3 replies to this topic

[MDH]

I actually used to have one of these things but have completely forgotten about my childhood obsession with harnessing weather and sun energy.

This lad seems to have gone through the effort of making one incorperating nearly 5,000 mirrors which point directly at a single tiny area.

[dr thrust]

thanks very interesting indeed, im presuming one could focus the "death beam" through a magnifying lens for even more power

[Arthur Brown]

I did once read of a French solar furnace with a hillside or two of servo controlled mirrors doing something like. Apparently it was used for ultra clean high temperature physics experiments. The control system could keep the beam in the target place for a long time even as the sun tracked through the sky.

[whoof]

Also the Americans in i think california os arizona have a power generation plant on that principle.
The eco forums have various designs for trough type reflectors for hot water which are very effective.