An Economical Research Solar Furnace
Simple materials and common tools yield a serious research device
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Here is a presentation of the second generation Fresnel solar furnace constructed at Xenotech Research.  This is intended for research into processes that can be powered by sunlight where traditional power sources may not be practical or available.

DISCLAIMER:  This device is very dangerous.  It will boil steel in seconds, melt ceramics and stone, and can instantly vaporize flesh.  Do not construct or operate this device without proper safety procedures.  You must wear welding type shielding while using this device.  Do not look at the focus as it can cause instant and permanent eye damage.

See our new product line page  where you can buy your own solar furnace!

 

Coming soon:   AVI files of materials undergoing testing.  Footage includes steel boiling, welding, sand converted to molten glass, solar-made lava, and other materials tested to destruction.  You can imagine the industrial potential of this device when you see how rapidly and effectively it can induce large amounts of heat in materials.

Want one of your own?  See our new Product Line Page where you can buy your own solar furnace!

  See a brief YouTube video of our solar thermal power plant prototype here:

 

 

Here is a view of the device without the video camera mount and reaction chamber.  This is the form used to test the aiming and focus early in its construction.

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Another view at a different lighting angle.  Click the image for an enlarged view.  
A third view showing better detail.  Now that the angle settings are the focus are known, work can proceed to add the reaction chamber and video camera mount.

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This is a close up view of the disc that locks the sun angle setting.  It is an aluminum disc with a slot milled in the form of an arc.

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Here is the unit with the video camera mount and the reaction chamber.

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The reaction chamber is made of stainless steel and prevent materials from exploding while in use.  Some substances explode instantly when explode to the beam.  You will notice the tapped holes in the chamber.  These are gas injection and aspiration ports.  They allow the use of special atmospheres in the chamber, as well as the removal of evolved gas from reactions under investigation.

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Detail of the video camera mount.  This uses a standard Logitech webcam, and is outfitted with a welding filter (not shown) so the intense light will not destroy the camera or housing.  Ultraviolet light from the focus can destroy plastics quickly.

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