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Concentrate the sun lite


By richsuka, Section Solar
Posted on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 05:32:38 AM MST
Concentrate the sun lite

What happens if you concentrate the sun lite on a solar panel? I have a solar collector made from a satellite dish. I can collect more sun rays and send them to a very small area (used for heat only now), It would be like gearing a motor, Would it work or burn up the panel? I'm also thinking about trying solar panels, but the cost is too high. $4.00 per kw. If this would work the cost may be reduce. This ideal would use mirrors. Using mirrors I can and have control the sun light in my garden, it was tested with three layers or stacks. mirrors were used to provide sun to the lower layers. This saved me from using all of my back yard for a garden. The ideal is, I could put 3 panels stacked underground to help with cooling and the lite would not be wasted as it reflects away the energy not collected by the panel. The lower panels can reflect into each other and the sun ray would be used as it moves around the closed solar collector. There would be just one entry point about 2" and my collector would concentrate the lite into the box.

If you think this is crazy I'm used to it. If you can add to it I'm willing to try it. Build it and they will come (that's the energy companies).

Rich

Concentrate the sun lite | 10 comments (10 topical)

Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by donald77777 on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 01:07:42 AM MST

Please check the board this question has been asked before. I will answer it though. Concentrating sunlight onto a solar panel without any type of cooling will damage the panel if it is lower quality. higher quality can take the punishment for a while however I would not try that with any of my panels. You talk about cooling however with it being in a closed solar collector the air with heat up quickly and need to be vented. I understand what you are trying to do. Find a cheapy panel and experiment to find what works and what does not.



Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by richsuka on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 01:17:58 AM MST

I'm not sure how to find older post with the same question. But I would like to say on the heat area, I'm thinking I could use auto ac unit which uses little electricity, as it is powered by pulley for compression, the fan would use some but not much. the heat can also be diverted.

Rich
If it's free it cost too much!



Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by wdyasq on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 05:36:07 AM MST

Rick,

You need to search using the "Google Search" that (on my screen) is to the right.

Where in Texas are you? You seem to have found (in your other post) a great resource of batteries, fuel and engines.

Ron
Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen
[ Parent ]



Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by wildbill hickup on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:42:27 AM MST

I've been working with a couple of solar dish/collectors as well. Standard size DirecTV 18" dish with bits of glass mirror, registered 475°F at focal point. Old Primestar 4' dish with mylar seems to get as hot maybe a little hotter but does it much faster. Took just seconds to melt old LNB cover when turned into sun. Haven't played with that one much yet. Have a few ideas for making a steam generator to mount in focal point and then drive turbine off of steam. Maybe even put one of Mr. Tesla's turbines to work who knows (build a small one once, ran off compressed air. Man would that thing crank at 20psi) . Well just my two cents might be a way to overcome the limits of a solar panel.

Wildbill



Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by joestue on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:13:27 PM MST

use propane/isobutane, you will get about 3 times the efficiency.

[ Parent ]


Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by zap on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 08:31:23 AM MST

Here's a definition of ideal.
Here's a definition of idea.

More energy out of a photovoltaic panel using concentrated sunlight would be ideal.  Doing it with easily available panels in their current state of design without a lot of extra work probably isn't a good idea.

I would have have checked the first and sixth option in your poll but... I don't think there's such a thing as a dumb or bad ideal.

End of rant.

zap



Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by Norm on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 08:34:19 AM MST

You'll be much farther ahead by making a simple
clockwork mechanism that will keep the panels
tracking the sum.
( :>) Norm


Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by wooferhound on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 09:45:31 AM MST

Focusing the light
http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/4/30/131328/411

W o o f -={(

[ Parent ]


Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by wooferhound on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 09:46:41 AM MST

That way you will get the Sum of the Sun Angles.
W o o f -={(

[ Parent ]


Re: Concentrate the sun lite (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Jeff on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:01:47 PM MST

I did this with my cheapie H.F. panels, but only used it during the winter. If I did this during the summer where I'm at, they would definitely burn up! Possibly "box them in" so it would be easier to draw cooler air from underneath, and vent it out the upper-most section with 1 or 2 of those 4 inch computer fans. You could even make a cheap thermal control (or steal one out of a car) to turn the fans on/off at a certain temp, and use the power from the panels.
Rural McG


Concentrate the sun lite | 10 comments (10 topical)
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Poll
What do you think about this
Dumb Ideal
Maybe it will work
Maybe you will blow something up
This ideal is good
It needs work
very bad ideal
Great ideal go for it

Votes: 4
Results | Other Polls

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