DYNAMIC SOLAR SPACE POWER-SYSTEMS - OPTIMUM DESIGN AND OPERATION

A solar space power station based on thermodynamic cycles is analysed. The usual material properties are introduced and their influence on the system performance is discussed. The geometric factors and the concentration ratio are defined and taken into account in the case of five types of mirrors usual in solar power applications. Both design and operational optimizations are envisaged. Universal graphs are drawn for the optimum ratio between the collector and radiator area and for the maximum power. A brief comparison between three usual types of mirrors (conical, parabolic cylinder and paraboloidal) is performed.