Abstract

Concentrating solar systems are matter of relevant and constantly increasing interest of the energy market owing to the compact size, reduced request for components, capability to be multi-generative, potential high-efficiency and low-cost. This project aims to design and realize innovative and scalable components for solar concentrating systems that generate both electricity and heat and work efficiently at high temperatures (800-1000°C). The proposed concept includes the design, realization and testing of several new component technologies. A high-temperature receiver will be developed to provide the heat input to the converter unit. A new-concept conversion module will be developed for electrical and thermal energy production based on thermionic and thermoelectric direct converters, thermally combined in series to increase the efficiency (thermal-to-electrical efficiency estimated to 35%). A heat recovery system will be designed to collect waste heat (standard efficiency of 65%) and provide it as an additional energy product (co-generation). Innovative wirings for fluid and electricity transport will be designed, realized and tested. The benefit associated to a single hybrid cable, able to carry both relatively high-temperature fluids and electricity, will be characterized and demonstrated. A small-scale prototype solar system will be realized to test and evaluate the real impact of the new components.