Telescope Mirrors Employed In Solar Concentrators - University of Arizona Research

University of Arizona researchers are employing mirrors found in telescopes for strong solar energy generation. Their prototype bears two curved, extremely reflective glass mirrors, each having dimensions of 10ft x 10ft. Prof Roger Angel, the team leader, stated that a majority of mirrors found in solar power plants are employed for thermal energy production by directing light onto a lengthy pipe used to heat up the water till it becomes steam. This demands that the mirrors be structured like a cylinder. That's what the Mirror Lab does- it bends the glass accurately enough to focus the beams to a point or a line.

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The mirrors direct sunlight on a 5" glass ball and then on a small lineup of 36 very efficient photovoltaic (PV) cells, first originated to power spacecraft. They transform a wider range of the solar spectrum into electric power as compared to regular cells. The ball lens is covered to render as much transparency as possible for the approaching rays. In recently conducted tests, the prototype module produced 2.5kw of electric power, sufficient to power two average US houses.

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