A DEPLOYABLE 1 MW SOLAR CONCENTRATOR WITH RECEIVER AND HEAT STORAGE

U.S. RESEARCH ON DYNAMIC SPACE POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY SINCE THE 1960S HAS FOCUSED MAINLY ON NUCLEAR REACTORS, HEAT PIPES, AND HEAT ENGINES. LITTLE WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON STS-COMPATIBLE SOLAR CONCENTRATORS. THIS STUDY REFINES OUR DESIGN OF AN UMBRELLA-LIKE CONCENTRATOR WHICH SHOULD: (1) WEIGH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN 400 KG, (2) STOW IN THE SPACE RESERVED FOR THE 2ND SHUTTLE RMS ARM, AND (3) DELIVER 1 MW TO A RECEIVER NOT MUCH LARGER THAN ONE SQUARE METER. THE BASELINE RECEIVER & STORAGE DESIGNS INVOLVE HEAT TRANSPORT BY HEAT PIPES OR BY MHD-PUMPED LITHIUM, AND SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE IN LIQUID LITHIUM. EFFORTS HERE ARE ON CONTAINER MATERIALS SELECTION USING EXISTING DATA BASES. HOT-SIDE THERMAL STORAGE PROVIDES 3 MAJOR BENEFITS IN A DYNAMIC POWER SYSTEM: (1) ENGINE & RADIATOR CAN BE DOWNSIZED 40%, (2) THERMAL TRANSIENTS IN ENGINE & RADIATOR ARE MINIMIZED, AND (3) STORAGE BATTERIES ARE NOT NEEDED FOR DARKSIDE POWER. THE STUDY ALSO ADDRESSES THE COMPATIBILITY AND OUTPUT OF THIS SYSTEM WITH STIRLING, BRAYTON, RANKINE AND SODIUM/BASE THERMOELECTRIC ENGINES, AND CONSIDERS OTHER NON-HEAT-ENGINE APPLICATIONS FOR THE CONCENTRATOR.