DIY Solar Tracking Parabolic Trough - Closeup

[insAneTunA]

That's a great setup :-)

[BeeRich33]

Hey great setup. Did you make those? Do you generate steam or hot water?

[georgeplhak]

Thank you - yes, I made these. There is lots more information for you at the link.

[wjj4832]

Very nice! Really neat rib design, like an aircraft rib.

What's the long piece of extruded metal that connects the ribs on their ends? Is this an off-the-shelf item or special made?

[georgeplhak]

Thank you. The metal that runs the length of the reflectors and which holds the ends of the ribs is cut from lengths of "furring strip" which is a type of galvanized steel channel used for commercial drywall construction. It has a very suitable profile for this purpose. It is also strong, lightweight, inexpensive and readily available, at least in North America.

[wjj4832]

Thanks a bunch. Your design is by far the best I've seen, and I've looked at a lot. Very well thought-out, designed and built. The science behind the tracking mechanism is a bit over my head, but I plan to orient my trough parallel to the sun's arc rather than perpendicular, so I won't need a tracker; I just won't get the full benefit all day like you do.

[kheston]

George,

Thanks for responding. I had been searching with terms like "polished aluminum sheet" and "stainless sheet" but hadn't thought of that plastic stuff used in bedroom mirrors. Great idea!

[georgeplhak]

Plastic acrylic mirror, but you can use whatever is available to you. See the blog for more details.

[kheston]

What type of mirror are you using? Polished aluminum sheets?