Transcript
Solar Furnaces
Azeez Akeem Abiodun 40432Ibrahim Jumal 40433Cooper Kollie Lackay 40447
Lecturer: Prof. Ezidor Ntsoenzok
Sun: Power house of the solar system
The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System (Jupiter contains most of the rest).
diameter: 1,390,000 km. mass: 1.989e30 kg temperature: 5800 K (surface) 15,600,000 K (core)
The sun’s energy output (3.86 x10 26Watts) is produced by nuclear fusion reaction.
The sun [8]
What are solar furnaces?Solar furnace is a device that uses an array of mirrors to redirect and concentrate the sun’s rays onto a small surface area thus producing extremely high temperature.
The temperature can go as high as 3500o C.
http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il
History of Solar furnaces
Legend claims that Archimedes used polished shields to concentrate sunlight on the invading Roman fleet and repel them from Syracuse.
Archimedes “heat ray” gun. (a legend only)[1]
History of Solar furnaces cont’d By focusing sunlight over flammable materials using lenses,
combustion was generated, experiment conducted by Lavoisier Circa 1770s.
The French chemist Lavoisier experimented with concentrating solar energy using a large parabolic mirror.[1]
History of Solar furnaces cont’dIn 1861, Mouchout developed a steam engine powered entirely by the sun. He produced the first solar steam engine in history in 1866 by using a parabolic trough.
History of Solar furnaces cont’d The solar furnace in Mont Louis, France, built in 1949 by
Professor Félix Trombe, was the first solar furnace in the world.
In 1993,the solar furnace was used for industrial and manufactured products such as the firing of ceramics, and bronze and aluminum products.
The solar furnace in Mont Louis [5]
Fundamental of Spherical mirror
A spherical mirror is a mirror which has the shape of a piece cut out of a spherical surface. There are two types of spherical mirrors: concave, and convex.
Image formation by a concave mirror[2]
How solar furnaces work? The operation principle of a solar furnace is quite simple. It
entails the use of two mirrors, plane mirror and parabolic mirror. The plane mirror is known as Heliostat and is angled such that it directs parallel beam of light to the parabolic mirror. The parabolic mirror then brings the light beam to focus at the focal point.
When the number of mirrors is increased, then it is possible to achieve energy and heat levels where one can actually boil water, cook food or even melt metals!. The amount of energy and efficiency of the solar furnace relay completely on how accurate the mirrors are focused on one point.
How solar furnaces work?
Types of solar furnaces
There are two types of solar furnaces:
Direct solar furnace
Heliostat solar furnace
General uses of solar furnaces
Running Steam Turbines for Solar Power Plants
Cook Food and Boil Water in a Solar Oven
Produce Hydrogen Fuel
Perform Scientific Experiments Which Require Extreme Temperatures Without Pollution
Reduce the Need to Burn Fossil Fuels
Reduce the Need to Cut Down Forests For Firewood
Application of solar furnaces in Africa
Domestic uses− Cooking− Heating of water
Agricultural uses− Drying of farm produce− Incubation of chicken
Industrial uses− Recycling of waste− Welding of machine parts
Application of solar furnaces in Africa
Small natural convection solar dryer design.[4]
Impact of Solar furnaces in Africa
Environment− Prevention of desert encroachment− Decrease in overdependence of fossil fuel− Global warming
Economic− Recycling of waste− Recycling of metal scrap
sun’s rays are focused on the crucible holding the ore [3]
State of art designs of solar furnaces
State of art designs of solar furnaces
high power concentrated solar power stations [9]
Prospect of solar furnaces
It is believed that solar furnaces can be used in manufacturing in the production of aerospace products, defense products, and in electronics.
Solar furnaces also could be used to break down and destroy toxic waste.
In these uses the highflux solar furnace would replace laser furnaces and furnaces using fossil fuels.
Solar furnace application can be expanded to metallurgical industries
Limitation of Solar furnace Solar furnace technology has existed for many years but has never
been fully explored or used on a widespread commercial basis.
It is unclear if solar furnaces will ever be used on any type of scale because of the limitations in their placement and use.
Large solar concentrators are expensive.
They occupy large amount of space
Innovative Ideas Solar energy can be used in baking of pastries. It can also be used in firing earthware materials like
clay pots e.t.c More awareness must be created to enlighten people
on the usage and advantages of solar furnace.
Conclusion
Solar furnace technology has existed for many years but never has been fully explored or used on a widespread commercial basis.
It is unclear if solar furnaces will ever be used on any type of scale because of the limitations in their placement and use.
However, with research and development, there could be breakthroughs that will improve the technology and/or lower the cost.
References1. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_time_1900.html2. http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il/energy/EnergySources/Solar/
SolarFurnace/FSolarFurnace16.htm3. http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il4. Solar Energy: Fundamentals and Applications By Garg &
Prakash, H. P. Garg5. http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/solar4.htm6. http://www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/jiqweb-edf7. www.constructionphotography.com8. http://nineplanets.org/sol.html9. http://www.cmigroupe.com/
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