N 80 24769 a Cellular Glass Substrate Solar Concentrator

Acurex Corporation, under contract to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is developing a second generation point focusing solar concentrator. The design is based on reflective gores fabricated of thin glass mirror bonded continuously to a contoured substrate of cellular glass. To date the preliminary design effort is complete and is reviewed in this presentation. The concentrator aperture and structural stiffness has been optimized for minimum concentratorcost given the performance requirement of delivering 56 kWth to a 22 cm (8.7 in) ^iameter receiver aperture with a direct normal insolation of 845 watts / an operating wind of 50 kmph (31 mph). The reflective panel, support structure, drives, foundation and instrumentation and control subsystem designs, optimized for minimum cost, are summarized. The use of cellular glass as a reflective panel substrate material is shown to offer significant weight and cost advantages compared to existing technology materials. Lastly, a design summary and key results are presented.