ABSTRACT:
The United States Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) is mandated by its organizational charter to foster the development of alternate sources of energy on a broad technological front. One of the more immediately promising approaches is the first generation Solar Thermal Central Receiver which is based on the reception and focusing of the sun's radiance to generate steam for conversion of heat into electrical power. In support of that approach, ERDA has funded~ parallel system conceptual studies over the past two years, and shortly will be funding the construction of a Pilot Plant the design of which is derived from those studies. The synthesis of a preferred configuration for the Pilot Plant from the data provided by the study phase is an interesting but demanding process. Not only must the performance be thoroughly understood, and in some cases spot-checked by independent analysis, but the cost effectiveness or value of a superior technical approach must be validated before its adoption. Sandia Laboratories, Livermore, technical manager of the study contracts, has been charged with this responsibility by ERDA. In a series of actions begun earlier this year Sandia is evaluating the proposed approaches and will recommend to ERDA one or two "best" configurations for the Pilot Plant.