Status of the Advanced Dish Development System Project

Abstract

The Advanced Dish Development System (ADDS) project is a system-level dish/engine development activity aimed at the extensive but challenging remote power market. The ADDS project involves integration and test of advanced dish/Stirling systems. The ADDS designs utilize the WGAssociates solar concentrator and controls, and the SOLO 161 Stirling Power Conversion Unit. Development has focused on extending the application of dish/Stirling systems to water pumping, and reliability and performance improvement. Testing includes unattended, automatic operation of stand-alone dish/Stirling solar power generation systems in both on and off-grid modes at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) in Albuquerque, NM. In 1999, a first generation (Mod 1) system was fielded at the NSTTF and routine unattended operation initiated. In 2000, a system reliability tracking system was implemented on the Mod 1 system and an upgraded, second-generation (Mod 2) system, including a stand-alone water-pumping capability was developed. In 2001 and 2002 system performance and reliability were improved. Overall, the ADDS project has been successful with most of the original system specifications and objectives having been met or exceeded. The ADDS designs are efficient and maintainable and have proven the ability to operate autonomously in a remote environment. The Mod 1 system net power rating was increased from 9 to 10 kWe even while the concentrator mirror area was reduced by over 14%. The Mod 2 design is the first modern dish/engine system to operate independent of the utility grid and is capable of interfacing with standard three-phase, 480-volt, water-pump or other single motor applications. In this paper, the ADDS project plan and history, technical approach, and the major system components and features are briefly described. Project milestones and status along with test results are also presented.