According to the wikipedia page, that was an issue in the beginning, but they've fixed it so that it doesn't happen any more. Now the main concern is that it still burns fossil fuels to reach operating temps in the morning.
Probably depends on the overnight temps, which can be quite low in the desert especially on short winter days.
I was under the impression that improvements and pricing of photovoltaics have made the heat collector systems less cost effective. Plus we still aren’t good enough at handling molten salt in long term systems.
Driving past Ivanpah is a challenge. That shit is as bright as the sun and right in your field of vision. I think I have permanent vision damage from it
I saw a video about the Ivanpah facility a few days ago. Seems like these are pretty much obsolete, neglected and in disrepair. But it's an interesting close up look at the place nonetheless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3zTNEpjl_w
My understanding is that these are more expensive and less efficient than PVs but they can store the energy as heat. Still, not a surprise they havent taken off.
The costs associated with photovoltaic systems have decreased significantly in the past fifteen years or so, and I would say they are the competitor to solar thermal systems.
As well as storing heat, they can be used for thermal desalination at the same time as power generation. I haven't seen a breakdown in costs of this system versus something like reverse osmosis, so I can't really say if it's better or worse, but I'm sure there's places that find it useful to have a combined solution to water and power.
I remember hearing these were worse on the desert habitat where as standar photovoltics being at homes, businesses or integrated into farms are not really destroying anything and often have their own advantages.
I think the neatest part is we could have done it once we had a steam engine as mirrors where around for a long time. Granted you can't do the follow the sun thing but still should be able to get something working given how easy solar ovens are. We are way passed them now and sorta like nuclear they cost a lot and take a lot of time to get online.
you could probably rig up a steampunk sun-following mirror positioning system by just using a shitload of math and astronomical data to pre-program a daily turning system for each individual mirror
the mirrors themselves probably(?) get hot enough that you could put a steam or Stirling engine with its hot side on the back of the mirror surface & power each mirror's sickass cog-analog pivot system
then you just need someone with a handlebar moustache and/or wild frizzy hair to ride a mechanical horse around the mirror field punching in the set points for all the mirror turners every morning, mumbling under their breath about the astronomer's numbers being slightly off and having to compensate with the mech-horse's built in calculator, which naturally takes forever as the horse can only display the numerical results by tapping its hoof
but maybe you could also do it semi-automatically and non-electronically by designing a mechanical feedback system that uses mirror surface temperature as its input data? like if the temperature drops enough, a bimetallic strip or fluid-filled piston engages a gear clutch or something
you could probably rig up a steampunk sun-following mirror positioning system by just using a shitload of math and astronomical data to pre-program a daily turning system for each individual mirror
23 Comments
linkinkampf19@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 25d
That's fantastic
forgetfulmeat@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 25d
I didn't even make this connection. Great draw friend!
linkinkampf19@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 25d
I recently got a vinyl sticker for the EV, it's a mini theoretical degree in physics from Fantastic 😆
gnufuu@lemmy.ca · 23 pts · 25d
Surely those must have burnt a bird or two, better build more Orphan Tear Reactors instead.
chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 25d
According to the wikipedia page, that was an issue in the beginning, but they've fixed it so that it doesn't happen any more. Now the main concern is that it still burns fossil fuels to reach operating temps in the morning.
whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 25d
whaaat
Is that really necessary or is it just a cheap way to do it?
anomnom@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 25d
Probably depends on the overnight temps, which can be quite low in the desert especially on short winter days.
I was under the impression that improvements and pricing of photovoltaics have made the heat collector systems less cost effective. Plus we still aren’t good enough at handling molten salt in long term systems.
rethnor@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 25d
Many many birds, those things are so bright in person
decolo@piefed.social · 15 pts · 25d
Driving past Ivanpah is a challenge. That shit is as bright as the sun and right in your field of vision. I think I have permanent vision damage from it
HowdyLemmy@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 25d
My condolences, and neat!
RedstoneValley@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 25d
I saw a video about the Ivanpah facility a few days ago. Seems like these are pretty much obsolete, neglected and in disrepair. But it's an interesting close up look at the place nonetheless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3zTNEpjl_w
PlaidBaron@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 25d
My understanding is that these are more expensive and less efficient than PVs but they can store the energy as heat. Still, not a surprise they havent taken off.
Fetus@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 25d
The costs associated with photovoltaic systems have decreased significantly in the past fifteen years or so, and I would say they are the competitor to solar thermal systems.
As well as storing heat, they can be used for thermal desalination at the same time as power generation. I haven't seen a breakdown in costs of this system versus something like reverse osmosis, so I can't really say if it's better or worse, but I'm sure there's places that find it useful to have a combined solution to water and power.
turdburglar@piefed.social · 5 pts · 25d
i saw the one that was/is in vegas. it was pretty neat looking
0ops@piefed.zip · 3 pts · 25d
You probably saw Ivanpah (first two pics). It's just south of Vegas
iatenine@piefed.social · 5 pts · 25d
All is well and good until a couple hobbitses destroy your electric grid
HubertManne@piefed.social · 3 pts · 25d
I remember hearing these were worse on the desert habitat where as standar photovoltics being at homes, businesses or integrated into farms are not really destroying anything and often have their own advantages.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 25d
modern photovoltaics have these beat in absolutely every category except maybe coolness factor
HubertManne@piefed.social · 2 pts · 25d
I think the neatest part is we could have done it once we had a steam engine as mirrors where around for a long time. Granted you can't do the follow the sun thing but still should be able to get something working given how easy solar ovens are. We are way passed them now and sorta like nuclear they cost a lot and take a lot of time to get online.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 25d
you could probably rig up a steampunk sun-following mirror positioning system by just using a shitload of math and astronomical data to pre-program a daily turning system for each individual mirror
the mirrors themselves probably(?) get hot enough that you could put a steam or Stirling engine with its hot side on the back of the mirror surface & power each mirror's sickass cog-analog pivot system
then you just need someone with a handlebar moustache and/or wild frizzy hair to ride a mechanical horse around the mirror field punching in the set points for all the mirror turners every morning, mumbling under their breath about the astronomer's numbers being slightly off and having to compensate with the mech-horse's built in calculator, which naturally takes forever as the horse can only display the numerical results by tapping its hoof
but maybe you could also do it semi-automatically and non-electronically by designing a mechanical feedback system that uses mirror surface temperature as its input data? like if the temperature drops enough, a bimetallic strip or fluid-filled piston engages a gear clutch or something
The_Decryptor@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 25d
I've got great news.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 23d
that fucking rules
IndustryStandard@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 25d
Eye of Sauron