Kinematic Heat Engine Development for Concentrated Solar Power
StinePowers believes the most important factor in achieving large scale market penetration
of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is reducing the cost to be equal or less than grid
supplied power, in other words achieving grid parity. Therefore, the main design goal of
StinePowers Power Conversion Unit (PCU) is cost reduction. StinePowers is
developing a novel expander and compressor design for use in a dish-engine
generator system. The design criteria includes a large
heat transfer area to receive solar radiation, no dynamic seals or valves, no ‘dead
volume’, use of commercially mass produced heat exchangers for ‘regeneration’, and no
tight tolerance machined parts to reduce cost. The concept PCU is also capable of dry
cooling.  In order to achieve cost objectives, the design temperatures have
been kept at a level to avoid expensive and exotic materials. Further cost avoidance is
realized by maximizing use of commercially mass produced items, design for
manufacturability (eg. stamped parts) and avoiding high tolerance machined parts. The
‘receiver’ functionality is integral to the engine design, reducing the number of powerblock
components, parts and cost. StinePowers expects a revolutionary
 breakthrough in PCU cost compared to today’s Stirling engine designs.
With a unit cost as little as 25% of today’s Stirling engines, this innovation stands to
disrupt the way solar power is produced world wide and facilitate a profound increase in
the consumption of solar electricity.