Abstract
DR. C. G. ABBOT, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, has published a description of recent devices he has used in converting sunshine into power (Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 98, No. 5; March 30, 1939). In general, the sun's rays are focused by a cylindrical mirror on to an axial glass tube through which, for the distillation of water or the generation of steam, water flows, and for cooking purposes a black liquid of boiling point above 350° C. The mirror is now made of flexible sheet known as ‘Aloa’ and the axial tube is surrounded by a concentric vacuum tube. While coal is cheap, Dr. Abbot does not expect extensive use of such devices, but under favourable conditions small units up to five horse-power with an efficiency of conversion of solar to mechanical energy of the order of 15 per cent and a cost of a farthing per horse-power hour may be possible. At present the initial cost of the apparatus is high, but when thousands are required prices will fall.
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Utilizing Sunshine. Nature 143, 890 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/143890c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/143890c0