Electrical Generation from Thermal Solar Energy Using a Turbocharger with the Brayton Thermodynamic Cycle

This paper addresses the use of Solar Thermal Energy to continuously generate electrical energy with a commercially available Turbo-Charger driving an Electrical Generator. The system is based on Braytońs thermodynamic cycle and the energy is provided by a thermal accumulator. We propose that using air as the working media, the compressor element is capable of producing sufficient boost to achieve a useful level of efficiency for the cycle at the operating speed range claimed by the factory. The design or selection of the other important components of the system, such as the electrical generator, the starting motor, the electrical drive, the rectifying and inverting of the current is discussed. A parametric analysis that proves the theoretical feasibility of this model is included.