solar dishes

[hairybadger]

I was the other side of the mountains today in the Aosta valley, and I saw several largish silvered roof-mounted dishes. Naturally on getting home I've looked up what they are - they're used for heating water (solar dish, although using the French term "parabole solaire" for the search is a bit more fruitful). It's the first time I've seen dishes like that - was quite interesting. Now I'm trying to work out where I could install some ....

 

[Archived-1]

lol you must live in a remote location ?, we even have them in the uk when a water wheel would do a better job :0 :-).

 

[hairybadger]

lol you must live in a remote location ?, we even have them in the uk when a water wheel would do a better job :0 :-).

Not that remote, although the location where I saw them (Cogne, Provincia di Aosta) is up in the mountains. Roof-top water heaters composed of bars are not that uncommon, but it's the first time I've seen the dishes....

 

[Archived-1]

Not that remote, although the location where I saw them is up in the mountains. Roof-top water heaters composed of bars are not that uncommon, but it's the first time I've seen the dishes....

sorry i thought that was what you were referring to, my mistake sorry,

 

[Channel Hopper]

Since a dish relies on focusing of the sun onto the pipe, they require very careful setting up if they are not steerable (and all the effort required to motorise with flexipipes). A black bar heater, whilst being less efficient is more reliable in the long run and some have been working for 35 years without so much as a new gasket.

Much the same goes for solar panels for electricity, the suppliers will always prefer to offer a static mass-produced panel system if you are thinking of bolting some onto a polarmount

 

[hairybadger]

the effort required to motorise with flexipipes). A black bar heater, whilst being less efficient is more reliable in the long run and some have been working for 35 years without so much as a new gasket.

Point taken, however the dishes look cool and thus appeal to my inner child

 

[Channel Hopper]

Once they perfect the solex agitator design you might see a few more motorised systems out there.

Btw the most practical design I've seen to date

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ7fOBIM3Ho

Using a discarded satellite dish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwqdDkwjKzE

But there are some advanced designs using the Stirling engine, Infinia for example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPc0GIQ8djI

 

[Channel Hopper]

Point taken, however the dishes look cool and thus appeal to my inner child

How about wind turbines that look like dishes ?

http://www.gizmag.com/saphonian-bladeless-wind-turbine/24890/

The patent

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/WO2012039688.pdf

 

[hairybadger]

How about wind turbines that look like dishes ?
http://www.gizmag.com/saphonian-bladeless-wind-turbine/24890/

Will wait for reports of real-world performance before going down that path Interesting idea, though.