In this clip from BBC One’s “Bang Goes the Theory,” a high-performance solar furnace focuses normal sunshine into a heat-ray that reaches 3,500 deg C, hot enough to melt rocks. Watch it here : Video
Impressive and fun at the same time; not sure if it reminds me more of a Bond villain or my mispent schooldays burning my name into fences with a magnifying glass.
I wonder how much a low tech, low power version would cost, something just enough to run the central heating and provide hot water. I'd imagine that a fairly tiny unit would be the result of downrating the performance, far easier to fit (and retro fit) than the usual solar hot water panels.
Impressive and fun at the same time; not sure if it reminds me more of a Bond villain or my mispent schooldays burning my name into fences with a magnifying glass.
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Neil