Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: A Novel Solar Thermal Combined Cycle for Distributed Power Generation
EPA Grant Number: SU834367Title: A Novel Solar Thermal Combined Cycle for Distributed Power Generation
Investigators: Hemond, Harold F. , Ghoniem, Ahmed , Hastings, David , Orosz, Matthew , Mueller, Amy , Lu, Peter , Jackson, Rebecca , Ramos-Martin, Ricardo , Bollier, Evan
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: August 15, 2009 through August 14, 2011
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2009) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Laboratory and field testing of a novel kilowatt-scale solar thermal generator for deployment at off-grid institutions (health care centers and schools) in developing countries. Criteria for a successful technology include (1) financial viability in comparison to other off-grid technologies such as diesel generators and PV panels, (2) local manufacturability based on globally-available components, and (3) autonomous operation maximizing power output over variable solar insolation levels and weather conditions. The proposed field test unit was designed to provide electricity (~3kW peak) and hot water (~2000 liters/day) for a rural clinic (building and staff houses), extending clinic hours through the night and improving the availability of care for the 50-80 patients seen each day.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Laboratory demonstration of a 3-5kWe ORC engine was completed at MIT using a simulated solar power source and based on components widely available in the global supply chain. Challenges overcome included the development of a functional and cost-effective architecture for a system expander, based on commercially available HVAC scroll compressor units and circumventing costly architectures suggested by other researchers in the field such as fully parallelized ORC units. Installation of two full-scale demonstration systems was initiated, including a field test unit at a rural health care center in Lesotho, southern Africa, and a long-term technology testbed at Eckerd College, Florida. Characterization of solar collectors demonstrated insolation-to-heat efficiencies > 60%. Ongoing partner training in Lesotho has led to incorporation of a local entity, and business plan development is ongoing with the goal of providing this technology to the southern African market within the next 1-2 years.
Conclusions:
Small scale Solar ORC technology has the potential to provide cogeneration (electricity + heating/cooling) to off-grid institutions as a price that undercuts that of diesel generator or PV panels while being manufactured locally to support regional economies. Ongoing field testing of this technology will continue to improve engineering efficiencies while decreasing cost. Targeted partner training, along with use of globally available components, will allow this technology to be manufactured and distributed within local markets to support regional economies. Laboratory investigation of alternate improvement strategies for existing small-scale ORC technologies along with field testing of the resulting system architecture. Proposed engineering focus on technologically and cost effective expander units and autonomous control system development. Project undertaken with numerous community partners including Eckerd College, host of a demonstration system, STG International, a not-for-profit focused on renewable energy technologies for developing countries, and the Government of Lesotho's Appropriate Technology Services.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Sustainable development, renewable energy, solar, CSP-CHP, organic Rankine cycle (ORC), LesothoRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
A Novel Solar Thermal Combined Cycle with Bio-Methane Carbon Capture for Distributed Power Generation | 2009 Progress Report | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.