The document summarizes a solar steam turbine system equipped with concentrating solar power (CSP) technology specially designed for medium solar insolations in humid tropical countries. The parabolic dish systems use satellite-like mirror dishes to focus light onto a central receiver, achieving high conversion efficiencies up to 30%. A 10-25 kW system has a 10 meter diameter dish. It can run individually or be grouped for small or utility-scale power applications, though intermittent clouds can weaken the concentrated solar flux.

2. Solar Steam Tur together for small‐grid (village power, 10 KW) or end‐of‐
bine Systems is a line utility (100 MW) applications. The system had no
solar power system thermal delivery tubes so it is minimum thermal losses.
equipped with a Dish The electricity has to be used immediately or
Steam Turbine transmitted to the gird as the system has no storage
Engine concentrat device. Intermittent cloud cover can cause weakening of
ing solar power (CSP) highly concentrated receiver source flux. Sensible energy
technology specially storage in single‐phase materials was proposed to allow a
designed for cylindrical absorber element not only absorb the energy
medium solar but also store it in its mass, thus reducing the amplitude of
insolation, soft‐land, hot and humid country zone. cloud cover transients. Although this design only allows
The system utility scale solar power market. Its mission short period energy storage, potential longer time storage
is to build the most affordable, modular and scalable solar technology would make parabolic dish more appealing.
solution in the industry. Designed and developed by Solar Space Frame
Parabolic Dish systems use satellite‐like mirror dish(es) Industrial Co.,Ltd the, SolarCatcher™, CSP technology is a
to focus the light onto a single central receiver in front of 10 or 25‐kilowatt‐electric (kWe) system generating clean
the mirror. They so far have the highest heat‐electricity solar energy. The SFI, SolarCatcher™, achieved commercial
conversion efficiencies among all CSP designs up to 30 %. deployment at the 2 MW KHO TAO Solar Plant in Thailand
in early 2011.
The size of the concentrator is determined by its engine.
A dish/Steam Turbine system’s concentrator with a nominal The SolarCatcher™ technology makes it possible for
direct solar insolation from 500‐1,000 W/m2 and a 10‐ large power facilities to provide clean, reliable, cost‐
kWe@500 W/m2 or 25‐kWe@1,000 W/m2 capacity has a effective and truly sustainable solar power to
diameter of approximately 10 meters. communities, while addressing renewable energy portfolio
targets, and tackling global climate change by actively
It could also run on a single Rankine cycle, where water,
reducing our planet’s carbon emissions.
or other gas is compressed, heated and expanded into a
turbine. Parabolic dish could be applied individually in
remote locations, or grouped

3. Technical specifications Performance @ 1,000 W/m2 = 25 kWrad
Reflector Apeture area (net) 25 m2 Solar power intercepted by
0.635 15.9 kWrad
Mean collector diamete 5.00 m the receiver
Focal Length 3.00 m Solar power absorbed by the
Mean half‐rim angle 43.60 o feed‐water in the 0.910 14.5 kWth
Number of mirror panels 400 absorbed/boiler
Mirror reflectivity (new) 93 % Equivalent heat rate fed to
0.880 14.0 kWth
Tracking Actuation Electrical Motor the steam engine
Elevation envelope 0 o to +90 o Gross electricity generated 0.175 2.8 kWe
Azimuth envelope + or – 270 o Net power fed to the grid 0.155 2.5 kWe
Pointing error <= + or ‐ 2 mrad Net solar‐to‐electricity
Cut‐off wind speed 80 km/h 11.1 %
conversion efficiency
Sun position programme open‐loop
Weight Weight/aperture ratio 2 kg/m2
Generator 3 Phase Induction Motor 2 kW
Turbine Pressure 1.5 Mpa
Temperature 200 oC
Steam Rate 2 LPM
Condenser Air Cooled
Solar Space Frame Industrial