Simple Concentrating Solar Collector

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Bill Guru Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Clemson, South Carolina Posts: 1722 Good Answers: 18	Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/12/2007 11:01 AM
	As I said in an earlier post regarding solar collectors, I am posting a schematic of a simple concentrating solar collector which I made a model of and which boiled water in just a couple of minutes. The concentric collector tube schematic was made out of common reducing copper pipe fittings, slightly modified with a drill bit so that the inner tube could be slid into the backside of the reducing tee. The tube is also the axle, and the concentrating collector is more or less balanced so that a heliostat doesn't have to have much power to track the sun. The whole model cost me about $3.00 (US) 20 years ago. __________________ We have met the enemy and he is us . . . Walt Kelly
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PWSlack Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on. Posts: 32175 Good Answers: 839	#1 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/12/2007 11:15 AM
	Ingenious. Well done. __________________ "Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
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user-deleted-1105 Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlow England Posts: 16512 Good Answers: 670	#2 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/12/2007 11:40 AM
	Nice one, I like the pipe arrangement. I shall maybe make one as a winter project... (If I finish the decorating...) Us Brits must waste a lot of power brewing tea ! What are the approx overall dimensions? and how did you work the solar tracking? Sorry if this sound like I'm a lazy git... just trying to start out in the right ball park! Del __________________ health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
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Bill Guru Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Clemson, South Carolina Posts: 1722 Good Answers: 18	#4 In reply to #2 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/12/2007 2:46 PM
	Actually, I never did make the heliostat. The dimensions of my model were about 12" X 12" in cross section and 2 feet long. I aimed it by hand, and it spewed out boiling water before any directional adjustment was needed -- perfect for brewing tea! I'll whip out a plan for a heliostat and post it before too many more days go by. __________________ We have met the enemy and he is us . . . Walt Kelly
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JohnDG Guru Join Date: May 2006 Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover. Posts: 9684 Good Answers: 468	#3 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/12/2007 12:08 PM
	Nice one. What was the reflector made of? Sorry, just hit the link and found: "I made a model concentrating solar collector (parabolic) out of ordinary aluminum flashing..." __________________ "Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
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Bill Guru Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Clemson, South Carolina Posts: 1722 Good Answers: 18	#5 In reply to #3 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/12/2007 2:51 PM
	The reflector was made out of the shiny side of aluminum flashing. I cut out a parabola out of two pieces of 3/4" plywood and inserted the flashing and replaced the "plugs (so to speak)" to keep the flashing in place. I screwed the plug in place through each side at the top and one through the bottom. The pipe is, of course, located at the focus of the parabola, the formula for which escapes me at the moment (I'll post it later, if needed). __________________ We have met the enemy and he is us . . . Walt Kelly
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vikas Guru Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 548	#6 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/17/2007 4:23 PM
	Nice project , but how does it perform in deep winters , can it boil the water
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user-deleted-1105 Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlow England Posts: 16512 Good Answers: 670	#7 In reply to #6 Re: Simple Concentrating Solar Collector 11/17/2007 5:22 PM
	In deep winter you need one which will boil soup! __________________ health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
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Bill (2); JohnDG (1); PWSlack (1); user-deleted-1105 (2); vikas (1)

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