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Forum Index : Solar : Expanding the Envelope
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Greenbelt Guru  Joined: 11/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 566 |
A new device that is being tested will put a dent in the carbon footprint left by Humanity. Again the Sun is targeted as the energy source and efficiency is 8% at the moment, with further development this could enable a Fella to make his own combustible using the exhaust from his neighbor's Auto. This has possibilities Time has proven that I am blind to the Obvious, some of the above may be True? |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Greenbelt Looks like a potential device but the efficiency is very low considering that some of the solar cells are now doing 20% and even the ones available to the public are 16%. As with all these devices the cost of storing the energy collected is the limiting factor. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Greenbelt Guru Joined: 11/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 566 |
Hey Bob; The Solar Cells work only in daylight and need wires to route the power, This Device operates from heat it collects during the day and gives off fuel as it cools. A liquid Sodium heat storage for cloudy days would give nearly continuous output. Unlike Solar Cells that must be made in miniature size for economic use of materials, this is, (and I'm Guessing) a small laboratory proof of concept device that could be built into something the size of an aircraft carrier. according to the article, the rare earth Cesium is really not scarce, That is, not as costly as Photo cell materials. With the ability to break down the Water molecule it could supply the fuel cell EV's. If we screw around too long the Chinese or others will have the market operating and will be selling the vehicles that use it. And efficiency doesn't matter if you build it big enough. The Russians proved that when they put a capsule in orbit carrying the dog Lika(sp), the US rockets were tiny in comparison but finally we got the Redstone rocket to deliver a 9 pound ball to orbit. Just some thoughts to kick around. BTW. I've been watching your progress with the new Mill, Looking forward to results from a steady wind. Have a Great new year. --Roe Time has proven that I am blind to the Obvious, some of the above may be True? |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Roe I see what you mean on the size situation as a lot of these things do suffer from small scale degradation of efficiency. The big problem is exactly as you alluded to with China acting as a technology suction cleaner, sucking in the brains of the world to their sweat shops for production and resale on the world market. The rise and fall of empires past documents the effects we are seeing now in the so called western world, including the southern cousin Australia. They have the government on side with seemingly unlimited finance to develop sale-able products. We buy these products because they are at a price we can afford and thereby import their poverty, when you import enough poverty, you tip the local scales into poverty and then the exporter of poverty becomes a non poverty entity. I am afraid that the USA has lost the edge due to the powers that be playing big brother to the world and wasting the financial resources offshore while running the local economy into ruin. We are going the same way in Australia but in a smaller way due to limited population. In the mean time we can have fun making their substandard products work for our benefit. Pete has suggested a reverse rotation for the mill to aid the furling, so I may get another set of blades when I can afford them and give a try. I have to get a logger going to document the output in hard copy as at the moment I am just watching the meters and using a pencil. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Bob, terrestrial panels are now made with cells above 20% efficiency, yielding panels with around 19% efficiency. [SunPower modules] Most of mine are these. You can tell these panels, as they are mono-crystalline with no visible busbars. The cells are black without any shiny metal lines, or cell interconnects on the top surface. Hybrid cell panels with efficiency over 30% may be available in a few years. [not talking about Emcore cells, or suncubes] There still may be merit with amorphous panels and life expectancy compared to mono-crystalline cells. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Gordon I guess I hadn't seen any advertised that high in efficiency as i am always looking at the cheap end of the market, the ones I have are rated at 16% but I notice under the right conditions they will exceed 20%, but thats not most times, a bit like the wind. A friend of mine was working for a company in the USA developing a polymer cell that can be bonded to a surface, it has a collection factor of 330 watts per sq meter, but not a long life span around five years last time I spoke to him. The cells where for transport, lighter than air aircraft. I am quite happy with the results of the cells available now as you can really live off the grid with no real loss of lifestyle, just a few adjustments. My main concern is the power used by the workshop, and I think the only solution there is a heat storage solar system. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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