Open AccessDevelopment of the SEA Corporation Powergrid{trademark} photovoltaic concentrator
Author(s) -
N.R. Kaminar,
D. Curchod,
S.G. Daroczi,
M. Walpert,
J. Sahagian,
Jessica K. Pepper
Publication year - 1998
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/654068
Subject(s) - fresnel lens , concentrator , photovoltaic system , trademark , electricity , production (economics) , production line , lens (geology) , automotive engineering , engineering , environmental science , computer science , electrical engineering , optics , mechanical engineering , physics , economics , macroeconomics , operating system
This report covers the three phase effort to bring the SEA Corporation`s Powergrid{trademark} from the concept stage to pilot production. The three phases of this contract covered component development, prototype module development, and pilot line production. The Powergrid is a photovoltaic concentrator that generates direct current electricity directly from sunlight using a linear Fresnel lens. Analysis has shown that the Powergrid has the potential to be very low cost in volume production. Before the start of the project, only proof of concept demonstrations of the components had been completed. During the project, SEA Corporation developed a low cost extruded Fresnel lens, a low cost receiver assembly using one sun type cells, a low cost plastic module housing, a single axis tracking system and frame structure, and pilot production equipment and techniques. In addition, an 800 kW/yr pilot production rate was demonstrated and two 40 kW systems were manufactured and installed