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This technology compendium, which is international in scope, presents the results of a survey on the _echnology status, system specifications, performance, and operation of parabolic dish solar collectors that use Stining engines to generate electrical power. Technical information on the engines used or to be used in dish/Stirling systems is also presented. This study uses consistent terminology to document the design characteristics of dish concentrators, receivers, and Stifling engines for electric generating applications, thereby enabling comparison of dish/Stirling technologies at both a system and component level. Development status and operating experience for each system and an overview of dish/Stirling technology are also presented.

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Results from a numerical model of axisymmetric solar cavity receivers are compared with experimental data for tests of a novel test bed receiver in the Sandia National Laboratories solar furnace. The computed energy transfer rates and temperatures are compared with the experimental data for different receiver geometries, aperture sizes, and operating conditions. In general, the agreement between the numerical model and the experimental data is better for the small-to-midsized apertures than for the large apertures. The analysis indicates that for the larger apertures, the convective heat losses are over predicted. It also suggests that these losses could be better characterized. Sensitivity analyses show that both the total solar energy input rate and the convective heat-loss coefficient significantly affect the receiver thermal performance and that the distribution of the input solar flux significantly affects the temperature distribution in the receiver.

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