Energy transfer in a large-scale thermal solar power farm

Abstract

Proposals for large-scale thermal solar power farms using distributed collector modules have met with objections concerning energy losses in transporting the heat transfer fluid to, through, and from the many modules involved. We show herein that a large-scale configuration is possible in which the individual modules are the order of 1 km in length, so that a single pair of central feeder pipes is all that is required in the way of heat-losing piping. An equation is derived for the ratio of power output to power consumed that is independent of the collector parameters.