New technologies for concentrating solar

U.S. researchers have studied the shape of plants to design systems to concentrate solar energy much more efficient and less hungry for land

Rome - Looking for a new configuration to optimize the use of technologies with mirror for concentrating solar power (CSP), the MIT researchers have turned to physics first and then to the nature, simulating layout more efficient and observing how the sunflowers have the florets in the center of the flower.

The objective is to maximize the efficiency of CSP technologies, large plants of mirrors through which collect solar energy at a single point, which require a surface of the ground just as big to be installed.

The growing demand for renewable energy sources is not compatible with the current requirements of the CSP, say from MIT, which is why - in collaboration RWTH Aachen University Germany - was first developed a computer model that has the mirrors in a configuration progressive similar to that of the seats in cinemas.

Optimized the position of the mirrors, the researchers also noted that the florets of sunflowers are arranged in a peculiar spiral shape - better known as Fermat's spiral - with each floret turned 137 degrees with respect to the adjacent one. Applying the same configuration of the mirrors was reduced by 20% the space needed to the current CSP plants and has also improved energy efficiency.

 

20/01/2012

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Translated via software

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Source:

Italian version of CercaGeometra.it

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