Technical Specifications and KPIs for the SUNSON-Box Prototype

The SUNSON project is pushing the boundaries of renewable energy technology with its groundbreaking SUNSON-Box prototype, designed to generate power through concentrated solar energy and solid-state conversion. To ensure its success, we have established a comprehensive set of technical specifications and key performance indicators (KPIs) to guide the design, testing, and optimization of this innovative system. These metrics will enable the SUNSON team to evaluate the prototype’s performance and improve its efficiency throughout the development process.

Technical Specifications for the SUNSON-Box

The SUNSON-Box is designed to harness concentrated solar power (CSP) through four solar apertures and one thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generator. The system will absorb solar input power exceeding 20 kW, with over 5 kW directed through each aperture. By incorporating advanced optical concentrators, the system can focus sunlight to achieve solar irradiance greater than 100 W/cm²—equivalent to 1000 suns. This high concentration of sunlight is key to maximizing solar-to-thermal efficiency.

The prototype will include a Phase Change Material (PCM) for thermal energy storage, designed with a capacity of over 10 liters, and a TPV generator with an area exceeding 100 cm². These components will ensure that the SUNSON-Box can store and convert solar energy effectively. The system is built to achieve thermal energy storage of over 10 kWh and electrical output power of 250 W, enabling it to provide a sustainable and scalable energy solution.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The KPIs outlined for the SUNSON-Box are critical to measuring the system’s efficiency and performance. Key benchmarks include:

• PCM Melting Temperature: The PCM will operate at temperatures above 1200°C, enabling high thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency.
• Stored Energy Capacity: The demonstrator is expected to store more than 1 kWhth per liter of PCM, with a total thermal storage capacity exceeding 10 kWhth.
• TPV Power Density: The TPV module will generate power at a density greater than 1 W/cm², contributing to the overall electrical output power of 250 W.
• Efficiency: The system targets a thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency of over 20% and an overall solar-to-electric conversion efficiency greater than 15%.

These KPIs ensure that the SUNSON-Box will not only store solar energy efficiently but also convert it into usable electricity at competitive performance levels, making it a breakthrough in renewable energy technology.

Why This Matters

The SUNSON-Box prototype aims to demonstrate a scalable and efficient method of converting solar energy into electricity using CSP and TPV technologies. The combination of high-temperature PCMs and concentrated sunlight offers a novel solution for energy storage and power generation. By developing a system that achieves high conversion efficiency while minimizing heat losses, SUNSON is contributing to the future of clean, renewable energy.

Conclusions The technical specifications and KPI benchmarks set the foundation for the design and development of the SUNSON-Box. These metrics will guide the design process and help the team evaluate the system’s performance during experimental testing and simulations. Although the SUNSON-Box is a compact demonstrator, it represents a significant leap forward in solar-to-electric energy conversion, and further optimizations will be made as the project progresses. The results from this phase will be compiled in upcoming deliverables, ensuring that the SUNSON project continues to break new ground in energy innovation.