Do it yourself “Solar Death Ray” - Parabolic Mirror Dish
Here is a great example of how you can generate heat from home using, what appears to be, a Direct TV dish or something similar, and creating a make shift parabolic dish using solar thermal. The tiny mirror solar collectors look well placed on the dish, and it is obviously producing considerable heat. It is not often we get to see a home video of a simple technology that has uses far beyond cooking wieners and heating soup. This is not just entertaining and educational. This is a fascinating technology that has been given inadequate exposure thanks to our planet polluting overindulgence of fossil fuels.
How about that. A working model of the Direct TV Dinner Oven Weiner Cooker 3000.
A brief look at the possibilities. On a much larger scale we have a promising renewable energy system, using slightly more advanced technology compared to the wiener heater. 37 Ft diameter.
Photo Credit: Stirling Energy Systems
Stirling Energy Systems solar dishes tracking the sun
“The southwest region of the United States is ideally suited for this. In fact, a solar farm 100 miles by 100 miles could satisfy 100% of the America’s annual electrical needs. Solar technology primarily addresses the peak power demands facing utility companies in the Southwest U.S. and other solar-rich areas.”
“How much power does solar Dish Stirling system produce?
One dish on an annual basis can produce 55,000-60,000 kWh of electricity. This is equivalent to the total energy required for 8-10 homes in the U.S.”
Quotes Source, Image and Flash video:Stirling Energy Systems
Those are phenomenal claims. Again, not enough attention or emphasis placed on the importance of technologies such as this. I am not suggesting this technology is the environmental savior of humanity’s power needs, but it is more than an awesome leap in the right direction.
Towers are needed for thermal collectors on larger projects. Cleaning the mirrors is quite a costly task at this scale, just to mention one of the drawbacks.
This is only one of the many alternative energy technologies available for commercialization. However, the Sterling Energy Systems solar farms that are said to be complete in Southern California soon, one of which will produce 500 megawatts, more than doubles the U.S. 2004 total capacity of under 400 megawatts from solar energy. Though not attractively priced for homes or even small businesses, with demand that will change. Disseminate this information.
Other Resources:
Solar Thermal Energy on Wikipedia
Solar Power Tower on Wikipedia
Stirling Energy Systems on Wikipedia
Tags: Environmental Issues, Parabolic Mirror, solar power, Sustainable Development
May 27th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Great post! I actually want to make one of these death rays now…
May 28th, 2007 at 9:48 am
I most certainly do. I actually have a science set as a child that had about a 12″ diameter bowl shaped mirror, along with various other kid’s experiment gadgets.
Now I wish I had read the instructions a tad closer…
Probably would have fried my finger anyway.
May 28th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Exciting to visit your site, you can feel our new future beginning.
May 29th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
It is definitely a positive feeling to see a new generation of environmental defenders on the net. Our voice shall be heard:)