Why do We Need to Develop Concentrate Solar Collator?

By concentrate the sunlight to get multi-times irritation level, then to generate high temperature thermal energy to supply industries and manufacture.

But….. why the concentrate solar collector is not widely use now?

Three main reasons:

1. Too expansive if use current design and technical approach.

For example, One Schott Receiver alone costs a small fortune.

Φ70mm, L=2,000mm market price at USD 1,800.-

2. they need far too much & ongoing TLC (maintenance), reliability is poor.
3. Installation is totally nightmare for most of case.

• 2018 “Worldwide Average” installed cost of CST per kW-th stood at USD 5,204.-. This is indeed a historical low.
• This translates to AUD $ 7,650.- per installed kW “worldwide average”,
• and to AUD $ 9,650.- ~ 10,200.- per kW installed, allowing for Australian specific installation costs and other factors, e.g. remote location transport

Introducing VEGA
a mild concentrating modular, lightweight and truly AFFORDABLE high performance CST , from Greenland Systems

VEGA is a completely novel CST design. It was designed completely “from scratch”, almost nothing is inherited from any of the presently existing CST.

Vega is unique among concentrating & tracking collectors in that it does not employ movable hydraulic lines.

Maintenance of hydraulic lines on conventional concentrators accounts for about 40% of all maintenance. Getting rid of these was important

• Vega is designed to be volume produced and to be installed fast by a very small installation crew
• Vega is a lightweight, cost-effective CST. A BONUS: it can be installed on most factory roofs
• Heat from the absorber is effectively transferred to the Heated Fluid in a patented highly turbulent Heat Transfer Chamber at an extremely low pressure and temperature loss
• Vega does not need any expansion bellows. EBs are a well known Achilles’ Heel in old CSTs
• Solar Working fluid is separated from the heated fluid. Absorber is freeze proof without using antifreeze
• Vega can be used to heat a wide variety of fluids, including air 18

• Cost of a replacement vacuum tube is about $ 100.-, rather than several 1,000 $

• 40 kW-th output (at 180*C) – eff. concentration rate: 20:1
• pressure drop at 40l/m: 22 kPa
• heat transfer rate: 5,160 W/K – service ceiling: 350*C
• shade/footprint: 3.6m x 2.2m
• net mass: 8 kg = 24 kg/kW – tracking sweep range: down to near horizon level – annual heat yield (Perth): min 48,200 MJ at 180degC – latitude optimised elevation
• AUD $ 1,380~1,820.- per kW-th