Solar furnaces presentation

Discussing Solar furnaces at energy level

1. Solar Furnaces Azeez Akeem Abiodun 40432 Ibrahim Jumal 40433 Cooper Kollie Lackay 40447 Lecturer: Prof. Ezidor Ntsoenzok

2. Sun: Power house of the solar system The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System (Jupiter contains most of the rest). diameter: 1,390,000  km.   mass: 1.989e30  kg   temperature: 5800 K (surface) 15,600,000 K (core ) The sun’s energy output (3.86 x10 26 Watts) is produced by nuclear fusion reaction. The sun [8]

3. What are solar furnaces? Solar furnace is a device that uses an array of mirrors to redirect and concentrate the sun’s rays onto a small surface area thus producing extremely high temperature. The temperature can go as high as 3500 o C. http ://stwww.weizmann.ac.il

4. History of Solar furnaces Legend claims that Archimedes used polished shields to concentrate sunlight on the invading Roman fleet and repel them from Syracuse . Archimedes “heat ray” gun. (a legend only )[1]

5. History of Solar furnaces cont’d By focusing sunlight over flammable materials using lenses, combustion was generated, experiment conducted by Lavoisier Circa 1770s. The French chemist Lavoisier experimented with concentrating solar energy using a large parabolic mirror .[1]

6. History of Solar furnaces cont’d In 1861, Mouchout developed a steam engine powered entirely by the sun. He produced the first solar steam engine in history in 1866 by using a parabolic trough.

7. History of Solar furnaces cont’d The solar furnace in Mont Louis, France, built in 1949 by Professor Félix Trombe , was the first solar furnace in the world. In 1993,the solar furnace was used for industrial and manufactured products such as the firing of ceramics, and bronze and aluminum products. The solar furnace in Mont Louis [5]

8. Fundamental of Spherical mirror A spherical mirror is a mirror which has the shape of a piece cut out of a spherical surface. There are two types of spherical mirrors: concave, and convex. Image formation by a concave mirror[2]

9. How solar furnaces work? The operation principle of a solar furnace is quite simple. It entails the use of two mirrors, plane mirror and parabolic mirror. The plane mirror is known as Heliostat and is angled such that it directs parallel beam of light to the parabolic mirror. The parabolic mirror then brings the light beam to focus at the focal point. When the number of mirrors is increased, then it is possible to achieve energy and heat levels where one can actually boil water, cook food or even melt metals!. The amount of energy and efficiency of the solar furnace  relay completely on how accurate the mirrors are focused on one point .

10. How solar furnaces work?

11. Types of solar furnaces There are two types of solar furnaces: Direct solar furnace Heliostat solar furnace

12. General uses of solar furnaces Running Steam Turbines for Solar Power Plants Cook Food and Boil Water in a Solar Oven Produce Hydrogen Fuel Perform Scientific Experiments Which Require Extreme Temperatures Without Pollution Reduce the Need to Burn Fossil Fuels Reduce the Need to Cut Down Forests For Firewood

13. Application of solar furnaces in Africa Domestic uses C ooking Heating of water Agricultural uses Drying of farm produce Incubation of chicken Industrial uses Recycling of waste Welding of machine parts

14. Application of solar furnaces in Africa  Small natural convection solar dryer design .[4 ]

15. Impact of Solar furnaces in Africa Environment Prevention of desert encroachment Decrease in overdependence of fossil fuel Global warming Economic Recycling of waste Recycling of metal scrap sun’s rays are focused on the crucible holding the ore [3]

16. State of art designs of solar furnaces

17. State of art designs of solar furnaces high power concentrated solar power stations [9]

18. Prospect of solar furnaces It is believed that solar furnaces can be used in manufacturing in the production of aerospace products, defense products, and in electronics. Solar furnaces also could be used to break down and destroy toxic waste. In these uses the highflux solar furnace would replace laser furnaces and furnaces using fossil fuels . Solar furnace application can be expanded to metallurgical industries

19. Limitation of Solar furnace Solar furnace technology has existed for many years but has never been fully explored or used on a widespread commercial basis. It is unclear if solar furnaces will ever be used on any type of scale because of the limitations in their placement and use. Large solar concentrators are expensive. They occupy large amount of space

20. Innovative I deas Solar energy can be used in baking of pastries. It can also be used in firing earthware materials like clay pots e.t.c More awareness must be created to enlighten people on the usage and advantages of solar furnace.

21. Conclusion Solar furnace technology has existed for many years but never has been fully explored or used on a widespread commercial basis. It is unclear if solar furnaces will ever be used on any type of scale because of the limitations in their placement and use. However , with research and development, there could be breakthroughs that will improve the technology and/or lower the cost.

22. References http :// www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_time_1900.html http :// stwww.weizmann.ac.il/energy/EnergySources/Solar/SolarFurnace/FSolarFurnace16.htm http:// stwww.weizmann.ac.il Solar Energy: Fundamentals and Applications By Garg & Prakash, H. P. Garg http:// www.technologystudent.com/energy1/solar4.htm http:// www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/jiqweb-edf www.constructionphotography.com http:// nineplanets.org/sol.html http://www.cmigroupe.com/