Leo Gerst - Revision history

Syk0 saje at 10:54, 3 May 2011

2011-05-03T10:54:39Z

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2011-01-13T18:58:19Z

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	~~=Introduction: Heliostat=~~		[[Category:Candidates for speedy deletion]]
	~~... explainer text goes here ....~~


	~~=Heliostats by Leo Gerst at Heliostat.us=~~
	Leo Gerst (link: [http://www.heliostat.us Heliostat.us]) has built heliostat prototypes that cost $130 per square meter total for a 2-axis tracking heliostat - using off-shelf parts. This is a breakthrough price achievement, and indicates potential economic feasibility of concentrator solar thermal power using heliostats on a small scale. For example, 30 such mirrors, at $4k - at 30 kW of energy focused on a square meter - could realistically power a heat engine. The detailed price list is:

	[[~~Image:heliostatcost.jpg]]~~

	~~Download the Excel spreadsheet for some sourcing links [http://openfarmtech.org/heliostat_BOM.xls here].~~

	~~=Conversation with Marcin=~~

	*See heliostat prototypes from Leo (leogerst at hotmail dot com):

	~~http://www.heliostat.us/howitworks.htm~~

	*Within 150 feet, 2.5 feet up and 6 foot wide.

	*Home Depot mirror - 36x32" mirror - ended up being 5' wide for an image 115 feet - left to right was 4 feet, 1 foot high image, $40 at Home Depot

	*Flat mirror is less expensive

	*Motors for 8 dollars, so $16 per mirror. PIC, $12 - bootloader on processor, $3 for PIC itself, but $12 with program
	*$1.20 for all-thread
	*$150 controller - but go with OS
	*Proof of concept: gather energy effectively. Make a hotspot.
	*1 ton turbine - 1 ton of water per hour
	*$100 per panel
	*Probably discount at 1000 glass pieces
	*Pole in front in picture is the detector
	*Photo sensors are $1 each, key to the project
	*Shower head screws into PVC

	~~=Conversation of Leo Gerst with Alex Hornstein=~~

	~~---------- Forwarded message ----------~~
	~~From: Alex Hornstein <alex#at#nublabs#dot#com>~~
	~~Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2008 at 4:23 PM~~
	~~Subject: Re: Heliostat Thesis~~
	~~To: Leo Gerst <leogerst#at#gmail#dot#com>~~


	~~hey Leo,~~

	My (undergrad and only) thesis was actually on designing and building a handheld oscilloscope. I've been working for the past three or four years on heliostats and solar stuff in general, but I don't have any academic papers for you.

	I like what you've done, and it looks pretty advanced. Nobody's ever beat a cost of $250 for a square meter of built, installed and actuated heliostat, and it's exciting that your cost is so low. Looking at your youtube video of your mirrors moving, I really appreciate your sensing solution--that's very smart and effective. I think your biggest problem right now is of accuracy. Looking at the step size of your mirrors as they move, it looks like their accuracy is worse than .5 degrees, and the maximum theoretical concentration a field of heliostats is limited by your angular error (as well as the optics of your receiver). I'd work on improving that.

	~~=Arduino-Based Heliostat Controller=~~
	~~From [[Daan van Geijlswijk]], daan #at# zininzelfdoen.nl, who is working on an open source heliostat system:~~


	~~=Work by Gabriel Miller at Cerebral Meltdown=~~
	Heliostats are generally used for solar energy. Although not as popular as solar panels, they can potentially give you access to considerable amounts of untapped heat energy for a much lower price, assuming, of course, you build it yourself.
	* more at: http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/heliostatprojects/


	~~=Work by Brendan from heliostats.org=~~
	Brendan from [http://heliostats.org/ Heliostats.org] has been making some progress with his heliostat project. The gears you see in the above picture were printed out with his Makerbot. Pretty neat idea. A printable heliostat for solar power. The future looks very cool indeed.


	~~=Work by Mark=~~
	[http://home.tiscali.nl/markhome/index.html?suntrack/suntrack Here is a heliostat] which was sent in by Mark. He says that he has had it up and running for about a year now without having to make any recalibrations. It looks pretty cool. He has several more projects on his site besides just this one, so don't forget to check them out too. More information at [http://www.heliostaat.nl/ Heliostaat.nl (in Dutch)].


	~~=Work by Rob at IwillTry.org=~~
	~~[http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/build-a-heliostat-for-solar-heating-and-lighting/ Link here]~~


	~~=Elsewhere on the OSE Wiki=~~
	* [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)

	~~=Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context=~~
	* '''lighting''' and space '''heating''' for buildings
	* enhanced lighting and heating of '''greenhouses'''
	* '''water heating''' for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)
	* '''biomass drying''', even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction] (examples of wet biomass: biogas slurry, manure, humanure, [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Duckweed duckweed], wood etc.)
	* extreme solar concentration for '''metallurgy''' (requires [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens Fresnel lens], ideally of glass)
	* '''distillation''' of alcohol and other fuels
	* to power an open source [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:~~Steam_Engine modern steam engine]~~
	* '''solar pyrolysis''' system for ~~[http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Biochar biochar] production (unproven idea, no designs exist)~~

	~~=External Links=~~
	* Wikipedia page: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliostat Heliostat]
	* [http://www.heliotrack.com/ Heliotrack]
	* [http://www.redrok.com/concept.htm Redrok Heliostat Design Concepts]
	* [http://www.practicalsolar.com/products.html Practical Solar Heliostat System]



	~~[[Category:Solar Turbine]]~~
	~~[[Category:Solar Power]]~~
	~~[[Category:Energy~~]]

Rasmus: /* Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context */

2011-01-13T17:53:06Z

Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context

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	=Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context=		=Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context=
	* lighting and space heating for buildings		* '''lighting''' and space '''heating''' for buildings
	* enhanced lighting and heating of greenhouses		* enhanced lighting and heating of '''greenhouses'''
	* water heating for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)		* '''water heating''' for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)
	* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction] (examples of wet biomass: biogas slurry, manure, humanure, [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Duckweed duckweed], wood etc.)		* '''biomass drying''', even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction] (examples of wet biomass: biogas slurry, manure, humanure, [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Duckweed duckweed], wood etc.)
	* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens Fresnel lens], ideally of glass)		* extreme solar concentration for '''metallurgy''' (requires [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens Fresnel lens], ideally of glass)
	* distillation of alcohol and other fuels		* '''distillation''' of alcohol and other fuels
	* to power an open source ~~modern~~ [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:Steam_Engine steam engine]		* to power an open source [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:Steam_Engine modern steam engine]
	* solar pyrolysis system for [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Biochar biochar] production (unproven idea, no designs exist)		* '''solar pyrolysis''' system for [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Biochar biochar] production (unproven idea, no designs exist)

	=External Links=		=External Links=

Rasmus: /* Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context */

2011-01-13T17:51:14Z

Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:51, 13 January 2011
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	* water heating for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)		* water heating for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)
	* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction] (examples of wet biomass: biogas slurry, manure, humanure, [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Duckweed duckweed], wood etc.)		* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction] (examples of wet biomass: biogas slurry, manure, humanure, [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Duckweed duckweed], wood etc.)
	* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires Fresnel lens, ideally of glass)		* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens Fresnel lens], ideally of glass)
	* distillation of alcohol and other fuels		* distillation of alcohol and other fuels
	* to power an open source modern [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:Steam_Engine steam engine]		* to power an open source modern [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:Steam_Engine steam engine]

Rasmus: /* Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context */

2011-01-13T17:49:22Z

Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:49, 13 January 2011
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	* enhanced lighting and heating of greenhouses		* enhanced lighting and heating of greenhouses
	* water heating for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)		* water heating for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)
	* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction]		* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction] (examples of wet biomass: biogas slurry, manure, humanure, [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Duckweed duckweed], wood etc.)
	* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires Fresnel lens, ideally of glass)		* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires Fresnel lens, ideally of glass)
	* distillation of alcohol and other fuels		* distillation of alcohol and other fuels
	* to power an open source modern steam engine		* to power an open source modern [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:Steam_Engine steam engine]
	* solar pyrolysis system for biochar production (unproven idea, no designs exist)		* solar pyrolysis system for [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Biochar biochar] production (unproven idea, no designs exist)

	=External Links=		=External Links=

Rasmus: /* On the OSE Wiki, see Also */

2011-01-13T17:38:37Z

On the OSE Wiki, see Also

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	=On the OSE Wiki~~, see Also~~=		=Elsewhere on the OSE Wiki=
	* [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)		* [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)


	=Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context=		=Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context=

Rasmus: /* Possible Heliostat applications in the Open Source Ecology context */

2011-01-13T17:37:53Z

Possible Heliostat applications in the Open Source Ecology context

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:37, 13 January 2011
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	=Possible ~~Heliostat~~ applications in the ~~Open Source Ecology~~ context=		=Possible heliostat applications in the OSE context=
	* ~~solar water~~ heating ~~(for aquaponics; see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture]~~ for ~~example), space heating,~~		* lighting and space heating for buildings
	* enhanced lighting and heating of greenhouses		* enhanced lighting and heating of greenhouses
			* water heating for various applications; examples: aquaponics (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_tilapia Tilapia aquaculture] for example)
	* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction]		* biomass drying, even solar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrefaction torrefaction]
	* solar pyrolysis system for biochar production
	* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires Fresnel lens, ideally of glass)		* extreme solar concentration for metallurgy (requires Fresnel lens, ideally of glass)
	* ~~Distillation~~ of ~~fuel~~		* distillation of alcohol and other fuels
	*		* to power an open source modern steam engine
			* solar pyrolysis system for biochar production (unproven idea, no designs exist)

	=External Links=		=External Links=

Rasmus at 17:33, 13 January 2011

2011-01-13T17:33:14Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=Introduction=
+=Introduction: Heliostat=
 Leo Gerst has built heliostat prototypes that cost $130 per square meter total for a 2-axis tracking heliostat - using off-shelf parts. This is a breakthrough price achievement, and indicates potential economic feasibility of concentrator solar thermal power using heliostats on a small scale. For example, 30 such mirrors, at $4k - at 30 kW of energy focused on a square meter - could realistically power a heat engine. The detailed price list is:
 [[Image:heliostatcost.jpg]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 33: @@
 *Shower head screws into PVC
-=Conversation with Alex Hornstein=
+=Conversation of Leo Gerst with Alex Hornstein=
 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
-From: Alex Hornstein <alex@nublabs.com>
+From: Alex Hornstein <alex#at#nublabs#dot#com>
 Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2008 at 4:23 PM
 Subject: Re: Heliostat Thesis
-To: Leo Gerst <leogerst@gmail.com>
+To: Leo Gerst <leogerst#at#gmail#dot#com>
@@ Line 48: / Line 51: @@
 From [[Daan van Geijlswijk]], daan #at# zininzelfdoen.nl, who is working on an open source heliostat system:
-=See Also=
+=Work by Gabriel Miller at Cerebral Meltdown=
 * [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)
 [[Category:Solar Turbine]] [[Category:Solar Power]]

Rasmus at 14:53, 31 December 2010

2010-12-31T14:53:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 31 December 2010
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	* [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)		* [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)

	[[Category:Solar Turbine]]		[[Category:Solar Turbine]] [[Category:Solar Power]]

Elifarley: /* Arduino-Based Heliostat Controller */

2010-11-25T10:56:54Z

Arduino-Based Heliostat Controller

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:56, 25 November 2010
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	http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/heliostatprojects/		http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/heliostatprojects/

			=See Also=
			* [[Concentrating solar power]] (CSP)

	[[Category:Solar Turbine]]		[[Category:Solar Turbine]]