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Tag Archives: solar tower

From concept to commercialization: 40 years of concentrating solar power research

July 26, 2018 – 12:00 pm

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — From testing space shuttle tiles to making electricity from sunlight, the world’s first multimegawatt solar tower has contributed to energy research, space exploration, defense testing and solar energy commercialization since it was commissioned at Sandia National Laboratories in July 1978. The solar tower is a key component of a specific type of […]

By Kristen Meub | Posted in History, Renewable energy | Also tagged , | Comments Off on From concept to commercialization: 40 years of concentrating solar power research

Solar tower exposes materials to intense heat to test thermal response

June 21, 2018 – 5:00 am

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories is using its solar tower to help assess the impact of extreme temperature changes on materials. The tests, now in their second year, take advantage of the ability of Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility to simulate a very rapid increase in temperature followed by an equally rapid decrease. […]

By Kristen Meub | Posted in Military / Defense, Science / Technology / Engineering | Also tagged , , , | Comments Off on Solar tower exposes materials to intense heat to test thermal response

Testing heats up at Sandia’s Solar Tower with high temperature falling particle receiver

July 1, 2015 – 5:00 am

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working to lower the cost of solar energy systems and improve efficiencies in a big way, thanks to a system of small particles. This month, engineers lifted Sandia’s continuously recirculating falling particle receiver to the top of the tower at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility, […]

By Rebecca Brock | Posted in Energy / Environment / Water, Renewable energy | Also tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Testing heats up at Sandia’s Solar Tower with high temperature falling particle receiver

Sandia Labs harnessing the sun’s energy with tiny particles

September 16, 2013 – 9:10 am

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Engineers at Sandia National Laboratories, along with partner institutions Georgia Tech, Bucknell University, King Saud University and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), are using a falling particle receiver to more efficiently convert the sun’s energy to electricity in large-scale, concentrating solar power plants. Falling particle receiver technology is attractive because it can […]

By Stephanie Hobby | Posted in Renewable energy, Science / Technology / Engineering | Also tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sandia Labs harnessing the sun’s energy with tiny particles