Stirling Solar 3 Orders of Magnitude Cheaper Than PV

Nov 28, 2005 2 Replies
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A Stirling engine is simpler than reciprocating ICE -- no cams or poppet valves, etc. The engine in production cars is only $1,000 or $10 /kW.



In contrast photovoltaic is still over $5000/ kilowatt.



What is expensive with stirling solar are mirrors mounted on structures. They need to eliminate the structures, dig a lot of holes, pour some concrete, mount the mirrors on rollers in the holes and have the engine slide back & forth over well designed humps on the ground.



Fence it off so coyotes don't get sleep on the mirrors at night.


Bret Cahill



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"Bret Cahill" wrote in news:1133187262.326037.75840 @o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

Not a bad plan. Stirling engines are much bigger than IC engines for the same power output, I'd put a 150 kW Stirling engine at about the same mass as a 4000 hp diesel engine, in subs.

Also your price on IC engines is a tad optimistic.

Still, yes, I agree, non PV solutions to power generation should be examined.

BTW, why don't people use mirrors/cooling systems in their PV arrays?

Cheers

Greg Locock

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< BTW, why don't people use < mirrors/cooling systems in their PV < arrays?

"250 suns" pv.

Some use fresnel and some use trough reflectors in combined heating and power.

Mount the PV on the hot end of a stirling and get 50% overall recovery

-- better than most chlorophyl plants.

Bret Cahill

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