The Simple Solar Engine - use of an electrical fan and nozzle to transfer energy from a solar collector to a turbine - the efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity?
Summary
A new method is proposed for the conversion of solar energy into electricity drawing on the principles of the solar air collector, the heat pump, the convergent nozzle and the turbine. An electrical fan provides continuous air flow through a solar absorber; the warmed air then flows through a convergent nozzle where the excess heat is converted into flow kinetic energy and then through a turbine generating electricity. The amount of solar energy converted into electricity can be many times the electrical demand of the fan. Readers are asked to design experimental configurations to test and develop the proposal. If successful it could provide a method for conversion of solar energy, or more generally all heat into electricity with high efficiency.