What is dish concentrating solar power (CSP)?

9.1. Introduction Dish concentrating solar power (CSP) systems use parabo.loidal mirrors that track the sun and focus solar energy into a receiver where it is absorbed and transferred to a heat engine/generator or else into a heat transfer fluid that is transported to a ground-based plant.

How do parabolic dish concentrated solar power systems work?

Below, we'll dive into some of the details: With parabolic dish concentrated solar power systems, mirrors are set up in a satellite-dish shape with a receiver mounted in the middle, away from the mirrors. Sunlight reflects off the mirrors and hits the receiver focal point, which typically has a heat engine mounted directly on it.

How does a solar dish work?

The resulting beam of concentrated sunlight is reflected onto a thermal receiver that collects the solar heat. The dish is mounted on a structure that tracks the sun continuously throughout the day to reflect the highest percentage of sunlight possible onto the thermal receiver.

What is a dish/engine system?

The dish/engine system is a concentrating solar power (CSP) technology that produces smaller amounts of electricity than other CSP technologies—typically in the range of 3 to 25 kilowatts—but is beneficial for modular use. The two major parts of the system are the solar concentrator and the power conversion unit.

Can a dish be used as a power source?

Dish can attain extremely high temperatures, and holds promise for use in solar reactors for making solar fuels which require very high temperatures. Stirling and Brayton cycle engines are currently favored for power conversion, although dish has been seldom deployed commercially for power generation.

What are the components of a solar dish?

The dish faces the sun and must be able to move to follow its path in the sky throughout the day. A solar dish has several key subcomponents, described here as the reflector, support structure, tracking system, foundations, receiver, and receiver support (Fig. 1). Schematic diagram of a solar dish (tracking system not shown)