Science These Beautiful Solar Orbs Are So Efficient They Even Harvest Moonlight - Page 2

listopencil · 01-13-2014, 08:52 PM

Photovoltaic panels aren't the most glamorous technology: They're usually tucked away on a roof, and when you can see them, they're ugly. And inefficient. But what if they made architecture more beautiful? And what if they were more efficient, working even at night? Say hi to Rawlemon, a solar ball lens that is quickly making its way to market.

This perfectly spherical glass ball is the work of a German architect named André Broessel, who began working on it three years ago with the aim of making solar power more efficient and less expensive, a technology available to everyone, everywhere. "Our product is democratic," he told me recently over email. "Imagine, we are conceiving autonomous products able to concentrate the light even during a cloudy day, which are generating sun powered energy wherever you are in the world. Energy for free."

Well, not quite for free. But Rawlemon, by sheer force of numbers, has the power to outperform traditional solar panels by many thousands of times. In simple terms, here's how it works. Broessel's Palantir-esque globe is filled with water that magnifies the sun's rays by more than 10,000 times, making it possible to harvest energy from the moon, or the sun on a cloudy day. Where are the PVs? The tiny panels are situated directly below the ball, where the magnified ray hits them.

At the most basic level, Rawlemon is a ball lens—a perfect sphere that refracts light into a powerful concentrated ray—and a mechanism that's been around for centuries. In fact, you can even make a crude version using a piece of saran wrap and water, as demonstrated by this dude on YouTube.

But the sun and moon, of course, are constantly moving. So to more efficiently capture their direct rays—unlike PV panels, which usually lay in a static position—Broessel designed a microtracker that follows the course of the sun as it arcs across the sky, tilting the panels along with it. The tracking system, paired with the ball lens, make Rawlemon up to 70 percent more efficient than a typical solar panel.

"So why isn't there a giant pivoting crystal ball on every rooftop yet?" I hear you whispering in awe. For one thing, manufacturing—and certifying—solar collection systems is a serious undertaking, involving yards of bureaucratic red tape. But as Broessel tells me, solar tech is also hard to market to normal people.

http://gizmodo.com/these-beautiful-s...n-h-1500329295

stonedstooge · 01-13-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

I thought that was the light collection point on the panels and he was standing behind it.

I'd like to see the picture or video the dude with that camera took standing on the roof with him

Simply Red · 01-13-2014, 09:12 PM

**J Diddy** · 01-13-2014, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

The what?

Captions from a pic at the bottom of page of bottom link.

I know you are playing innocent here but I am not buying it. Anything less than lethal injection for you is a travesty of justice.

Sannyasi · 01-13-2014, 09:16 PM

This dude is going to be the next Stan Meyer.

**Donger** · 01-13-2014, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Captions from a pic at the bottom of page of bottom link.

I know you are playing innocent here but I am not buying it. Anything less than lethal injection for you is a travesty of justice.

Silly.

And they spelled it wrong.

**J Diddy** · 01-13-2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sannyasi

This dude is going to be the next Stan Meyer.

Probably be larger than that, more like Stan's older and more famous brother Oscar.

**J Diddy** · 01-13-2014, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Silly.

And they spelled it wrong.

Just because you cleaned it up doesn't make your illegal acquisition of someone else's thoughts right.

I saw something just like this on the Dukes of Hazzard the other day. Some serious stuff we got going on here.

**Donger** · 01-13-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Just because you cleaned it up doesn't make your illegal acquisition of someone else's thoughts right.

I saw something just like this on the Dukes of Hazzard the other day. Some serious stuff we got going on here.

Your suspicion is noted and summarily dismissed. May The Schwartz have mercy on your soul.

**BossChief** · 01-13-2014, 09:25 PM

Cool idea, but we all know that by the time the Government makes these guys jump through all the hoops those things will be too expensive to be cost efficient. The government has too much interest in other forms of energy that have big money behind them.

It's a shame, really.

**J Diddy** · 01-13-2014, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Your suspicion is noted and summarily dismissed. May The Schwartz have mercy on your soul.

Hey! Totally uncalled for.

If I wanted to be summarily dismissed I would get married again.

**Donger** · 01-13-2014, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Cool idea, but we all know that by the time the Government makes these guys jump through all the hoops those things will be too expensive to be cost efficient. The government has too much interest in other forms of energy that have big money behind them.

It's a shame, really.

Simply Red · 01-13-2014, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Silly.

And they spelled it wrong.

Ok. Great going Donger troll. I'm glad you're back - pick a victim and drink their blood.

**Donger** · 01-13-2014, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Red

Ok. Great going Donger troll. I'm glad you're back - pick a victim and drink their blood.

Shut up, bitch.

Simply Red · 01-13-2014, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Shut up, bitch.

listopencil · 01-13-2014, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Just because you cleaned it up doesn't make your illegal acquisition of someone else's thoughts right.

I saw something just like this on the Dukes of Hazzard the other day. Some serious stuff we got going on here.

Was it Uncle Jesse's moonshine recipe? Because that's messed up. He worked hard on that.

01-13-2014, 08:52 PM
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $2245880	These Beautiful Solar Orbs Are So Efficient They Even Harvest Moonlight Photovoltaic panels aren't the most glamorous technology: They're usually tucked away on a roof, and when you can see them, they're ugly. And inefficient. But what if they made architecture more beautiful? And what if they were more efficient, working even at night? Say hi to Rawlemon, a solar ball lens that is quickly making its way to market. This perfectly spherical glass ball is the work of a German architect named André Broessel, who began working on it three years ago with the aim of making solar power more efficient and less expensive, a technology available to everyone, everywhere. "Our product is democratic," he told me recently over email. "Imagine, we are conceiving autonomous products able to concentrate the light even during a cloudy day, which are generating sun powered energy wherever you are in the world. Energy for free." Well, not quite for free. But Rawlemon, by sheer force of numbers, has the power to outperform traditional solar panels by many thousands of times. In simple terms, here's how it works. Broessel's Palantir-esque globe is filled with water that magnifies the sun's rays by more than 10,000 times, making it possible to harvest energy from the moon, or the sun on a cloudy day. Where are the PVs? The tiny panels are situated directly below the ball, where the magnified ray hits them. At the most basic level, Rawlemon is a ball lens—a perfect sphere that refracts light into a powerful concentrated ray—and a mechanism that's been around for centuries. In fact, you can even make a crude version using a piece of saran wrap and water, as demonstrated by this dude on YouTube. But the sun and moon, of course, are constantly moving. So to more efficiently capture their direct rays—unlike PV panels, which usually lay in a static position—Broessel designed a microtracker that follows the course of the sun as it arcs across the sky, tilting the panels along with it. The tracking system, paired with the ball lens, make Rawlemon up to 70 percent more efficient than a typical solar panel. "So why isn't there a giant pivoting crystal ball on every rooftop yet?" I hear you whispering in awe. For one thing, manufacturing—and certifying—solar collection systems is a serious undertaking, involving yards of bureaucratic red tape. But as Broessel tells me, solar tech is also hard to market to normal people. http://gizmodo.com/these-beautiful-s...n-h-1500329295
Posts: 55,944

01-13-2014, 09:12 PM	#17
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY
Posts: 71,691

01-13-2014, 09:16 PM	#19
Sannyasi Veteran Join Date: Jan 2010 Casino cash: $9963714	This dude is going to be the next Stan Meyer.
Posts: 2,615

01-13-2014, 09:25 PM	#24
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $1894088	Cool idea, but we all know that by the time the Government makes these guys jump through all the hoops those things will be too expensive to be cost efficient. The government has too much interest in other forms of energy that have big money behind them. It's a shame, really. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,126