Microturbine Sun Tracker

Votes: 8
Views: 5307

The Microturbine Sun Tracker is a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) unit in the category of Solar Dish Engines. Reference figure 1. A 4Kw electric power output Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) engine, in this application, will attain heat energy from a solar dish. The solar dish will concentrate the solar rays to a receiver, which in turn will heat the working gas media, within the microturbine engine, to as much as 1800 F, pending ratio of solar dish to receiver area. With the reduced cost of power electronics over the years, this allowed the microturbine innovation to come to be as a viable electric power generation device to compete with reciprocating engines. The Microturbine Sun Tracker solar dish engine will operate with a specific gas mixture of Xenon/Helium (Xe/He). The mixture was selected based on thermodynamic properties. Unit efficiency, defined by ratio of electric power to the customer to solar energy in, is estimated to be 28%. This unit will be hermetically sealed, one moving part, use of compliant foil bearings,no vibration, quite, low pressure ratio compressor and turbine stage, is recuperated, can operate in various positions, no liquids, no scheduled maintenance, estimated life of 40 years and can be scaled. Though a closed brayton cycle engine is not new, the application as a Solar Dish Engine to extract energy from the sun and provide electric power for commercial and residential use, is new (Patent Pending). An estimated electric power rate of less than $.04/Kw–Hr @ factory cost is anticipated (without state and or federal incentives). In addition, excess electric power can be fed to the grid, with traditional power as back-up or independent power with energy storage devices (compressed air energy storage, flywheel, battery etc.) applied to the unit. Reference figure 1 for an artist rendition of the Microturbine Sun Tracker (Solar Dish Engine assembly)

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Jon Teets
  • Type of entry:
    team
    Team members:
    Mike Teets, Jon Teets
  • Profession:
    Engineer/Designer
  • Number of times previously entering contest:
    never
  • Jon's favorite design and analysis tools:
    I have my own code for compressor and turbine stage design and use a NASA program for blade generation. In most cases I hand draw complete gas turbine engine layouts from which detailed drawing are accomplished by hand. Drawings needed for machine or cast
  • For managing CAD data Jon's company uses:
    None
  • Jon's hobbies and activities:
    Piston aircraft engines from WWI & WWII time frame
  • Jon belongs to these online communities:
    Linkedin
  • Jon is inspired by:
    Provide a product for the bettermint of mankind and future generations. Turbomachinery I believe will replace the reciprocating engines in the fuuture as long as it will compete in price - with that in place all the attributes of a turbine will win over for use.
  • Hardware used for this entry:
    none
    Software used for this entry:
    none
  • Patent status:
    pending