The ProblemSolar power installations are too expensive to be profitable.The normal method of concentrating solar energy is to use one or more large parabolic mirrors or parabolic section troughs which are moved to track the sun in order to focus it on a chosen area (a line in the case of the trough). An alternative method is to use a large number of small flat mirrors, each tracking the sun to focus on the same target as the others. In this arrangement the individual mirrors do no focusing, this is achieved by all the mirrors pointing to the same target. Existing designs make each of these approaches too expensive to be practical, although a number of experimental and partly commercial installations do exist. The essential problem is the cost (and weight) of the precision equipment required to direct the mirrors, especially as they have to work exposed to the elements for long periods of time. |
The SolutionInexpensive Directable Mirrors.An inexpensive panel that acts as a rapidly directable mirror while remaining externally fixed and sealed would make the 'many mirrors' design practical. Ideally such a panel would require little energy to direct, would be easily mounted, robust, light in weight, and easy to install. This impossible sounding device is exactly what this site is all about. It has all the above and more, follow the links below to learn about it.
Australian patent no. 722115, US Patent no. 6227673, Patent pending Europe |