Popular Mechanics print issue this month has an interesting article about solar nearing its hype. Of particular interest is concentrated solar thermal energy driving stirling engines.
The plants won’t use photovoltaic cells. Instead, giant mirrored dishes will focus the sun’s heat onto a Stirling engine—a system in which hydrogen, expanding as it is heated and contracting as it is cooled, drives a set of pistons. The engine powers a generator.
Each one can power 12 houses.
Here is a video of a small Stirling engine that seems to operate off the sun (or virtually any heat source) perpetually:
And remember… it is all about heat differences causing motion (which is then captured to make electricity)… and you can do it without moving parts.
I’m pretty depressed about where our culture and government have gotten to. But science continues to impress and give hope.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
[...] Johnson claims a energy conversion of 60% – more than twice that of a Stirling Engine. [...]
August 10th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I read your comment and wondered how involved you’ve become in the push for this type of technology. I’m desperate for training on exactly this and have contacted all the universities in the Tampa area and none of them have any courses that could help re-direct a fairly talented middle aged man like myself into this field.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Hi Scot… I’m just an interested reader on these technologies. For advice on how to get into these fields I’d suggest contacting the companies involved.
June 18th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I’m pretty depressed about where our culture and government have gotten to. But science continues to impress and give hope.
My thoughts exactly.