2ND-GENERATION SODIUM HEAT-PIPE RECEIVER FOR A USAB V-160 STIRLING ENGINE - EVALUATION OF ON-SUN TEST-RESULTS USING THE PROPOSED IEA GUIDELINES AND ANALYSIS OF HEAT-PIPE DAMAGE

At the DLR a second generation sodium heat pipe receiver for the Schla ich Bergermann und Partner (SEP) 9-kW(e) dish/Stirling system has been developed and constructed Long-term operation occurred from Oct. 1992 until Aug. 1993 at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria (PSA) in Spain, ac cumulating 950 operating hours. The performance of the SEP 9-kW, syste m with a sodium heat pipe receiver is evaluated according to the guide lines for dish/Stirling performance evaluation by Stine and Powel, as proposed to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Tests were stopped due to a leak in the receiver absorber surface. The analysis of this d amage are reported.