Forum Discussion
Mirrors focusing SUNs heat on a collection chamber have been used to heat Mineral Oil and Molten Salt.
The absorbed heat is then used to generate Steam used to drive a turbine/generator and produce AC Power.
Both are very old technology, inefficient, costly (DOE subsidized), low MW output and plagued with problems
Mineral Oil FIRES
Molten Salt abrasive/corrosive to pipes/tank
Worked at both types of plants in 1980s.
Also a 'Coal Gasification' plant
As soon as DOE monies dried up....plants got shut down ASAP
Fossil Fuel MW output is tough to beat (not counting NUKES)
Solar output is roughly ONE MW per 650 homes. (Gigawatts :H )
China 750,000=====1200MW on 25000 acres
BUT China has LOTS of acreage to use
The absorbed heat is then used to generate Steam used to drive a turbine/generator and produce AC Power.
Both are very old technology, inefficient, costly (DOE subsidized), low MW output and plagued with problems
Mineral Oil FIRES
Molten Salt abrasive/corrosive to pipes/tank
Worked at both types of plants in 1980s.
Also a 'Coal Gasification' plant
As soon as DOE monies dried up....plants got shut down ASAP
Fossil Fuel MW output is tough to beat (not counting NUKES)
Solar output is roughly ONE MW per 650 homes. (Gigawatts :H )
China 750,000=====1200MW on 25000 acres
BUT China has LOTS of acreage to use
