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A new approach on solar energy !

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Shrad

Fri Nov 30 2012, 01:50PM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
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Posts: 780

Discuss !

If I had time, I'd do this as I have an old satellite dish and a dead 50cc motorcycle...

Pinky's Brain

Fri Nov 30 2012, 02:26PM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
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Posts: 837

It might be a nice way to reuse old ICEs to bring down the initial price of solar plants ... but I very much doubt it could compete with Stirling engines pound for pound.

Also of course it can't use diffuse light, only PV can.

Shrad

Fri Nov 30 2012, 05:43PM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
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it seems a nice alternative for big plants, indeed

I wonder what could be the advantage for small units like 1~10kW range, like the one you could make with an old motorcycle engine

Ash Small

Fri Nov 30 2012, 05:58PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

Well, you'd be pretty lucky to get 1kW from an 'old 50cc MC engine'.

I imagine you'd need to be in the desert for this to be of any use, and then only a few hundred watts maximum, before it starts getting big (read 'expensive')

Josh Campbell

Fri Nov 30 2012, 11:44PM

Registered Member #5258 Joined: Sun Jun 10 2012, 10:15PM
Location: Missouri - USA
Posts: 119

I question the efficiency at which solar energy would be converted to mechanical energy in this setup in relation to converting solar energy directly to electricity and using or storing that energy. Mechanical energy can not be readily stored therefor must be used immediately or converted back to electrical which poses the problem of only having said energy available during periods of solar activity. And if you convert the mechanical energy to electrical that would be even less efficient use of the energy.

But as a MO S&T alumni I wish them the best of luck! I think testing beforehand to show energy output would have helped.

Inducktion

Sat Dec 01 2012, 05:51AM

Registered Member #3637 Joined: Fri Jan 21 2011, 11:07PM
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1068

Its operation almost seems akin to a popcorn kernel actually.

Kind of funny how something so simple can be used like that, but... I do wonder how it would work in environments that aren't so toasty.

Patrick

Sat Dec 01 2012, 08:02PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

First, what a cool idea! i have researched a similar idea on using ground thermal energy...more on that later.

Second, i wonder if the use a electromechanical fuel injector (modded for oil and or water use)? as normal valves might be useless. i see in one pic, theve used an aluminim block where the spark plug would be, now there are two holes...

Third, its cool they patented it and explain it, as if it were open source... anyone can evaluate it, which protects them from accusations like the water to fuel stanly guy, who has his magical engine which cant be expalined... (obviously a scam)

Fourth, i about 10 years ago investigated concentrating heat from pipes in the ground, since the ground is a constant heat source the deeper you go and doesnt rise and fall on the horizon. energy isnt a problem, but concentrating high volume to small value while increasing temp (not volating E conservation) is...

Ash Small

Sat Dec 01 2012, 09:03PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

I imagine (but I'm not certain) that they use some form of heatexchanger. Something like refrigeration in reverse, to 'concentrate' the heat. This would be run on energy produced, which affects efficiency. I imagine it would also require a large parabolic dish, and require desert like conditions to run.

A similar system could be used with geothermal energy.

EDIT: This is basically re-inventing the steam engine

Pinky's Brain

Sun Dec 02 2012, 12:22AM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
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Posts: 837

A steam engine which recycles water and does not require a boiler at pressure.

Shrad

Sun Dec 02 2012, 09:48AM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
Location:
Posts: 780

it also takes the huge benefit of oil thermal inertia

the energy needed to launch the system is quite important, but once it is running, the energy needed to sustain the reaction is quite low actually

as hot water in oil will be pressured in micro-bubbles, get calories needed to evaporate but be kept under pressure, the vapor will be generated all at once when it reaches the combustion chamber which has greater volume, no?

it has not the same drawbacks as standard vapor turbines with super saturated vapor, water droplets, entropy etc... without mentioning the maintenance required by a turbine

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