3 ms·

The 'invention' part of this setup is not their mirror configuration, which just looks pretty and possibly is easy for them to build and deploy in spaces where

by tinco 11y ago

The 'invention' part of this setup is not their mirror configuration, which just looks pretty and possibly is easy for them to build and deploy in spaces where space is a problem. You have to admit that it looks good in that sunflower field. Their footprint looks like it's <2m^2, sort of like a billboard, that makes it very attractive to place wherever. As it says in the article, the actual interesting part is how they generate the energy, apparently with a GaAs that's cooled with some sort of futuristic microfluidic water system. If that works well just the receptor can be a very profitable product, they can let others worry about mirror configurations and deploying in farm lands.

Zenst 11y ago
Maybe the application but tech wise not seeing much new, heat exchanger for electrical generation, satalite dish tracking of a signal (albiet light spectrum). Maybe if the mirrors had prisms which would focus the light frequency for solat to the cells and would focus the thermal at another spot, that would be neat. Then could of had reflective panels that absorbed the heat and processed there and only reflected the light for solar convertion. Now be nice if solar heating systems and panels were combined, could have a lens like tube that would absorb the heat but reflect the light towards a solar panel. Though for me why solar panels do not have large lenses infron as a form of even plastic lens would or glass would work out cheaper than some panel tech and with that use less panels and use less expensive elements and be cheaper over say plastic/glass used to focus. Well that is something I do ponder. Still hope it works out and if it don't then they will learn lots. But it is sort of just of taking the Archimedes death ray approach http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/experiments/deathray/10_ArchimedesResult.html http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/experiments/deathray/10_Archime... So as you say it will be down to the conversion of light and thermal at one point. But for me that whilst useful (more so in space perhaps) is for me at least complicating a problem in which other approaches would seem easier to engineer (ie collect heat in the panels).

by tinco 11y ago

Zenst 11y ago

Maybe the application but tech wise not seeing much new, heat exchanger for electrical generation, satalite dish tracking of a signal (albiet light spectrum). Maybe if the mirrors had prisms which would focus the light frequency for solat to the cells and would focus the thermal at another spot, that would be neat. Then could of had reflective panels that absorbed the heat and processed there and only reflected the light for solar convertion. Now be nice if solar heating systems and panels were combined, could have a lens like tube that would absorb the heat but reflect the light towards a solar panel. Though for me why solar panels do not have large lenses infron as a form of even plastic lens would or glass would work out cheaper than some panel tech and with that use less panels and use less expensive elements and be cheaper over say plastic/glass used to focus. Well that is something I do ponder. Still hope it works out and if it don't then they will learn lots. But it is sort of just of taking the Archimedes death ray approach http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/experiments/deathray/10_ArchimedesResult.html http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www/experiments/deathray/10_Archime... So as you say it will be down to the conversion of light and thermal at one point. But for me that whilst useful (more so in space perhaps) is for me at least complicating a problem in which other approaches would seem easier to engineer (ie collect heat in the panels).