What is a Solar Dish Engine?
A solar dish-engine is a clean energy system that uses concentrated sunlight in order to produce electricity. As it uses sunlight as its "fuel," no harmful emissions are created in the process of generating electricity. It is a clean and environmentally-friendly source of energy.
What are the Parts of a Solar Dish-Engine?
A solar dish-engine consists of the following parts:
- Base, or Mounting Structure - This is pretty self-explanatory. You need something to keep the device in place.
- Solar Dish - This is a concave mirror which is used to focus sunlight on a central location, the heat engine. A mirror which focuses the sun is also called a "heliostat."
- Heat Engine - This is the engine which converts heat in to motion. The motion turns a generator, to create electricity.
- Motor and Motor Controls - The motor and controls here keep the solar dish-engine pointed directly toward the sun, in order to ensure that the maximum amount of sunlight is collected and reflected onto the heat engine throughout the day.
A Solar Dish-Engine
How Does a Solar-Dish Engine Work?
A solar dish-engine converts solar power into electricity, by collecting sunlight and focusing it onto a heat engine. A heat engine, as its name implies, uses heat in order to create motion. As the engine is heated by the concentrated sunlight, it starts to turn. The motion generated by the heat engine is then used to drive an electrical generator, which creates electricity.
As of the present day, using a solar dish engine is the most effective way of turning solar energy into electricity. It can transform up to 30% of the solar energy it receives into electricity. Most other methods of collecting solar energy are only about 20% efficient.
As of the present day, using a solar dish engine is the most effective way of turning solar energy into electricity. It can transform up to 30% of the solar energy it receives into electricity. Most other methods of collecting solar energy are only about 20% efficient.
How a Solar Dish-Engine Works
The History of the Solar Dish-Engine
"Okay," you might ask yourself at this point, "How can this a solar dish-engine have a history? It's a new invention".
Well, in actual fact, the first solar dish-engine was built in 1901. You can see a picture of it here:
Well, in actual fact, the first solar dish-engine was built in 1901. You can see a picture of it here:
A Solar Dish Engine Operating in 1901
At the time, it was called a "solar motor" It used the exact same parts and principles as the modern solar dish-engine uses.
The heat engine that a solar dish-engine uses is an even older invention. It was first invented in 1816 by Dr. Robert Stirling (that's almost 200 years ago now) before conventional fuel or diesel engines existed.
This makes one wander how many other historical inventions are going to be reinvented and passed off as modern technology!
The heat engine that a solar dish-engine uses is an even older invention. It was first invented in 1816 by Dr. Robert Stirling (that's almost 200 years ago now) before conventional fuel or diesel engines existed.
This makes one wander how many other historical inventions are going to be reinvented and passed off as modern technology!
A Solar Dish in Operation
Solar Stirling Engine
curated content from YouTube
Solar Power Products
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byLatest Posts
From our Blog on Solar Power
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySuppliers of Solar Power Systems and Devices
Thank You For Visiting
Please Leave Your Feedback!
This lens is brought to you by Anna (aka solarstories) of Solar Chargers and Portable Solar Power and Living Clean.
For social networking, you can visit me at Twitter, Friend Feed, MySpace, MyBlogLog, or you can find a full list of Social Network profiles at Solar Stories Squidoo Lens.
I appreciate that you have stopped by at my lens, and I hope you will take a moment to leave a comment. Thanks!
Lensmaster
arthur charlton wrote
thank you for an interesting piece of information
Posted October 02, 2009
by solarstories
Photo at AllPosters.com
I support the use of solar power, a cleaner environment, Alternative Energy, and work against Global Warming.
At the momen... (more)
Explore related pages
RENEWABLE ENERGY- Hi, my name is Michael and I'm going to help YOU reduce your power bill by 80% o...
One Stop Solar Shop- The One Stop Solar Shop was created just for you. Whether you're wanting to lear...
Green Homes
- Build green. Reducing our carbon emission means a healthier house and body. Ener...
Solar Hot Water- Solar water heating systems are an effective way of conserving energy and reduci...
Facts about Solar Energy- There are many fact about solar energy that are not generally known. If they wer...
Parabolic Trough Solar Field Technology- The above title is quite a mouth full. But what does it actually mean? This len...
