A fun project "Stirling Solar Thermal Generator System"

"Hardware re-invention" to continue to introduce a Lenovo creative competition in the fun project-"Stirling Solar Thermal Generator System", the first time and the project's author Tong, I am indeed a bit surprised that the use of solar power, not all the popular photovoltaic principle? It turned out they were trying another idea, using the solar energy to drive a Stirling heat engine to generate electricity.

The so-called Stirling engine, which was invented in 1816 by Robert Stirling, the pastor of London, is almost equal to the theoretical maximum efficiency, which is called Carnot cycle efficiency (Robart String). Stirling engines are powered by the heating up of gases and by cold compression. Although I am skeptical of the actual use value of this idea, the innovative ideas of young students are worth trying. (Guoren)

Project principles and Progress

With the shortage of petroleum resources and the rising of oil price, the social problems such as the environmental pollution caused by the traditional internal combustion engine using petroleum resources and the extremely unbalanced energy use are becoming more and more prominent. The Stirling Solar Thermal generator system, which was brought to us by a young creator Tong, was seen in the first "Lenovo competition". The campus science and technology Tatsu people are also concerned about the social hot issues, and thought of their own learning to bring some improvement to the society. He now leads his four-person small group to carry out this national and innovative project.

Stirling Solar Thermal Power generation is a technology that uses thermal energy to generate electricity. Ji Xing Tong excitedly introduced: "This technology through thermoelectric materials, the direct conversion of heat energy into kinetic energy, and mainstream power generation method is not the same way there is no waste emissions, there is no noise." "Stirling Solar Thermal Power generation system is safe, reliable and stable, it is the recovery and reuse of heat energy." Therefore, it is the environment-friendly mode of power generation, which is in line with the construction of ecological civilization and the creation of economical society.

The Solar Stirling Power generation system consists of three parts, namely concentrator, Stirling engine and generator. Let's take a look at how these parts work and create a magical change!

Concentrator:

The sunlight is brought into the hot cylinder of the Stirling engine. "In fact, like the magnifying glass that we played as a child, we can make the sunlight converge to a point and gather the heat," says Tong. ”

Engine：

The Stirling engine uses regenerative cycle, which is more efficient, which is the biggest advantage compared with other generation modes. The solar energy is used to heat the working mass of the Stirling engine's hot cylinder, driving the work.

Generator：

The generator is powered by a Stirling engine driven by a pulley. A reverse-operated motor is used as a generator, which is reversed by an external force to rotate it, that is, a small generator.

Speaking of the whole system running, I think this design is like a light and hot magician. In light time, the concentrator aimed at the sun to achieve the best concentrating effect, that is, first the light together. At this point, the Stirling engine hot cylinder placed in the center of the heat, thus rotating, driving the generator work, the light and heat changes into electricity. Solar energy as a Stirling engine power, its operating principle is very simple. Most importantly, in this process, they use the automatic dual-axis tracking system, through the induction device, to ensure that the concentrator device always at the best angle to receive the sun light. Because of the high utilization of light and heat, the efficiency is greatly improved.

Schematic diagram

Ji Xing Tong and his team on the basis of theoretical analysis, the experiment was carried out to build a Stirling engine temperature difference power generation of the smallest test bed and has completed the engine model of the operation of the experimental and heating operation of the initial experiment. By testing the work capability of the Stirling engine model under different speed and temperature conditions, the rationality of the thermodynamic circulatory system of the designed prototype was validated. At the same time, they use the external combustion characteristics of Stirling engine and the advantages of recoverable residual heat, analyze and calculate from the thermodynamic angle, and demonstrate the feasibility of Stirling engine through solar thermal power generation.

For this project, they said, in recent years, China's Stirling Solar thermal Power technology research has made some achievements, but in general, has not achieved substantial progress, the relevant research is still in the initial stage. Their research on this project of the high thermal agglomeration capacity, compared to the common market of solar photovoltaic power generation Board, it is more suitable for large-scale electric utilities. And now there are a lot of solar power plants in the market is not high conversion rate, but the tong and his team using a dual-axis tracking system and Stirling device to further enhance the conversion rate of solar energy. So they want to be able to make a breakthrough in technology, when he saw the Lenovo to create a guest contest mentioned in the "idea is to achieve" the concept of creation, no hesitation directly entered the competition, he is also looking forward to through Lenovo to create a customer contest this platform to better put this idea into reality.