Project
To meet the world wide requirement for clean, reliable, remote power, CTI is developing a solar/ thermal power system using solar concentrators, heat engines, wind generators and electronic controls developed over the past two years.

The world wide problem faced by the scientific community in relation to electricity generation has been the storage of the generated energy. In most remote locations the generated power is stored in battery banks. However the size, number and the ongoing maintenance associated with batteries has limited their use.
CTI in association with the CSIRO has embarked on a plan to overcome this problem with the capture of energy in the form of thermal storage. This will be 4 times more efficient than lead acid batteries with the capability of storing kilo watts of energy for extended periods.

Aim
CTI plans to commercialise a 3kW alternate energy electrical power-generating unit using a thermal cell with the proven technology of Heat Engines.

System
This system consists of a 5-meter solar collector and if necessary a vertical axis wind turbine-providing energy from the sun and wind to a Thermal Cell containing a phase change material and converting the stored heat energy into electrical energy by the use of a heat engine and generator. The CTI designed Thermal cell will replace batteries by storing energy for the continual generation of electricity.

The system is designed to run with low maintenance in remote areas. The solar collector has been designed to be mounted on top of a thermal cell to deliver the Near, Mid and Far infrared frequencies into the phase change within the thermal cell for storage and later use. At night and in times of no sunlight the stored energy within the thermal cell will continue to provide heat to the heat motor which in turn will generate electricity.