Cal Poly, Solar Thermal Electric Generator - Project Update: 4-28-09

[SVKmellow]

nice... i was waiting for someone to finally build it

[SulaimanBarry]

We also had made a similar project of design fabrication of lab scale solar thermal power plant but it was designed to operate on 40 W. We could not run our steam engine due to pressure not being able to build up as steam leaked from joints. How did you counter them? Now I am planning to rework on the project. What did you use as your working fluid? I designed the power plant based on open cycle with engine pressure of 1.4 bar. What was your pressure ratio

[johnyz656]

try using a tesla turbine.....

[nasrudinist]

may be not bad.....

[SWINGREGORY]

you use steam

a stirling motor is better !

[Seanwins]

So, are you successfully generating electricity yet?

[AccelLearn]

What make and model steam engine are you using?

What are the details of the generator?

[AccelLearn]

With an in-wheel motor you could hook up a sensor to automatically start it spinning whenever pressure is high enough. Could simplify the design and be more efficient. The same battery you're using to store the power would also start the motor.

[AccelLearn]

Very cool. What are the dimensions of the footprint of the mirror?

Do you have measurements of the output so far?

What about using a brushless in-wheel motor as the generator? Would save a little energy versus driving a separate generator.

[akmark]

Siiiick.