Charles E. Andraka
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View article: Demonstration of System Technologies Enabling Millimeter Wave Power Beaming Using Thermomechanical Power Conversion
Demonstration of System Technologies Enabling Millimeter Wave Power Beaming Using Thermomechanical Power Conversion Open
Key technologies and system components for a power beaming concept, based on a high-power mm-wave transmitter and thermomechanical conversion of the beamed energy to electrical power at the receiving station, are described. Outdoor testing…
View article: Concentration solar power optimization system and method of using the same
Concentration solar power optimization system and method of using the same Open
A system and method for optimizing at least one mirror of at least one CSP system is provided. The system has a screen for displaying light patterns for reflection by the mirror, a camera for receiving a reflection of the light patterns fr…
View article: Heat pipe wick with structural enhancement
Heat pipe wick with structural enhancement Open
Heat pipe wick structure wherein a stout sheet of perforated material overlays a high performance wick material such as stainless steel felt affixed to a substrate. The inventive structure provides a good flow path for working fluid while …
View article: Method of manufacturing a heat pipe wick with structural enhancement
Method of manufacturing a heat pipe wick with structural enhancement Open
Heat pipe wick structure wherein a stout sheet of perforated material overlays a high performance wick material such as stainless steel felt affixed to a substrate. The inventive structure provides a good flow path for working fluid while …
View article: Tracking heat flux sensors for concentrating solar applications
Tracking heat flux sensors for concentrating solar applications Open
Innovative tracking heat flux sensors located at or near the solar collector's focus for centering the concentrated image on a receiver assembly. With flux sensors mounted near a receiver's aperture, the flux gradient near the fo…
View article: CSP Historical Library Archive Extension Project Final Report
CSP Historical Library Archive Extension Project Final Report Open
This work details the development of a concentrating solar power (CSP) and thermal (CST) library archive. This work included digitization of one-of-a-kind documents that could be degraded or destroyed over time. Sandia National Laboratorie…
View article: A Summary of the Fabrication of a Prototype Stirling Engine Heat Exchanger.
A Summary of the Fabrication of a Prototype Stirling Engine Heat Exchanger. Open
modules, including the sodium heat pipe, is briefly described. Similarities between the proposed SSE heat exchanger modules and the LeRC test modules for two test engines are presented. The benefits and weaknesses of using a sodium heat pi…
View article: A Summary of the Fabrication of a Prototype Stirling Engine Heat Exchanger.
A Summary of the Fabrication of a Prototype Stirling Engine Heat Exchanger. Open
modules, including the sodium heat pipe, is briefly described. Similarities between the proposed SSE heat exchanger modules and the LeRC test modules for two test engines are presented. The benefits and weaknesses of using a sodium heat pi…
View article: SNL CSP Library Archive Project (FY19 Report)
SNL CSP Library Archive Project (FY19 Report) Open
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) and Tech Library have been collaborating over the course of the FY19 period to establish and maintain the first and only digital collection in the world of Con…
View article: Optical Performance Modeling and Analysis of a Tensile Ganged Heliostat Concept
Optical Performance Modeling and Analysis of a Tensile Ganged Heliostat Concept Open
Designs of conventional heliostats have been varied to reduce cost, improve optical performance or both. In one case, reflective mirror area on heliostats has been increased with the goal of reducing the number of pedestals and drives and …
View article: AIMFAST for heliostats: Canting tool for long focal lengths
AIMFAST for heliostats: Canting tool for long focal lengths Open
Accurate canting, or alignment, of heliostat facets is critical to the optical success of CSP tower systems. Canting accuracy for large fields must typically be on the order of 0.25mrad RMS. To date, heliostats are canted through dimension…
View article: Sandia - CSP - Dish Technology Assessment
Sandia - CSP - Dish Technology Assessment Open
CSP Dish systems are parabolic mirror structures that track the sun in two axes, focusing the Direct Normal insolation (DNI) to a point or spot on a boom or tripod mounted to the tracking dish structure. This focused light is typically uti…
View article: Mechanical Modal Phenomena of a Ganged Heliostat
Mechanical Modal Phenomena of a Ganged Heliostat Open
Ganged-heliostats have the potential for large cost reductions with enhanced solar collector field optimization. Unlike typical heliostats that require dual axis tracking actuators and a base or foundation, ganged-heliostats can share actu…
View article: Concentrating Solar Power Gen3 Demonstration Roadmap
Concentrating Solar Power Gen3 Demonstration Roadmap Open
Today's power-tower concentrating solar power (CSP) technology exists in large part as a result of Department of Energy (DOE) and utility industry funding of demonstration systems in the 1980s and 1990s. Today's most advanced towers are in…
View article: Fractal-Like Materials Design with Optimized Radiative Properties for High-Efficiency Solar Energy Conversion
Fractal-Like Materials Design with Optimized Radiative Properties for High-Efficiency Solar Energy Conversion Open
Novel designs to increase light trapping and thermal efficiency of concentrating solar receivers at multiple length scales have been conceived, designed, and tested. The fractal-like geometries and features are introduced at both macro (me…
View article: Phenomenological Studies on Sodium for CSP Applications: A Safety Review
Phenomenological Studies on Sodium for CSP Applications: A Safety Review Open
Sodium as a heat transfer fluid (HTF) can achieve temperatures above 700°C to improve power cycle performance for reducing large infrastructure costs of high-temperature systems. Current concentrating solar power (CSP) sensible HTF’s (e.g.…
View article: White Paper on Dish Stirling Technology: Path Toward Commercial Deployment
White Paper on Dish Stirling Technology: Path Toward Commercial Deployment Open
Dish Stirling energy systems have been developed for distributed and large-scale utility deployment. This report summarizes the state of the technology in a joint project between Stirling Energy Systems, Sandia National Laboratories, and t…
View article: Calorimetric Evaluation of Novel Concentrating Solar Receiver Geometries With Enhanced Effective Solar Absorptance
Calorimetric Evaluation of Novel Concentrating Solar Receiver Geometries With Enhanced Effective Solar Absorptance Open
Direct solar power receivers consist of tubular arrays, or panels, which are typically tubes arranged side by side and connected to an inlet and outlet manifold. The tubes absorb the heat incident on the surface and transfer it to the flui…