Stirling Energy Systems Looks to Linamar Corporation for High Volume Manufacturing Expertise

SES

Stirling Energy Systems (SES) and Linamar Corporation, SES’s Strategic Supply Partner for production and assembly of the power conversion unit (PCU) component of the SunCatcher concentrating solar power (CSP) system, have reached a major milestone in their partnership for the development and commercialization of the PCU. Linamar will ship the first PCU this week to the Maricopa Solar plant under construction in Peoria, Arizona. This is the first phase to the launch of high volume  production of the PCU and the overall SunCatcher system.

“Linamar’s proven large‐scale engine design and development, combined with their engineering and manufacturing expertise, make them the ideal supplier for the SunCatcher PCU,” said Steve Cowman, Stirling Energy Systems CEO. “They’ve dedicated manufacturing facilities to the production of components, have committed to assemble the PCU in the Southwest United States, and are committed to a long‐term relationship to optimize cost and performance of the system.”

“We’re pleased to partner with SES on this exciting initiative,” said Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar. “Our global engineering capabilities and proven engine manufacturing technologies blend well with SES’ solar business strategy,” explained Hasenfratz. “We’re also very excited about the opportunity this creates for Linamar to diversify and expand our core business into new and emerging markets like alternative energy.”

The SES SunCatcher is a 25‐kilowatt‐electric (kWe) solar dish Stirling system that automatically tracks, collects and focuses the sun’s energy into the PCU to generate grid‐quality electricity. The PCU is coupled with and powered by an SES Stirling engine.

The conversion process in the PCU involves a closed‐cycle, high‐efficiency four–cylinder reciprocating Solar Stirling Engine utilizing an internal working fluid that is recycled through the engine. The Stirling engine operates with heat input from the sun that is focused by the SunCatcher’s dish assembly mirrors into the PCU’s solar receiver tubes which contain hydrogen gas. The PCU solar receiver is an external heat exchanger that absorbs the incoming solar thermal energy. This heats and pressurizes the internal working fluid in the heat exchanger tubing and this gas in turn powers the Stirling Engine. A generator is connected to the Stirling Engine which produces the electrical output of the SunCatcher. Waste heat from the engine is transferred to the ambient air via a radiator system similar to those used in automobiles. The gas is cooled by a radiator system and is continually recycled within the engine during the power cycle. The conversion process does not consume water, as is required by most thermal‐powered generating systems.

SES selected Linamar as a strategic partner for the PCU sub‐system through its Strategic Sourcing Process.

Linamar is a best fit of the multiple Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management capabilities required by SES’s cross‐functional PCU team. “The auto industry is the best in the world at managing high volume launch, and SES is once again in the enviable position of leveraging the proven capability and open capacity of a global auto industry supplier,” said Jeff Collins, Stirling Energy Systems vice president of global supply chain.

Maricopa Solar, the first commercial‐scale solar plant utilizing the SunCatcher technology, will be operated by SES sister company, Tessera Solar, and provide 1.5 MW of power to the grid with 60 SunCatcher units. Tessera Solar, the exclusive developer of utility‐scale projects using the SunCatcher power system, has contracts to build more than 1,500 MW of new power projects. These projects will deploy more than 60,000 SunCatcher units in California, Texas and Arizona.

The unique SunCatcher technology was developed in the United States, and more than 90 percent of the SunCatcher components will be manufactured and assembled in North America, putting Americans back to work.

The SunCatcher™ minimizes both cost and land use and has numerous environmental advantages:

• Zero water use for power production and the lowest plant water use of any thermal electric generating technology.
• Minimal grading and trenching requirements.
• No excavation for foundations.
• No greenhouse gas emissions with converting sunlight into electricity.

Short URL: http://www.solarthermalmagazine.com/?p=241

Posted by Tracey A. Smith on Oct 2 2009. Filed under Solar Thermal, Solar Thermal Stirling Engine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry