Eco Factor: Solar concentrator system based on Dionysius’ ear.
Mostly all solar thermal power plants make use of parabolic mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a convection fluid, which then heats water and converts it into steam for generating electricity. A new design by a team of Italian researchers at the University of Salerno eliminates the convection fluid from the system and offers use in endless applications in a cost-effective manner. Based on Dionysius’ ear, where a cave shaped like an ellipse was used to hear words whispered by a person in one of the foci of the cave, this new solar concentrating system focuses sunlight onto a single point for further use.
The Sunlight Trap, as the system has been christened, is made of two parabolic mirrors arranged face-to-face. Sunlight hits the larger mirror and is reflected onto the smaller one. In turn the smaller mirror reflects sunlight onto a black body with perfectly reflecting inner walls. This system enhances the intensity of incident light onto the black body, generating heat which can then be used in multiple ways. Scientists believe that the system offers multiple possibilities where the heat generated can either be used to heat water, converting it into steam for generating electricity using a steam turbine, and it can also be used to make sea water potable by first converting it into steam and then condensing it to obtain drinking water.
Via: Physorg
