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Low cost solar power
Jul. 15th, 2006 12:49 pmhttp://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17169&ch=biztech
A group at MIT has developed a way to convert solar energy to electricity using spare automotive parts. The generator consists of a round trough that focuses sunlight onto a pipe filled with motor oil. The oil heats and and is driven to a heat exchanger (made from power steering parts)in which a refrigerant is converted to steam that drives a generator (a car alternator). This device is expected to be useful in rural areas of third-world countries where there is little means to obtain electricity.
A group at MIT has developed a way to convert solar energy to electricity using spare automotive parts. The generator consists of a round trough that focuses sunlight onto a pipe filled with motor oil. The oil heats and and is driven to a heat exchanger (made from power steering parts)in which a refrigerant is converted to steam that drives a generator (a car alternator). This device is expected to be useful in rural areas of third-world countries where there is little means to obtain electricity.