h a l f b a k e r yWe got your practicality ... right here.
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Photovoltaic cells theirselves can get
expensive, but mirrors can be easily used
to decrease cost, concentrating sunlight
onto a smaller cell. A tower in the
community can be erected which will be
laden with cells, so that people in the
community only have to purchase mirrors,
which should
be cheaper, although
requiring cleaning (what doesn't).
Community members with mirrors then
aim their mirrors at the tower,
concentrating solar energy to create
electricity through cells or heat difference
engines (stirling engines). The light could
also be collected, aimed and redistributed
to those who wish to pay less for their
lighting bill during the daytime. You could
literally sell the sunlight reaching your
house. You would have to pay a small
amount to get it converted to energy
though.
Massive AOL CD Solar Collector Array
Massive_20AOL_20CD_...20Collector_20Array
Your idea, but using a free resource. (assuming they still send the things out) [Worldgineer, Jul 02 2008]
Massive Solar Collector Array (of Doom!)
Massive_20Solar_20C...rray_20(of_20Doom!)
A tracking version of the previous link. [Worldgineer, Jul 02 2008]
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Annotation:
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How do these mirrors aim at the tower? Are they programmed to move with the apparent movement of the sun across earth's sky? |
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Like all mirrors for this purpose, they
reposition according to the position of the
sun many times a day. |
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//pay less for their lighting bill during the daytime// |
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There's a flaw in that plan somewhere.......... |
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Most of the public buildings where I am
(satellite city halls, schools, libraries, etc.)
keep all their lights on while they are
open, especially because these buildings
are more enclosed for air conditioning,
because of the salt air conditions. |
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It doesn't have to be solar cells.. it can be
a stirling engine, or water, or salt, or
whatever technology has been spitting out
lately. |
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This is kind of costly to make hundreds of unique mirror tracking systems that are then subject to wind and foreign object (tree limbs) damage. Also the nature people are bound to be annoyed that you are cooking or blinding the birds that attempt to nest in that new tower you built. |
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The biggest problem I can see is with aiming. |
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// The biggest problem I can see is with aiming.// |
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You mean putting them in the hands of thousands of idiots who realise they can focus their sunlight on radio masts, planes, tall buildings etc and cause mayhem right? |
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