Solar “Death Ray” (VIDEO)
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I’m not sure if this is cleantech — it could certainly be used for good if wished (if it weren’t destroyed in a shed fire… that it probably created), but the idea is a big part of what’s behind concentrated solar power. A Facebook friend actually shared the video with me this week in response to my home heliostats post — thought it made for a fun weekend share. 😀
Needless to say, the preface to the video should be “don’t try this at home.” (Otherwise, you might burn down your shed.)
Here’s more info on the solar death ray and future plans from the YouTube page:
The R5800 is my latest and greatest solar creation. Made from an ordinary fiberglass satellite dish, it is covered in about 5800 3/8″ (~1cm) mirror tiles. When properly aligned, it can generate a spot the size of a dime with an intensity of 5000 times normal daylight. This intensity of light is more than enough to melt steel, vaporize aluminum, boil concrete, turn dirt into lava, and obliterate any organic material in an instant. It stands at 5’9″ and is 42″ across.
Unfortunately, the R5800 was completely destroyed in a storage shed fire on December 14, 2010.music: “hypnothis” www.incompetech.com
provided under creative commons liscenceComing spring of 2011:
Sun Runner 3
R23000 (R23K)Area of dish aperture (elliptical)= (pi x 102cm x 73cm)/4 = 5848 sq cm
Area of focal point (circular)= pi(0.6cm)^2 = 1.14 sq cm
Concentration Power= 5848/1.14 = 5129 then rounded down
Output Power Estimate = 560 watts
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