Energy from stagnation?

[stuartiannaylor]

http://www.coolenergyinc.com/index.html

Last in my search of alternatives. Could this harness UK summer stagnation periods?

It's only 1.5kW but better than nothing.

Stuart

[rogeriko]

This is the catch   

"Solar Thermal Collectors must achieve a minimum stagnation temperature of 250°C (475°F) for optimal engine performance"

Its a great idea but it needs real heat to work. It would be be easy on a woodburner, anyone care to experiment, woodburning stoves with electric output!!

[renewablejohn]

This is the catch   

"Solar Thermal Collectors must achieve a minimum stagnation temperature of 250°C (475°F) for optimal engine performance"

Its a great idea but it needs real heat to work. It would be be easy on a woodburner, anyone care to experiment, woodburning stoves with electric output!!

I have already developed this type of system using a Dunsley Yorkshire boiler and thermal oil steam technology for commercial use. For the domestic market we are still manufacturing the generating head to allow a safer operation than using steam.

Stuartiannaylor

This system is very similar to ours but we use thermal oil and a steam evaporator to produce conventional steam.

[A.L.]

Stuartiannaylor - my biggest worry about this system is that there are no real photos on the site

[stuartiannaylor]

Yeah there isn't much to go on. The idea of using thermal hot oil to grab hot stagnation energy in summer for a sterling generator was interesting to me as again the temps come down.
It would seem that for reasons of efficiency and reliable cycles, guess is it to match the 60 Hz mains cycle anyway. Most other alternatives sterling or steam turbine are looking for much higher temps.
To be honest I am not sure if a domestic version is the way to go in the conventual form of domestic. Community feeds of solar energy could be collected and the waste heat goes to the homes and the electricity is generated by a singular unit.
One interesting feature is that the time off electricity production would be offset from solar PV due to the effects of heating tanks and then releasing that energy.

renewablejohn your design sounds really interesting you got anything online so I can have a browse?

[renewablejohn]

renewablejohn your design sounds really interesting you got anything online so I can have a browse?

stuartiannaylor

To be honest it is not rocket science, If you know where to look you can purchase all the components off the shelf to build your own CHP plant.
Steam turbines rely on pressure not temperature so you can still get a reasonable performance at 230C giving you 25 bar pressure

[Ivan]

If you see a tab titled 'investors' and there's nothing on pricing and availability, then it's time to move on! Unfortunately, there are 1000 companies who think that reinventing low temperature stirling electricity generation will provide a rapid influx of wealthy investors - and they are right.

I suspect it would work. Buy I also suspect that the company is more interested in gaining money from investors.

[stuartiannaylor]

Yeah its a shame, as the majority of low heat stirlings seem to all be in a innovation stage. The obvious applications could be amazing.
I posted some questions about the Whispergen CHP and someone did say it works on a differential of 250°C but I think this might be inaccurate and maybe above 500 °C.

Its always good to here what people think on here.

Stuart

Its annoying as only the CERN panel would work and then you get clobbered by cost.

[renewablejohn]

Its annoying as only the CERN panel would work and then you get clobbered by cost.

You can use ordinary evac tubes but increase the solar radiation collected and therefore higher temperatures by enclosing in a larger tube with reflector over half the tube. Connect to a simple 24 hr timer and you have a simple tracker

[Ivan]

Actually the CERN panels are shown in a lot of pictures with a selection of mirrors, so they are probably measuring the high stagnation temperatures they are quoting, when used with mirrors. As Renewable John says, take a standard vacuum tube, put it in a 2D parabolic reflector and watch the temperature soar. Even a standard vacuum tube can hit 300C (although the heatpipe gives up pumping heat around 230C.

However, you'll need a sunny country.

[stuartiannaylor]

Ivan the CERN things are probably a dead duck due to price. Documentation specifically states three levels and performance graphs are shown repeatedly on those three models.

No mirror 350°C
twin parabolic 400°C
big thing mirror 450°C
flat silly huge mirror array silly hydrogen splitting temps

Its just not true as its every where on there web site and literature that the standard flat panel can reach 350°C. Also it states that the panel has exceptional qualities in capturing diffuse light and has huge benefits for nothern latitudes.

Its a shame old blighty has such a dissadvantage in solar radiation. Reduction in energy usage in northern climes is prob the way to go.

Actually 300°C Ivan thats interesting as it is cost effective to use tubes. Its going back to the oversized collector array. Sod the 200mm planning and slap in a stirling or other forms.
I think there is a problem with renewables and it could be way more mutually beneficial if community schemes could collectively harvest. Maybe a deal 100% DHW for roof space and the supplier gets the FITs.