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US 5,228,293 AGranted
Low temperature solar-to-electric power conversion system
AssigneeMechanical Technology Incorporated
InventorNicholas G. Vitale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The apparatus is a low-temperature solar to electric power conversion system. A solar collector directs solar insolation to a cavity receiver which heats primary thermal transport fluid to approximately 700.degree. F. An auxiliary fossil or biomass heater may be used to replace or supplement the solar-powered cavity receiver. The primary thermal transport fluid is provided to a Stirling engine which provides electric power and hot water heated to approximately 160.degree. F.
Claims7
An electric power generating apparatus, including:
- a solar collector;
- a primary thermal loop including primary thermal fluid;
- a cavity receiver to receive reflected solar energy from said solar reflector, convert said solar energy into thermal energy, and transmit said thermal energy to said primary thermal fluid by heating said primary thermal fluid not to exceed a given temperature, said given temperature being substantially equal to 700.degree. F.;
- a Stirling engine receiving said primary thermal fluid heated by said cavity receiver, including means to generate mechanical power and means to generate electrical power from said means to generate mechanical power.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.