SOLAR ENERGY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18955, 4 March 1936, Page 13

SOLAR ENERGY

USED IN ENGINE MODEL AT EXHIBITION ST. LOUIS, Jan. 3. A solar engine that makes possible the utilisation of solar energy on *i practical basis, and which, it' spread over the area to be used by Boulder Dam and reservoir would develop 5,000,000 horse-power, many times the amount which the hydro-electric power station at the dam will develop, was shown in operation at a review of the annual science exhibition of the American Association for the Advancement of Science with about 10,000 scientists present. The solar engine is the latest development of a series which have been built by Dr. Charles G. Abbott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, whose researches have shown the sun to be a variable star and has found eorclation between its variations and a weather cycle of 211 years. OTL KEPT BOILING Dr. Abbott demonstrated his solai engine indoors by means of four elec trie lamps mounted over its mirror, the lamps taking the place of the outdoor sun. A reservoir of oil was kept constantly boiling. "The engine," stated Dr. Abbott, "has attained an-efficiency which permits it to use 15 per cent, of the total energy that falls on the surface ot the mirrors. Due to the fact that the earth's temperature is several hundred degrees above absolute zero, only 40 per cent, of the total energy in the sunlight can be utilised. Of this avail able energy more than one-third can be converted by the solar engine into mechanical "energy or electrical energy. "i "This compares with 35 per cent, of the total energy in gasoline that is utilised by the internal combustion : engine, and 3,0 per cent, of the energy in coal that is utilised by the triple : expansion steam engine. j "Three units such as are exhibited j would occupy a ground space about j 20ft. square and would produce oru ' horse-power of mechanical energy. Such a triple engine is now being built 1 for use in Washington."