ConSolar

4. Status: to date, the following significant development highlights have been obtained:

1. The Tower Reflective Mirror structure has been released for fabrication by Ormat,and with its integrated multi - mirror elements it will be mounted & attached to the existing WIS tower at a height of 42 m. above ground, by early 1997. Individual mirror elements optical orientation will then commence, to achieve maximum optical utilization of solar radiation.
2. After an extensive period of computer evaluations, thermodynamic computations & flow design, aided by further testing of modified existing smaller components - the Test Loop major components, will be soon released for fabrication by Rotem. The Test Loop will constitute of an existing air compressor, a"hot" pipe, pre -heaters, heat exchangers, and a supporting structure on which all major components plus piping, valves & control apparatus will be installed -during the spring of 1998. Together with the Tower Reflective Mirror, calibration, debugging, cold testing & running - in, will commence during next summer, starting with hot testing & performance evaluation at 1 MWT power level. Afterwards, it is planned that, with minor system adaptations, by the spring of 1999, a 275 kWe modified gas turbine will be included (to be operating solely on solar energy). That will be carried out under the mutual program of Ormat, Rotem & WIS with Boeing, for an extended period of performance monitoring, during which necessary improvements will be executed, in parallel with efforts to economize on heliostat cost and advance marketing objectives, as well.
3. Apart from its space platform development which is now undergoing conceptual reorientation, Silver Arrow, with the scientific & engineering assistance of WIS, is continuing the development of its terrestrial power module, with good intermediate test results of the unique energy storage. In parallel with the development of its trackable dish, Silver Arrow is expecting to start its modified heat engine testing soon. An energy storage module prototype is planned to start hot testing at one of the existing Solar Tower upper floors early next year. An improved thermo -electric device is also being developed, with the direct participation of BGU, possibly to improve overall efficiency of a future combined system. A complete stand alone terrestrial prototype is scheduled for testing during 1999.
4. MLM/Israel Aircraft Industry -has achieved very high efficiency during the testing of its preliminary concentrator PV module, using both "white" & spectrally oriented solar radiation, coupled with a dedicated especially developed cooling system. A 1 kW array is now being built with its auxiliary components and is scheduled to commence hot testing soon, at the WIS Solar Tower complex. A 5kW stand -alone working prototype is planned for next year. The company has recently decided to terminate its Space Platform development program, since it has been realized that with wind conditions anticipated at the tergeted space location, it would not be possible to devise a suitable self sustained (electrical) energy storage to effectively meet the prevailing conditions, due to weight limitations.
5. During testing at WIS, Rotem achieved multi -watt laser power, with high repetition rate and various switching configurations.A laser laboratory and adjacent tracking dish facility will be soon completed to provide a hot testing capability. This will enable Rotem to test system performance with different laser head configurations, frequency multiplying & diversion as well as an improved non - imaging optics.A "chain" of diode pumping & solar amplifier is also beeing realized, aimed at overcomming the fluctuations of solar energy input.

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