At the heart of the collector system lies a high performance absorber. Sunlight, intensified to the equivalent of 13 suns, is focused onto a spherical absorber surface, which is vacuum insulated behind glass. Inside the sphere, a capillary layer (similar to heat pipe technology) ensures that condensate is naturally redistributed based on solar input, where it evaporates again. The steam is returned in a saturated state.
This is a purely steam driven heating and cooling system, ideal for applications such as climate control. Effective operation begins at steam temperatures of 145°C. It is feasible to first route the 235°C saturated steam from the collectors through a steam engine in a pre-stage, reducing it to 165–145°C, after which it can be used to drive an absorption cooling system.
The cooking unit is sized to fit standard kitchen dimensions and operates on saturated steam, which can be supplied directly from the solar collectors or from a buffer tank. The maximum operating temperature depends on the available steam. If a lower temperature is required, the steam inlet is automatically regulated using an adjustable throttle (e.g., pulsed injection) to achieve the desired level. This system is scalable for use in commercial kitchens, making it especially well suited for rapid deployment in crisis-affected regions.
This is an innovative valve controlled system that responds optimally to load fluctuations. As a result, the efficiency remains consistently high even in partial load operation. With a solar thermal output of 300 kW-TH (10 Oktosol), approximately 90 kW-EL can be produced. All components are easy to manufacture according to the current state of the art. A detailed process calculation is available.
The Oktosol absorber is a sophisticated high tech component, with its glass surface featuring a premium anti reflective coating that requires special protection. For this purpose, a two piece, form fitting protective cover is used. Especially in large scale systems, it is advisable for customers to retain these covers. In the event of severe storms, mirrors may need to be removed, leaving the absorbers exposed. To prevent damage, the stored protective packaging must be reinstalled. The hexagonal design enables extremely space efficient stacking.
As with all mass-produced products, transport density is of great importance. This rack holds 64 mirrors with a diameter of 2.4 meters. Special attention has been paid to ergonomic loading and unloading. The mirrors do not touch each other and are thus securely protected for transport. The rack, with a dead weight of 150 kg, carries 1.6 tons of cargo. Stackability of the racks in their empty state with minimal space requirements is also crucial. In many cases, especially for large-scale systems, it makes sense for customers to purchase the rack along with the system. In case of predicted catastrophic storms, if the mirrors need to be taken down, this rack is absolutely necessary to store them quickly and compactly in a safe manner.
