Solar power tower
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A solar power tower is a solar power station based on a tower.
There are two main types:
- The tower may be used as the collector at the focus of an array of movable mirrors known as heliostats. Solar energy from the heliostats is converted to power, usually by heating a fluid and using it to spin a turbine and a generator.
- More recently, other designs have been based on a solar chimney. Heated air passing through the chimney spins wind turbines.
External links
- Boeing Solar Power tower (http://www.boeing.com/assocproducts/energy/powertower.html)
- Sandia Laboratories' National Solar Thermal Test Facility (http://www.sandia.gov/Renewable_Energy/solarthermal/nsttf.html)