Within this framework, we can attempt an assessment of the state of the art of solar collectors (concentrators).
III--Cooling Processes: Refrigeration and Heat Rejection Systems Duffre, J. A., R. C h u n g , G. O. G. LSf, Solar E n e r g y L a b o r a t o r y , U n i v e r s i t y of Wisconsin, "A S t u d y of a Solar Air C o n d i t i o n e r " , Mechanical Engineering, A u g u s t 1963, 5 pgs incl 5 illus.
The experimental operation of a lithium bromide-water absorption-air conditioner with solar energy and supply from a flatplate collecter, demonstrating the technological feasibility of solar cooling. V--Thermoelectric Eisen, M. P., a n d J. G. Bartas, G e n e r a l Electric Comp a n y , "Low T e m p e r a t u r e Fuel Batteries on the M o o n " , I E E E Transactions on Aerospace, Vol. 2, No. 2, April 1964, 8 pp. Fuel battery systems have been evaluated as to their ability to reject heat while operating in earth orbit and at the 240°F temperature expected on the lunar equatorial surface at noon. Analysis of the earth orbiting condition has led to the conclusion that, if an adequate vehicle surface area is available, the temperature at which fuel battery is rejected is not a significant factor. Solutions to the lunar application have included high temperature components or heat rejection systems using the specific heat and latent heat of vaporization of gases and liquids. Schuh, N. F., W e s t i n g h o u s e Electric Corp., " T h e r m o Electric Power S y s t e m s " , Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering, M a y 1963, 4 pp., Illus. A comparison of materials, techniques and energy sources in thermoelectric systems. Summers, C. M., O k l a h o m a State U n i v e r s i t y , "A Solar to Electric E n e r g y S y s t e m W i t h I n t e r m e d i a t e E n e r g y Storage", I E E E Conference a n d Electronics Show, April 1963, 20 pp., Illus. One of our greatest unsolved technological problems is that of energy storage. With the goal of a 100-watt continuous output, a plant is being developed and constructed. The problem is being tackled in three parts: Conversion of solar to electric energy, Conversion of the electrical energy into storable energy, The final .production of direct current electrical energy and conversion to alternating current.
VIII--Thermionic Smith, A r v i n H., J e t P r o p u l s i o n Lab., Calif. I n s t . of Technology, " T h e r m i o n i c s : Auxiliary Power Applicat i o n for Space", A S M E P u b l i c a t i o n , 63-MD-54, .May 1963, 7 pp., Illus. This paper is concerned with a system which uses solar energy and the thermionic-emission process in the generation of electric power for space applications. The system is called SET for Solar Energy Thermionic electrical power supply. The present development effort is expected to result in SET electrical power supplies possessing advantages of higher conversion efficiency, lower weight, and increased reliability for many of the space missions of interest in the next ten years. Thermionic converters utilizing many of the materials, components, and processes being developed for the SET systems should find application in thermionie generators heated by radioisotopes, gas burners, and nuclear reactors. 68
Luke, K e u n g P., a n d J o h n R. Smith, Lewis Research Center, " T h e o r e t i c a l S t u d y of Zero-Field E l e c t r o n W o r k F u n c t i o n of M e t a l I m m e r s e d i n G a s - D i r e c t A p p l i c a t i o n to C e s i u m T h e r m i o n i c Diode", N A S A T e c h n i c a l Note, N A S A T N D-2357, J u l y 1964, 66 pp. The report analyzes the adsorption of gas particles on a metal surface whereby the electron work function of the metal is altered. The system considered consists of a metallic solid immersed in a gas. New equations are derived for the effective polarizability of an adsorbed particle, the variation in the atom desorption energy as a function of coverage, and the change in the electron work function of a metal as a function of its surface temperature and the gas pressure and temperature. For illustrative purposes these equations are applied to the cesiumtungsten system. The calculated values of the change in electron work function fit very well the data of both Houston and Breitwieser on the cesium-tungsten system.
IX--Photochemical Processes: Biological, Botanical and Inorganic Goedheer, J. C., " A n A t t e m p t e d C o n c e p t of P h o t o synthesis Based o n L u m i n e s c e n c e E x p e r i m e n t s " , Colloques I n t e r n a t i o n a u x d u C e n t r e N a t i o n a l de la Recherche Scientifique, No. 119, 1963, 13 pp. The afterglow of photosynthesizing green and blue-green cells most probably is due to back reactions in a pigment system consisting mainly of short wavelength chlorophyll a and accessory pigments (-p- system). Absorption in another system, consisting mainly of long wavelength chlorophyll a (the -q- system) is effective in suppressing the luminescence emitted by the former system. Both systems are assumed to function by photoxidation of a chlorophyll a type. To explain all measured luminescence phenomena it is assumed: 1. Absorption in the -p- system brings about water photolysis. An electron is brought from the potential level of water oxidation to that of cytochrome reduction, 2. Absorption in the -q- system results in oxidation of cytochrome and reduction of pyridine nucleotide, while also high energy phosphates are produced. The electron of cytochrome is brought to the carbohydrate level, 3. A chloroplast dark respiration system occurs which is fed partly by electrons from the -q- system. Experiments with chlorophyll in organic solution suggest that the leaving of an electron from chlorophyll (towards cytochrome in the -p- and towards PN in the -q- system) is mediated by the Mg atom, while the entering of an electron into chlorophyll (from H20 in the -p- and from cytochrome in the -q- system) is mediated by the ring system of conjugated bonds. The electrical separation is made effective by the chloroplast structure, in which the accessory pigments may play an important role. K l i n g e u b e r g , M., A. Muller, P. S c h m i d t - M e n d e , a n d H. T. W i t t , " C h a n g e s i n A b s o r p t i o n D u r i n g P h o t o synthesis i n the U l t r a v i o l e t S p e c t r u m " , Nature, Vol. 194, No. 4826, 1962, 2 pp. Discusses the further investigations of the function of plastoquinone in the transport of electrons during photosynthesis. Search was made for changes in absorption in the ultraviolet spectrum. Muller, A., B. R u l n b e r g , a n d H. T. W i t t , "On the M e c h a n i s m of P h o t o s y n t h e s i s " , Angwandte Chemie, Vol. 1, 1962, 2 pp. Eight different types of absorption changes have been found in green plant cells through examination by flash photometry. These changes were measured by means of very sensitive methods and their time course was recorded. Their causes, reactions and relationships are reported.
Solar Energy