MIT students have created a new solar dish that is powerful enough to melt solid steel. While photo-voltaic solar technology has long been known as relatively inefficient in its current form, the new way to concentrate solar energy developed by the MIT students is far more powerful, and very inexpensive to build. Known as a ‘parabolic collector’, this way of harnessing solar energy has yet to be researched intensively. The students created their parabolic collector out of aluminum frames and mirrors.
From Inside Tech:
The MIT team believes that their lightweight, inexpensive device holds the promise of revolutionizing the power industry and providing solar power to even remote regions.
The key piece is the 12-foot dish, which the team assembled in several weeks. The design is exceedingly simple and inexpensive. The frame is composed of aluminum tubing and mirrors are attached to it.
The results are staggering – the completed mirror focuses enough solar energy at its focal point to melt solid steel. The energy of typical sunlight is concentrated by a factor of 1,000. This was showcased during a demonstration, in which a team member held up a board, which instantly and violently combusted, when brought within range of the focal point.
By directing the dish at a more practical target – water piped through black tubing – steam can be flash created, offering instant means of producing energy or providing heating.
The students have even created their own company, RawSolar, to mass-produce the design. The new dishes would provide a return on investment within a mere couple of years, rather than the 10 years or more it currently takes to make your money back on photovoltaics.
This is exactly what we need in green technology – some kickass muscle power! We should be seeing a lot more research in this area soon.
Link [Inside Tech]
