Today we had a short discussion about the design of the solar concentrator before we went to show the "ready" idea to William and Eric. Boy, was I wrong about it being ready. We showed them a slightly simplified version of the design that the group had talked about yesterday, and we discussed further some technical details and other stuff with William and Eric.
One thing that they both seemed to agree on, was that since the design had so many moving bits and parts (e.g. the amount of joints we had), it would be both quite expensive and - even if we manage to replace the expensive stuff with some other solutions - pretty complex to adjust. Instead they both suggested a model where we would use one big panel that would be curved to form a parabolic shape, then covering it with a reflecting material. This way the adjusting wouldn't require that much work. They had some simple sounding solutions for doing this, and they really seemed to think this was something we should concider. So, back to designing I guess..?
Peter, I remember you saying that one big panel wouldn't work. Now I'm trying to remember why. Something about wind at least, but surely that problem could be solved somehow. Were there some other reasons as well?
On another note, I'm facing a huge existential crisis. The more I search on solar concentrators the more I realize that everything has already been done. What new are we exactly bringing to the table? Even the CD idea has already been used (http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Old_CD_cooker). Oh the frustration!
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Hear! Hear!
ReplyDeleteI am right in the same point with you Miina! I have been surfing around the the solar cooking archive and barefoot college websites and it seems hard to bring any new ideas to the existing ones... Well atleast the solar cookers are smaller than what we have in plans so they are not enough efficient. But are we inventing the wheel again... I don´t know. Perhaps it is just the pain of creating something new.
What Eric suggested was that we would have some costs analysis and make a 3D model out these models before we choose the one and only model. So that we would not end up building something and then find out that the idea is not working. I propably found the google cad: http://sketchup.google.com/ and ofcourse there is the LEGO building program. Still I think that maybe the final version could be in the middle of these two models. I don´t remember what was William´s and Eric´s suggestion for the reflecting units? Would that model just be a surface where we would "stick" the reflectiong parts/panels or would it be one reflecting surface (and it would not be so effective) ?
Few steps forward and few steps back... That´s how it goes... And on the other hand how much e.g. cars heve developed during the last 100 years? If they would have developed at all, only the créme de la créme could affort it and it would bee 100% hand made. we´ll just make it better and cheaper then the existing ones! A kick ass Solar concentrator with amazing manual!
This Page is quite descriptive: http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Parabolic_solar_reflectors
ReplyDeleteHi guys,
ReplyDeleteA few things.
The technology works so there is no question about that.
- One bulky panel - is cumbersome and can not be transported easily
-The temperatures can not be controlled
-Efficiency enhancement
-Costs- and options on material used
-Manual for use
-One panel when the sun moves - it has to be rotated
etc etc
Are we meeting at the workshop tomorrow anybody?
Thanks for your comments! Yes we need some simple concentration on these issues and just solve them. This rotation seems to be one of the problems cause the solution has to be low tech.
ReplyDeleteMe and Miina are coming, so see you tomorrow :)