Test results from a full-scale sodium reflux pool-boiler solar receiver

A sodium reflux pool-boiler solar receiver has been tested on a nominal 75-kW{sub t} parabolic-dish concentrator. The purpose was to demonstrate the feasibility of reflux-receiver technology for application to Stirling-engine dish-electric systems. In this application, pool boilers (and more generally liquid-metal reflux receivers) have a number of advantages over directly-illuminated tube receivers. The advantages, to be discussed, include more uniform temperature, which results in longer lifetime and higher temperature available to the engine. 17 refs., 10 figs.