Solar Turbine Implementation

This is a log of the implementation process, dead ends and all.

The First Reflector

The first idea to be implemented was a 4'x 8' tensioned plywood panel covered in aluminum foil (later to be mylar). The tension applied by two rows of bolts with wingnuts holds the plywood in a parabolic shape.

At sundown, this panel appeared to give a tight focus (as Ben learned first hand).

Under greater intensity light however, the flaws of the design became apparent as a foot wide strip was clearly illuminated. The imprecise optics may be due to the diffuse reflectance of the aluminum foil. Experiments with mylar when it arrives will be telling.

The Next Reflector

Due to the changing focal length of the system as the suns angle parallel to the trough axis changes, the concentrating ability of a single parabolic reflector is limited to about 2 in an east-west axis system. Therefore, the next panel implementation will be only one foot wide as opposed to four feet. Experiments with mylar stuck to a curved plywood or oriented strand board backing will be preformed. Strectched mylar seems unlikely due to the high cost of thick (5 mil) mylar.

The local hardware store has 1/8" glass mirrors for $1.50 a square foot, which will easily curve under tension to our desired shape, probably won't require plywood backing and which should long outlast mylar.