Butterfly Solar Stirling Generator

What is a solar powered Stirling engine?

A solar powered Stirling engine is a heat engine powered by a temperature gradient generated by the sun. Even though Stirling engines can run with a small temperature gradient, it is more efficient to use concentrated solar power. The mechanical output can be used directly (e.g. pumps) or be used to create electricity.

Does Solartron offer a solar Stirling engine?

Solartron has extensive experience with optics and tracking to ensure uniform heating of the solar stirling engine. Solar power plant developers can utilize the affordable 9M solar concentrator and integrated solar stirling engine to produce affordable grid-quality electricity.

Are solar-powered Stirling engines more efficient than solar panels?

Solar-powered Stirling engines are in some situations more efficient in generating electrical energy than solar panels. Thermal capacity and rotating mass result in less sudden changes in output power. Experiments show the possibility of higher efficiencies. Solar-powered Stirling engines are less scalable than solar panels.

How does a Stirling cycle engine work?

This apparatus consists of a large dish that concentrates solar energy to a focal point at the center of the dish. The concentrated solar energy drives a Stirling cycle engine, which operates by letting heat flow from a hot source to a cold sink to do work.

What is a Stirling engine?

The key principle of a Stirling engine is that a fixed amount of a gas is sealed inside the engine. The Stirling cycle involves a series of events that change the pressure of the gas inside the engine, causing it to do work. The engine design should be that of a gamma-configuration, double acting, vertical Stirling engine.

Why is a Stirling engine a blackout provision?

The emergency power function also makes the system a blackout provision, because a Stirling engine can provide electricity in the event of mains failure. The Stirling engine is driven by the pellet boiler and also supplies alternating current (230 V, 50 Hz) on sunless days when little yield can be expected from the PV system.