if you notice adjacent to the right is a passive flat collector that I tested before making the concentrator type collectors. It works ok, and of course you don't have to move the collector to follow the sun. That's good because that sucka is heavy when filled with water, unlike the concentrator. The big problems I had with the "lots of tubing" approach was keeping it from filling up with crud and leaking, and also it acts like a radiator when there's no sun, sucking heat out.
Ok, you did the hot tub. I would like to see something that could generate enough heat in winter in the north to heat a house. Is that possible? I'm talking about running water tanks through the night in radiators to heat the house. Possible?
Thanks, Tim! The original 100 -plus year old design of a solar water heater; a black barrel inside a black box behind a sheet of glass works well because the stored water is being absorbed by the black painted surfaces and insulated by the trapped warm air in the box surrounding the barrel filled with water. And it doesn't matter how heavy it is. However none of that applies to this design. Plastic would block a lot of sunlight, glass would make it a lot heavier and more expensive and you would still block sunlight and have to keep it clean, deal with condensation, etc. I have seen some people use a vacuum sealed glass tube around the pipe in cold climates. They do a good job limiting heat loss from cold air and wind, but the glass tubes are expensive and fragile and increase the complexity of building this yourself. When it's cold, the more important factor is how well the STORED water is insulated. I insulated all the tubing that wasn't collecting sunlight, and insulated around the hot tub base and of course a thick 6" cover over the hot tub. The genius of this design (George Phlak) is that the parabolic concentrator requires relatively short footage of a fairly large diameter pipe, as opposed to un-focussed collectors that use a many feet of small diameter pipe. With short, large diameter pipe, as long as the water is moving through the pipe and there is direct focussed sunlight, the water in the pipes absorbs heat. And as soon as you stop circulating water, the unit instantly decouples thermally and does not cool the stored hot water.
Bruce Snyder Thank you for the detailed reply. You have clearly thought through all the parameters, designing a well thought out cheap project that even us "normal" people can build. I applaud you for: 1. doing this; and 2. openly sharing this. People like you help make our societies better. Thank you.
Very cool... You're way too smart for your own good. I wonder it you just used additional collecting tubes with maybe one flat mirror might collect similar BTU's but make the system far less complicated. Or even just a large black hose absorbing area. It looks to me you have a very high maintenance and temperamental system. Very cool and high tech, but overly sophisticated.
.... sorry that Robotic voice over is too damn annoying. it's like trying to listen to a Physics professor from India, trying to explain Quantum physics in his native dialect 🥴 Almost impossible to concentrate on it.
Sorry. Did you get to the end? At least skip to the end and chuckle. btw:I find it interesting that people these days spend their time and energy telling other people how much they disliked their work ;o)
The robo voice makes it so much better for me. i love this video. Great aesthetic!
if you notice adjacent to the right is a passive flat collector that I tested before making the concentrator type collectors. It works ok, and of course you don't have to move the collector to follow the sun. That's good because that sucka is heavy when filled with water, unlike the concentrator. The big problems I had with the "lots of tubing" approach was keeping it from filling up with crud and leaking, and also it acts like a radiator when there's no sun, sucking heat out.
Fantastic work !!!!
Ok, you did the hot tub. I would like to see something that could generate enough heat in winter in the north to heat a house. Is that possible? I'm talking about running water tanks through the night in radiators to heat the house. Possible?
I would love to see something similar.
@@nialbell8301 I noticed there wasn't a reply ton me seven months ago. I'm not expecting one now
That amount of hot water could heat a house provided you have enough radiators
So where are the details to this? Could you post the open source location and where you posted the specs for this.
awesome projekt! Can you upload the code please?
have you shared the code you wrote for the unit?
*This is Awesome! Great work.*
Did you consider a cover to reduce heat loss from air flow?
Or will that distort the light too much?
Thanks, Tim!
The original 100 -plus year old design of a solar water heater; a black barrel inside a black box behind a sheet of glass works well because the stored water is being absorbed by the black painted surfaces and insulated by the trapped warm air in the box surrounding the barrel filled with water. And it doesn't matter how heavy it is.
However none of that applies to this design. Plastic would block a lot of sunlight, glass would make it a lot heavier and more expensive and you would still block sunlight and have to keep it clean, deal with condensation, etc.
I have seen some people use a vacuum sealed glass tube around the pipe in cold climates. They do a good job limiting heat loss from cold air and wind, but the glass tubes are expensive and fragile and increase the complexity of building this yourself.
When it's cold, the more important factor is how well the STORED water is insulated. I insulated all the tubing that wasn't collecting sunlight, and insulated around the hot tub base and of course a thick 6" cover over the hot tub.
The genius of this design (George Phlak) is that the parabolic concentrator requires relatively short footage of a fairly large diameter pipe, as opposed to un-focussed collectors that use a many feet of small diameter pipe. With short, large diameter pipe, as long as the water is moving through the pipe and there is direct focussed sunlight, the water in the pipes absorbs heat. And as soon as you stop circulating water, the unit instantly decouples thermally and does not cool the stored hot water.
Bruce Snyder Thank you for the detailed reply.
You have clearly thought through all the parameters, designing a well thought out cheap project that even us "normal" people can build.
I applaud you for:
1. doing this; and
2. openly sharing this.
People like you help make our societies better.
Thank you.
Some Fun!!! When do you get your patent?
great content thanks
Hi can this system used for generating fresh water from salty water if possible I want to contact u
why are you using an voice generator nd not your real voice?
but nice Video
What kind of material did you use for mirrors?
I used Polycarbonate mirror, but it is not good long term in Florida because of UV rays. I would use highly polished aluminum next time.
How do You make the programa that rout your sistem, i would líke that You help my whit the programa.
Desde Colombia.
Very cool... You're way too smart for your own good. I wonder it you just used additional collecting tubes with maybe one flat mirror might collect similar BTU's but make the system far less complicated. Or even just a large black hose absorbing area. It looks to me you have a very high maintenance and temperamental system. Very cool and high tech, but overly sophisticated.
The solar sensor is a bad idea, something can damage or obstruct light, is better a mechanic sistem who turn a cicle every 24 hours.
I don't believe they give patents to robots.
I would love to see how you did the Adruino part of this project. You got any vids explaining perhaps?
مجنون🤣
That is very narrow minded of them!
.... sorry that Robotic voice over is too damn annoying.
it's like trying to listen to a Physics professor from India, trying to explain Quantum physics in his native dialect 🥴 Almost impossible to concentrate on it.
Sorry. Did you get to the end? At least skip to the end and chuckle. btw:I find it interesting that people these days spend their time and energy telling other people how much they disliked their work ;o)
computer voice is awful!!!