michael wendt on fri 23 feb 01
How about this:
construct the chamber with a central shaft open to the focusing mirror
surface. The light passes through the aperture into the kiln, hitting the
target wall and thereby heating it inside the chamber. It then heats the
pots inside the chamber by radiation with little or no loss. Make the rest
of the chamber of refractory fiber to get peak efficiency and add back-up
firing capabilities by gas or propane if the sun fails. The same light port
is the updraft exit point.
All the mirrors would be guided by a computer program and servo system to
track the sun and direct its light at the focusing mirror. Anyone who could
write basic could write a simple servo program and construct such a kiln.
Servos are available surplus far cheaper than you might imagine now days
from Burden's Surplus Center 1-800-488-3407.
Regards,
Michael Wendt wendtpot@lewiston.com
P.S. The calcining project is going well and we have made and tested our
first run of 2600 degree insulating firebrick. Side by side with A.P. Green
G-26s at cone 12 inside the kiln, ours are 50 degrees cooler on the outside
across the 4 1/2" wall thickness than the G-26. This is very encouraging and
next is cost analysis to find market price.
Vince wrote:
I tend to be an optimist and an idealist, but alas, with the technology we
have available today, the idea of a solar kiln does not seem workable. But
someday . . .
Best wishes -
- Vince
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