Department of Energy (DOE) reports produced after 1991 and a growing number of pre-1991 documents are available free via www.OSTI.gov.

No abstract

A new tubular cavity receiver for direct steam generation, 'SG4', has been built and tested on-sun based on integrated optical and thermal modelling. The new receiver achieved an average thermal efficiency of 97.1±2.1% across several hours of testing, and reduced the losses by more than half, compared to the modelled performance of the previous SG3 receiver and dish. Near-steady-state outlet steam temperatures up to 560°C were achieved during the tests

Abstract. The Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI) aims to develop a high optical quality heliostat with target cost -manufactured, installed and operational -of 90 AUD/m². Three different heliostat design concepts are described, each with features identified during a prior scoping study as having the potential to contribute to cost reduction compared to the current state-of-the-art. The three concepts which are being developed will be down-selected to a single concept for testing in late 2016. The heliostat concept development work is supported by technology development streams, developing novel sandwich panel mirror facet structures, analysing and testing wind loads on heliostats in both stow and operation positions, and developing new heliostat field layouts and software tools for optical analysis of heliostats design concepts.

No abstract