Core Technology
- Wilson Solar Receiver™
- Wilson Solar Battery™
- Wilson Microturbine™
- Wilson Heat Exchanger™
Wilson Solarpower's initial pilot power plant to be completed in 2011 will be a single 100 kilowatt module, built from existing components used elsewhere in the world in similar applications. In part with federal funding, Wilson simultaneously is developing its own components to create larger and more efficient modules.
These components under development include:
| |
Wilson Solar Receiver™
Heliostats track the sun and reflect about 1000 times the power of a single sun onto the Solar Receiver. Air is heated when it passes through the receiver. Wilson's proprietary design enables lower cost and much larger solar receivers than currently exist. Larger receivers can power larger turbines for larger module sizes, which typically yield higher efficiencies and lower costs.
|
| |
Wilson Solar Battery™
Some of the heat from the Solar Receiver will be able to be diverted to the Solar Battery for later use when the sun is not shining. The high-temperature dry storage medium costs less than 10% of electric battery storage. The Solar Battery, too, will be factory produced. It is being integrated into the tower, and 2-hour modules will be combined to store up to 16 hours of power.
|
| |
Wilson Microturbine™
The hot, compressed air from the solar receiver passes through the combustor of a microturbine. Initially, Wilson is using proven, commercially-available microturbine packages. Fuel is added if the temperature is not hot enough. It then passes through the turbine blades, forcing them to spin extremely fast. The spinning shaft of the turbine spins a generator to produce electricity, which is fed into the grid. Wilson is developing the MIT-invented Wilson Microturbine™ for future deployment. It will be made of ceramics instead of metal and will have an efficiency that is 50-80% greater than metal turbines. This leap in efficiency will have very meaningful benefits to overall system economics.
|
| |
Wilson Heat Exchanger™
2000F air from the Solar Receiver passes through a heat exchanger. Initially, while metal turbines are being used, it will be made of metal. However, the MIT-invented Wilson Heat Exchanger is made of ceramics and so is able to handle much higher temperatures without degradation. When Wilson begins deploying the Wilson Microturbine™, which will operate above 2000F, it will have completed the development of the Wilson Heat Exchanger™, which it will deploy at that time as well.
|
|
