solar stirling plant pdf ebook by m. john

Solar Stirling PlantM John

2 SOLAR STIRLING PLANT

Warning and Disclaimer

Please use caution when working on any of the projects outlined

within this manual. By reading this manual you agree to that you

are responsible for your own actions. SolarEnergyPlant.com, the

publisher, and the author will not be held accountable for any loss

or injuries.

Moreover, every effort has been made to make this digital book

as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or

fitness is implied. The information provided is on an “as is” basis.

The author and the publisher shall have neither liability nor

responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or

damages arising from the information contained in this digital

book.


1.0 Introduction

Since you are already interested in a new type of free

energy, you might already know that the Solar Stirling Plant is

by far the most effective and efficient mean for producing

electrical energy.

Unlike the standard PV Panels, the Solar Stirling Plant is by

wide margin easier and cheaper to build, and at the same time

more effective at harnessing the solar energy from the sun.

Using the heat of the sun to provide energy to power your

home or business is an amazing and incredible concept. It is

mind-blowing when you actually consider that the Sun produces

enough energy everyday to sustain the average household’s

electrical needs. Unfortunately, global market forces have been

preventing most people from benefitting the Sun’s energy. If it

was not for the intentional suppression of the use of this type of

solar energy systems, it is quite conceivable that we could have

been using solar power for the majority of our energy needs for a

long time.

Take a moment to think about the value of the sun and its

role as a renewable resource. The amount of solar energy we use

today in no way effects the amount of energy that will be

available for use tomorrow or in 20 years. What is even better

about solar energy is that we are not borrowing from our

children’s future or creating greater problems for their children.

The sun produces on average 1,000 watts/per

square meter. Today, with this advanced technology we can get

real close to this figure.


2.0 Components

The Stirling Solar Plant is made up of two main components,

the Stirling Engine and a Parabolic Reflector. In the following

chapter we will discuss the function of each component within the

Stirling Solar Plant.

2.1 The Stirling Engine

The single most unique and main component of the Solar

Stirling Plant, as the name implies is the Stirling engine. The

Stirling Engine uses the heat from the Sun in order to rotate

and produce electrical energy.

The Scottish inventor Robert Stirling invented the engine in

1816, unfortunately the engine did not saw the light of day during

his lifetime. The Philips Company first used the designs almost

hundred years latter in the 1940s.

This heat engine operates on the principle of cyclic

compression and expansion of air or other gas at different

temperature levels, which allows net conversion of heat energy to

mechanical work. Like the steam engine, the Stirling Engine is

traditionally classified as an external combustion engine, as all

the heat to and from the working gas is transferred through the

engine wall, while the heat input in the internal combustion

engine is by combustion of fuel within the body of the working

fluid.

Unlike the steam engine that uses fluid in both its liquid and

gaseous phases, the Stirling engine uses predefined enclosed

fixed quantity of permanently gaseous fluid such as air. This is

why the Stirling engine is known for its high efficiency, quiet

functioning, and practicality, since it can use any heat source in

order to produce energy.

Nowadays, the common commercial use of the Stirling

Engine is as an auxiliary power generator for yachts. Future

implementations are planed for the next generation of nuclear

power plants, since they generate immense amounts of heat, the

main driving force behind the Stirling Engine.

You have already figured it out by now, the greatest thing

about this engine is, it can use virtually any heat source in order

to turn the engine, and what is a better permanent heat source

than the sun.

2.2 The Parabolic Reflector

To fully utilize the sun as a heat source you need a mirrored

(not inversed, but composed of mirrors), parabolic dish to reflect

and focus the sun's energy onto the hot end of a Stirling Engine.

The hot end is the component of the Stirling Engine where the

heat enters the engine.


A parabolic reflector (dish or a mirror) is a reflective device

used to collect or project energy such as light, sound, or radio

waves. Its shape is that of a circular paraboloid, which is the

surface generated by a parabola revolving around its axis. The

parabolic reflector transforms an incoming plane wave traveling

along the axis into a spherical wave converging toward the focus.

Image 1

As you can see from the diagram on Image 1, all the sun

rays coming through the surface L are collected and diverted to

the focus F.

The parabolic reflector’s property to collect and concentrate

all sorts of energy entering the reflector at a particular angle

makes it applicable for variety of electrical devices. It is most

commonly used in satellite dishes.

As we previously mentioned, in order to fully utilize the free

energy from the sun, we have made the parabolic reflector part

of our Solar Stirling Plant. It collects most of the sunrays and








Image 1



the focus F.















Image 1



the focus F.








concentrates them in to one spot, and that is where the Stirling

Engine will be placed. All this is done without any energy being

wasted.

Image 2

In Image 2, you can see the parabolic mirror, which you will

construct with our help, and the Stirling Engine, which is placed

in center of the focused sunrays. Produces electricity by using the

heat of the reflected and concentrated sunrays.



wasted.

Image 2







wasted.

Image 2





10

SOLAR STIRLING PLANT

3.0 The Construction Process

3.1 Building the Parabolic Reflector Dish

Note: If you want you can skip this part all together and buy this type of

dish online, but it will cost you around $100-$150.

Final Result

Needed Material:

Reflective foil

Plywood Sheet – 1000mm x 1000mm

The easiest and cheapest way to make such a dish is to cut and

fold a flat cardboard, then glue the aluminum foil on its inner

surface for reflectivity. Cardboard while easy to work with, is not

10






Final Result

Needed Material:

Reflective foil





10






Final Result

Needed Material:

Reflective foil





highly recommended due to its low durability, but for first time

users is easier and cheaper to work with so you can gain

experience.

We also recommend that you first make a scaled-down version

for practice (for example 1:4 or 1:5 model), using a piece of

paper. If you find the parabolic reflector too difficult to make, a

funnel shaped reflector is almost equally suitable alternative.

Note: Our parabolic reflector will be 5.1” focal length, and 31.5” in diameter.

The following dimensions can be scaled to make reflector dishes of different

sizes, we highly recommend that you first make a scaled down version with

regular paper.

12


3.1.1 Layout

Step 1

Using a ruler, draw an “X” line on the plywood so in the end the

plywood is divided on four equal parts.

Step 2

Draw a cross on the plywood, so the four parts are now divided in

half and now they make up eight equal pars.

12


3.1.1 Layout

Step 1



Step 2



12


3.1.1 Layout

Step 1



Step 2



Step 3

Now draw four more lines that segregate the area into sixteen

equal parts.

Step 4

First separate the median line (vertical middle) into eight equal

parts. Draw four circles such as each inner circle will fall on the

median lines you just drew. The forth-outer circle will land on the

ends of the median lines.

Step 3


equal parts.

Step 4





Step 3


equal parts.

Step 4





14


Step 5

Cut off the plywood outside of the outer circle.

Step 6

First cut along the dividing lines except the circles. Then fold the

petals in such manner so line 1 will connect with line 3, line 4

with line 6, line 7 with line 9, line 10 with line 12, line 13 with line

15, and line 16 with line 2. This will make the plywood into a bowl

shape.

3.1.2 Reflective Foil

Unless your sheet is already reflective, a reflective foil

should be applied after the parabolic reflector takes shape.

Aluminum foil for ordinary kitchen use is ideal. A thicker

(heavier gage) foil will be more durable. Aluminized plastic film

such as shiny food and beverage bags, or gift-wrap, is acceptable

14


Step 5


Step 6





shape.







14


Step 5


Step 6





shape.







but slightly less efficient and noticeably less durable than

aluminum foil.

Usually the foil is glued to the reflector, most water-based glue

will do. This includes glue made of flour, rice, or starch. To avoid

wrinkles on the foil, the glue must be thin enough so that it flows

easily.

It is easier to glue the foil on a flat sheet than on a parabolic dish.

However unless the sheet is very thin, the process of bending the

sheet will create wrinkles on the foil. Therefore it is best to apply

the foil after the dish is formed. By the way, sheet material that

expands and contracts significantly with humidity and

temperature also tends to create wrinkles on the foil. This is why

cardboard is not an ideal sheet material. The wrinkles reduce the

efficiency. They also shorten the life of the foil.

a) Cutting two trapezoidal pieces out of a rectangular foil

b) Cutting short slots along edges of each wedge

16


Two identical trapezoids can be cut from a rectangle with very

little waste (fig. 5). Try with used newspaper first to determine

the optimal width, length, and slope, as it depends on the shape

and size of your foil supply. Short slots can be cut along edges of

the trapezoid, so that the foil can overlap instead of wrinkle. The

trapezoids should cover all facets completely, except a circular

foil at the end will cover the inner circle.

Coat the inner surface of a petal thoroughly with glue, however

do not overuse glue if the sheet material (such as cardboard)

may swell when wet. Apply the foil, with the shinny side facing

up. To avoid bubbles, it is best to engage a small portion of the

foil on the petal at first. Keep most of the foil in the air, free of

glue. Then slowly extending the engaged area by pushing over

the foil. It is best to attach foil near its centerline (along its

length) first. So that it will be obvious how much the foil should

bend and overlap near its edges. It is OK if excess glue smears

over the reflecting surface. The glue can be wiped off later.

It is best to overlap the foil slightly, so that no direct sunlight will

strike the sheet material. For the same reason, it is best to have

a little extra length so that the foil can fold over the rim of the

dish. This prevents ultraviolet sunlight from damaging the

reflector.

Caution: Do not work with reflective material in direct sunlight, as it may

cause eye injury. Keep your reflector indoors until it is completely

assembled.

When the entire reflecting surface is covered by aluminum

foil, wipe the reflective surface gently with damp, clean cloth.

Wash the cloth frequently as needed. The wiping removes excess

glue, flattens the foil, and improves adhesion. Allow the glue to

dry, which may take a few days if the sheet material is permeable

to water. Then wipe again with damp, clean cloth to remove the

remaining glue smear and smudge.

After you have finished the constriction of the parabolic reflector

dish, we will begin the construction of the Stirling Engine.

18


3.2 Constructing the Stirling Engine

Now we will construct the single most unique component of

the Solar Stirling Plant, as we stated earlier that is the Stirling

engine.

The Stirling Engine uses the heat derived from the

Parabolic Reflector Dish, which in return derives the energy from

the Sun in order to rotate the Stirling engine.

The table on the next page represents all the needed

materials for the construction of the Stirling Engine. Some of the

components need further fabrication. For those components that

need custom fabrication we have provided detailed schematics.

The detail schematics are presented in the Stirling Schematics

file.

Pay close attention on the table on the next page, especially

the notes section, since in it we have presented the page

numbers for the corresponding schematics in the Stirling

Schematics file.

Below are all the parts needed to assambly the Stirling

Generator. Please pay close attantion , if you can not make them

yourself just go to a local mechanical shop with the designs and

they will make them for you, but I assure you that you can easily

make them yourself and you will have no problems.


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solar stirling plant pdf ebook by m. john

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