APPLICABILITY OF ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE HEAT ENGINES TO SOLAR THERMAL POWER

The requirements of a solar thermal power system are reviewed and compared with the predicted characteristics of automobile engines under development. A good match is found in terms of power level and efficiency when the automobile engines, designed for maximum powers of 65-100 kW (87 to 133 hp) are operated to the nominal 20-40 kW electric output requirement of the solar thermal application. At these reduced power levels it appears that the automotive gas turbine and Stirling engines have the potential to deliver the 40+ percent efficiency goal of the solar thermal program.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at Sae Intern. Eng. Congr. And Exposition, Detroit, 23-27 Feb. 1981.
• Corporate Authors:

  Department of the Navy

  The Pentagon
  Washington, DC  United States  20350
• Authors:
  • Beremand, D G
  • Evans, D G
  • Alger, D L
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Pagination: 26 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic efficiency; Economic factors; Energy conversion; Engines; Fuel consumption; Gas turbines; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Stirling engines; Technology transfer; Thermal efficiency; Turbine engines; Vehicle design; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Energy efficiency
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile engines; Engine design; Photothermal conversion; Stirling cycle
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Education and Training; Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00336264
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA-TM-81658, E-675
• Contract Numbers: EX-76-A-29-1060
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM