SBIR-STTR Award

High intensity solar facility for simulating thermal nuclear environment
Award last edited on: 12/18/14

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Army
Total Award Amount
$532,707
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
A87-213
Principal Investigator
Mark Sutton

Company Information

M M Sutton Associates

1825 San Pablo Avenue Suite 202
Oakland, CA 94612
   (415) 444-6152
   N/A
   N/A
Location: Single
Congr. District: 12
County: Alameda

Phase I

Contract Number: DAAD09-87-C-0035
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
1987
Phase I Amount
$44,244
The proposed concept uses an innovative solar central receiver design to produce the very high flux densities and power requirements needed for this application. An array of equatorially mounted heliostats with toroidal shaped surfaces are arrayed in a tilted field layout. The high flux densities are produced through a combination of the designs ability to place large amounts of heliostat area close to the focal zone and the ability to control optical astigmatism. Unlike other central receiver concepts, the proposed design directs the concentrated solar energy to a ground-based focal zone allowing for any size and shape test object and rapid experiment turn around. Also, due to the use of only a single reflective surface, the maximum ultraviolet content of the incident solar energy is maintained, providing the most accurate simulation of a thermal nuclear event. A facility built on the proposed concept will also have the ability to generate electrical (or other) power when not used for testing purposes.

Phase II

Contract Number: DAAD07-90-C-0128
Start Date: 6/28/90    Completed: 6/30/92
Phase II year
1990
Phase II Amount
$488,463
Phase II technical objectives and approach: developing the different aspects of this concept such that an 'optimum' design results could easily consume more funds than are available for this investigation. We address this situation by allowing the various design solutions to be the result of each team members best judgement. To insure the best results, we chose each team member for this effort because they are the single most qualified firm in the area for which they are responsible. The specific objectives proposed for the Phase II work are the following: 1. Identify best array design based on operational performance requirements. 2. Identify a candidate array design to be considered for construction. 3. Complete a first order cost estimate of the candidate array. 4. Formulate recommendations for Phase III work.