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Show Utah Power and Light To Begin Solar Energy Test The testing of an experimental model of a solar energy device that offers a potentially low-cost method of generating electricity was revealed today by Utah Power & Light Co. and two other electric utilities. Called a Fixed Mirror Solar Concentrator, the 34 by 10-foot model was designed and constructed by General Atomic Co. in San Diego and was delivered to Arizona State University for testing. It is being developed and tested under the sponsorship of Arizona Public Service Co., Southern California Edison Co. and Utah Power & Light Co. The fixed mirror concept is potentially more economical than movable devices currently under development, officials of the three utilities said. Movable mirror systems must be free standing, thus requiring lieavicr support and tracking equipment to turn the mirrored panels, they said, Dr. John Russell, head of General Atomic's solar research program, says the solar power concentrator's fixed mirror surface is designed so that the sun's rays striking it are always reflected to a focal line parallel to the axis of the mirror. This reflection occurs, he said, regardless of the direction from which the sun shines on the surface. A heat receiver pipe is then moved to follow this line focus which moves as the angle of the sun changes, Dr. Itusscll explained. The gas or liquid inside the pipe is heated by the solar energy and can be circulated through a heat exchanger where steam is created to turn a turbine generator to produce electricity. As an alternative, he said solar cells that convert solar energy directly into electricity could be placed on the receiver tube. Concentration of sunlight onto these solar cells would reduce the number of cells required and, hence, also the cost of this alternative. Further discussing the unique solar energy concept, Dr. Russell pointed out that since the mirror surface is fixed, it can be placed directly on the ground. Thus, it should be considerably less expensive in dollars per square foot than the self-supporting steerable surfaces. "The fixed mirror concept offers the best chance -yet of becoming the first economical solar energy system for the generation of electricity," he asserted. Evaluation of the model, plus further experimentation, will be under the direction of Dr. Charles Backus, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Arizona State. An engineering analysis of the receiver tube will be a key part of the university's assignment, according to Dr. Backus. |