- #1
mnmman
- 23
- 0
So I had this idea and I want to run it by some people and see if it's 1) possible 2) worthy of pursuing further 3) a good idea. I don't have a degree in engineering or physics, I'm currently studying chemistry and am taking physics 2 (E&M) right now, so excuse me if I don't use the correct language or formalities. Now for the idea-
Since the sun's EM wave intensity is lost as the inverse square root of the distance to earth, only a very small fraction of it reaches us. We can dramatically increase this by putting a device close to the sun that focuses the intensity it "collects" into a narrow beam. Optimally this narrow beam will not lose any intensity over the long distance it travels to the earth. Now we have greatly increased the power the sun gives off that actually arrives at the earth.
I have quickly sketched the overview and made a few calculations, which I attached. Some assumptions I made-
-The concentrator will be placed 1 km from the sun, but only now I realize that any man-made device will probably not function in those kinds of temperatures. Having the concentrator in Mercury's orbit would not be worth it.
-The power the sun gives off is 3.8e26 W. This is the value wikipedia gave for solar luminosity. I assume solar luminosity means power output
If all my calculations and assumptions are correct we should be able to boost the power Earth receives from the sun by 1.76e12%. This should boost all solar power we currently have (assuming 15% efficient devices) by 2.64e11%.
Let me know what yall think
Since the sun's EM wave intensity is lost as the inverse square root of the distance to earth, only a very small fraction of it reaches us. We can dramatically increase this by putting a device close to the sun that focuses the intensity it "collects" into a narrow beam. Optimally this narrow beam will not lose any intensity over the long distance it travels to the earth. Now we have greatly increased the power the sun gives off that actually arrives at the earth.
I have quickly sketched the overview and made a few calculations, which I attached. Some assumptions I made-
-The concentrator will be placed 1 km from the sun, but only now I realize that any man-made device will probably not function in those kinds of temperatures. Having the concentrator in Mercury's orbit would not be worth it.
-The power the sun gives off is 3.8e26 W. This is the value wikipedia gave for solar luminosity. I assume solar luminosity means power output
If all my calculations and assumptions are correct we should be able to boost the power Earth receives from the sun by 1.76e12%. This should boost all solar power we currently have (assuming 15% efficient devices) by 2.64e11%.
Let me know what yall think