3 ms·
Looks interesting, but it's not hot enough yet for a lot of industrial processes. E.g. iron melts at ~1500C and this is currently at ~1000C.
by jeffreyrogers 7y ago
Looks interesting, but it's not hot enough yet for a lot of industrial processes. E.g. iron melts at ~1500C and this is currently at ~1000C.
- Zenst 7y agoYou also tend to have higher air pressure in hot sunny area's needed for this tech and that will also increase the melting point of iron. So whilst a small detail, certain one that would be measurable on running costs/energy needed.
- tlb 7y agoThe melting point of iron doesn't depend noticeably on pressure with the range of atmospheric pressures, as you can see from the flat lines in the phase diagram at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron#/media/File:Pure_iron_phase_diagram_(EN).png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron#/media/File:Pure_iron_pha...
- arkh 7y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeillo_solar_furnace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeillo_solar_furnace People have been getting to 3500°C with the same kind of system for decades.
- gamblor956 7y agoYes, but the Odeillo target is 40 cm in size...which is fundamentally too small for industrial-scale heating. Heliogen isn't getting anywhere near that temperature...but it is apparently getting to industrially-useful temperatures at industrially-useful sized targets at financially-feasible costs.