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I'm sure they researched this but square panels seem suboptimal. I wonder if manufacturing made that determination. It seems like circular or hexagonal panels w
by MawNicker 10y ago
I'm sure they researched this but square panels seem suboptimal. I wonder if manufacturing made that determination. It seems like circular or hexagonal panels would better utilize the space. That or just grid aligned square panels. Maybe the space efficiency doesn't matter that much? Each configuration captures the entirety of indirect sunlight. The little bit extra you'd get from direct sunlight is likely insignificant compared to overall performance.
- pdonis 10y agoI don't think the panels are the limiting factor. Remember this isn't a photoelectric plant; the sunlight isn't being converted directly into electricity. All the panels are doing is reflecting sunlight to the central tower, where it heats up molten salt. The limiting factor for power generation is probably the heat capacity of the salt, not the amount of sunlight the panels can reflect. Also, the panels don't look like flat squares to me; they look curved, so that they concentrate the sunlight they reflect.
- Qwertious 10y agoCircular panels would be a terrible idea, circles can't tessellate.
- taneq 10y agoI don't think space efficiency is much of a consideration. These things tend to be built out in the desert where all you've got is space.
- mkj 10y agoTo manufacture circles you'd probably be making squares then cutting off ~1/4 of the area and throwing it away.