(This is a series of articles on the various technologies that can be employed to trap the sun’s energy. This is the 6th part of the series.)
These systems operate at around 25% efficiency and can convert 25% of available energy from sunlight into electricity.
The dish or the concentrator has a strong reflective surface and it reflects light onto the focus. The captured sunlight is thus concentrated into a small region and can be used more efficiently. For greater efficiency, such systems need to follow the movement of the sun between the tropics. The receiving unit absorbs the concentrated solar energy, converts it to heat, and transfers the heat to the engine/generator. The receiver may consist of tubes with a cooling fluid such as helium gas or hydrogen which plays a dual role acting as both the transfer medium of heat and also acting as fluid that drives the engine.
The Stirling engine employs a fixed volume of gas that never leaves the chamber. Basically, it is a heat engine and the alternate expansion and compression of air leads to conversion of heat energy into mechanical energy. It was invented in 1826 by the Robert Stirling.
Advantages:
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Image credit: Schlaich Bergermann und Partner on Wikepedia
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