Solar Steam

[jimbo]

They are evacuated tubes, the camera angle is just not that good.

[IQ174]

What this video shows is evaporated WATER VAPOR - NOT high-pressure STEAM. A flat-plate solar hot water collector has a limit of about 160 degrees F (depending on a few variables). This video's water vapor is like the way water evaporates off of your body after a shower - Certainly NOT scalding-hot steam.

The residual water on this black flat-plate collector is evaporating, and visable cloud-like white water vapor is being exhausted - Not very useful.

[jimbo]

Close but not quite right. Yes in this video It's just steam, but they are not flat plate collectors and can very easily develop 300F in a very short time. It is also not the plan to let it get that hot, the system runs with water is kept under 200F.

[ehunter2]

Are those evacuated tubes ie. Thermomax? They look like flat plate collectors but evacuated tubes may be hidden by the frame.

[pure1warrior]

when the sun is free and there is no toxic emmissions who cares about what efficientcy.

[ranyerebrc]

These paineis would be enough to generate vapor and to make to turn a turbine and consequentemente to produce energy electric?

[jollivier]

Absolutely. It would not be very efficient though. A steam engine (whether it uses pistons or a turbine), runs more efficiently with hotter steam. Coal-fired power plants are typically 30% efficient with steam hotter than 500 Celsius. If these panels could be made ultra-cheap, it might be worth trying to generate electricity. Otherwise, it's much more effective to concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses.

[jimbo]

Not cool... HOT LOL!!

[jaybobed]

very cool!