NON-STATIONARY RECIPROCATING SOLAR THERMAL HEAT ENGINE DRIVEN BY PULSED CONCENTRATED SOLAR IRRADIATION

摘要

A reciprocating piston engine comprising a plurality of at least two cylinders converts concentrated solar irradiation into useful mechanical power. The cylinder heads of the engine contain transparent windows through which a concentrated beam of solar radiation is directed into the compression volume of the cylinders during a portion of each cylinder's thermodynamic cycle. A device redirects the concentrated solar beam from cylinder to cylinder during operation of the engine. The concentrated radiation is absorbed within the compression volume of the cylinders of the engine by means of a volumetric absorber characterized by a small total heat capacity compared to the heat capacity of the working gas contained in the cylinder.