The Advanced Dish Development System Project

Abstract

Abstract The objective of the Advanced Dish Development System (ADDS) project is to develop and validate a 9-kWe dish/Stirling solar power system that meets the needs of the remote power marketplace. Key market criteria for concentrating solar power entry into remote power applications such as water pumping and village electrification are reliable unattended operation, minimal and low technology service requirements, and the ability to compete with the cost of alternatives. The Advanced Dish Development System is a test bed for advanced components and systems level testing to address the issues of the remote power market. The ADDS project involves integration and test, at a system level, of advanced dish/Stirling systems. The basic design utilizes the WGAssociates solar concentrator and controls, and the SOLO 161 Stirling Power Conversion Unit. Development has focused on extending the application of dish/Stirling systems to water pumping, reliability improvement and incorporating advanced components such as structural facets, heat pipe receivers, and advanced controls and communications. Testing includes long-term unattended, automatic operation of stand-alone 9-kWe dish/Stirling solar power generation systems in both on and off-grid modes at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) in Albuquerque, NM and in the field. In 1999, a first generation (Mod 1) system was fielded at the NSTTF and routine unattended operation initiated. In 2000, a system reliability tracking system was implemented on the Mod 1 system and an upgraded, second-generation (Mod 2) system, including a stand-alone water-pumping capability was developed. To better understand the market and system requirements, field-testing will be conducted at one or more American Indian applications partners test sites in the Southwest U.S. Partnering agreements have been initiated with four tribes and familiarization training completed. In this paper, the ADDS project plan and technical approach are presented. The major system components and features along with test results and project status are also described.