Comments on: Solar Energy “Power Towers” for California

By: Jesse S

Jesse S — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:03:52 +0000

What about effects on the desert environment like diversion of sunlight and water, disruption of animal habitat, and sight pollution? Additionally, remote locations of generating station will require mining of significant amounts of steel, aluminum and copper. The only real solution to human environmental impact is to consume less material and space.

By: Ben G

Ben G — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:36:49 +0000

I’d like to know the efficiencies of these beasts and therefore be able to work out if it’s better to just build solar panels in a decentralised manner.

By: Jay Turnquist

Jay Turnquist — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:17:19 +0000

I believe this idea will be our future. Its an limitless resource of energy, clean, pollutionless, and most of all, when the technology for this has been mastered, low cost method of collecting, using and storing energy, globally

By: Jos Conil

Jos Conil — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:28:46 +0000

The idea is great and is a simple method to tap the vast solar energy in a desert. But it is doubtful whether producing steam is an efficient option.

I feel it is better to concentrate the heat on a chamber of pressurized air, which expands immediately and is let out through a narrow outlet, to power a flywheel to generate power. This air can be redirected to the heating chamber, thereby minimising the energy loss.

This can be acheived by using suitable valves and piping with pressure sensors. Compressing the air initially and the operation of valves is the only energy input needed.

In any case, compressed air will expand faster than a liquid which has to reach boiling temperature and then produce steam. Also, since it is recycled back into the system, the energy loss is minimal compared to the heat loss ocurring in the process of steam condensation.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:58:31 +0000

This has great potential. Looks like we’ll have to wait until 2013 to see if this works out!

By: Kristo

Kristo — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:49:35 +0000

Steven,

You have an interesting point of view. However, I would like to point out first that the system propably has either a preprogrammed moving cycle or just one sun-tracker which sets the mirrors. They would then only need the motors on every mirror.

I figure I do not have a very wide understanding on the subject, but then again there is the point that with several mirrors pointing at the same spot you can get to extreme temperatures. I do not know if slow-forming and -moving steam or water is better than a fast one (fast is fast but slow means more of it.), but this one system sure relies on the fast one.

Thanks,
Kristo

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:05:17 +0000

How about putting solar panels on roof tops throughout the city, state, country? Imagine the possibilities and sq ft that can be covered, put those roof tops to good use.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:07:29 +0000

The design is economically questionable. Building a high presser water tower that has a high heat tolerance and many mirrors that all have solar tracking is a huge financial undertaking. Why not just have a long, wide flat black tube that the water flows through with a straight line of mirrors along side it to heat the tube. You would only have one control surface (the line of mirrors.) Water turns to steam at 212.00 degrees Fahrenheit so you would most likely need more then one line of mirrors or maybe convex shaped surface for the mirrors. The main point here would be Keep it simple.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:58:58 +0000

Until we know the cost per kilowatt hour it is impossible to know how promising this tech is. I am a huge fan of solar power, but the tech is still to expensive.