solar concentrator
Hardware
solar concentrator
SHOW HN2024
How HN took it
8 positive, 18 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 5 critical, out of 33 comments about the project. Thread score +0.12.
Idea: 4 for, 0 againstPerformance: 1 for, 2 againstPricing: 0 for, 3 againstDesign: 2 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Clever use of closed-loop control to offset mechanical imprecision.
From 1 comment
Cool work! I do research in nonimaging optics, the optics of achieving high concentration ratios (or wide tolerances to errors) in solar concentrators. I like that you are…
hakonjdjohnsen on HN
Impressive power output from a small mirror area.
From 1 comment
Awesome project OP! Especially the power comparison. Who would have thought that you can achieve 1kW of energy from 1m2. On a side note and in a similar direction. Would it be…
zo1 on HN
Objections
Photovoltaics are now so cheap that concentrated solar may be superseded.
From 1 comment
Unfortunately in 2024 with extremely inexpensive solar cells, I don't see much future for this technology. Even fixed latitude tilt angles are coming into question given the…
mapt on HN
Requests
Describe the cable-drive design in more detail.
From 1 comment
Yeah exactly! I like your cable-drive concept by the way. Did you describe it in more details anywhere? Heliogen were also developing a cable-drive system for their commercial…
hakonjdjohnsen on HN
Questions
Can the mirror area be used to estimate the temperature reached?
From 2 comments
Excellent! Do you know the mirror area used here?
remipch on HNSpeaking of risks and fire, is there a known limit to the temperature achievable by concentration? I was wondering if I could melt a piece of tungsten with this method.
foobarian on HN
Alternatives named
Photovoltaic panels with electric cooking.
From 2 comments
Almost anything you can do with concentrated PV, I can do better with photovoltaic and a resistor immersed in the same thermal storage medium. It is wildly more versatile in the…
mapt on HNUnfortunately in 2024 with extremely inexpensive solar cells, I don't see much future for this technology. Even fixed latitude tilt angles are coming into question given the…
mapt on HN
Non-imaging (anidolic) solar collectors.
From 1 comment
Very cool. Curious if you have looked into non-imaging (anidolic) solar collectors? My understanding is that they are actually more efficient than mirror or lens based collectors…
ryandvm on HN