Mexico. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (Unam) recently developed a project based on renewable energies and energy efficiency with the creation of low-cost solar concentrators aimed at the residential and industrial market. It is a micro-mechanical proposal that due to its low cost, weight and probable assembly in line, would reduce manufacturing costs, in addition to being easy to transport.
In information published by the newspaper La Jornada, Ernts Kussul, leader of the initiative, explained in this regard "that solar concentrates capture radiation from the sun, direct it to a collector that generates steam for turbines or hot air for thermal engines, and thus is transformed into electrical energy; that is, from solar to thermal and, finally, to electric, which can be used immediately or in networks".
The current model of the prototype (2010) developed at the Center for Applied Sciences and Technological Development (CCADET) of unam measures one meter and is equipped with 90 small, flat and triangular mirrors that form a hexagon; on the back it has a support of aluminum bars and nodes, as well as screws, precision nuts and joints that adjust the positions of the mirrors.
The latter must be placed in such a way that they approximate parabolic surface. To simplify the adjustment process, a parabolic ruler was used; this design is protected by a patent in the United States.
The second device is easy to place (like television antennas), can use thermal energy storage (other similar photovoltaics, can not be used in the absence of the sun and electric batteries are expensive) and be used with cloudy skies.
Image: courtesy of Mcmartin - Wikipedia.
