Induced mechanical motion by thermal solar energy

Abstract

Increasing energy demand and cost are the main motivators for this research project. Solar thermal energy is used to create mechanical motion. In turn, the mechanical motion drives a generator to generate electricity. The objective of this project is to use solar radiation to heat a black fined metal tank filed with air. The air is heated by the solar radiation and expands leaving the tank through a nozzle, which is mounted on the top outlet valve. A turbine wheel is driven by the force of the hot air flow when the air is leaving the nozzle causing a mechanical rotation. An electric generator is coupled to the turbine wheel generating electricity. The generated electricity can be used for direct and indirect applications. To put the concept in practical research work, a prototype is designed, constructed, and tested under lab conditions. When the black fined metal tank is heated by simulated heat source, the air expands by natural heat convection from the heat that is conducted from the walls of the metal tank. When air temperature increases the density decreases and causing the hot air flows to rise by the power of the natural bouncy effect. The black metal tank is used as air storage. Control valves are mounted on the air inlet and outlet on the black metal tank to control the air flow in and out. Consequently, the valves control the inside tank air temperature. Preliminarily tests showed that the prototype works satisfactorily under artificial heat source and lab conditions. The prototype will be tested under real environment conditions to verify the results.