a hollow triangular section of extruded aluminium receiver through which cooling fluid was pumped with the pump speed controlled to maintain cell temperatures between 75 deg. C. and 80 deg. C. Each unit was fitted with a separate pump and controller.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinator

Officine Galileo SpA
EU contribution
No data
Address
Località Tomerollo
50013 Bisignano Firenze
Italy

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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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