An Economical Research Solar Furnace
Simple materials and common tools yield a serious research device
Page Link:
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.
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.
Click the image for an enlarged view,
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.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
Here is the unit with the video camera mount and
the reaction chamber.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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.