[Tfug] OT: Big Oil? Windows Vista!

[Ronald Sutherland]

yes, Solar is the answer, and I've been tinkering and investigating various
aspects of it for some time. For example I got a few of the photo voltaic
(silicon, PV) panels and ran experiments in my back yard for some time. Keep
in mind that I've been a test engineer for power conversion products for
years so I know a little about this stuff. Also eBay in years past has had
some nice test instruments (computer controlled stuff), so I could setup and
run for many weeks. Anyway to make a long story short, heat kills the
performance of solar PV, I think thats why TEP put its PV arrays near
Springerville
http://www.greenwatts.com/pages/SolarStats/SolarDescr.html
which is a big site, with 34,980 PV modules, and cost about 187.50 each, for
a total of 6.5M$, and produce 7500kWhr. I used 700kWh last month, and payed
67$ for it so its going to take a long time to pay for the PV panels alone.
Why does a module cost that much? its made with highly processed ultra clean
silicon, doped and cooked much like a computer chip is, all of which is a
fantastically power intensive processes. The modules are mass produced by
robotic assembly lines. I guess what I'm try to get across is the price is a
function of energy consumption not labor,  and guess where that energy is
coming from (coal/oil?). TEP in effect used energy to make a power source
that will not pay off its energy debt for 10-15 years, is that a good idea?

So what is an alternative? a heat engine with concentrating solar power
(CSP).

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/csp.html

This type of power production is occurring in Mojave Desert near Barstow,
California, and consist of nine plants producing about 600,000kWhr each day
for a price that is only a little higher than coal. In addition the Steam
Rankine cycle engines they use are well known within that industry so skills
transfer well.

With all that said I still want my own solar power plant, and I am working
on various parts of it. It will be a CSP type with a heat engine I've been
tinkering with, a cross between Rankine and Brayton, I'm also trying to keep
my web site up with my current progress.

This OT stuff is best ... hehe

On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 8:37 AM, keith smith <klsmith2020 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Solar Power!
>
>
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