Mini solar tower version 4

This is my July 1, 2011, version 4 attempt to generate electricity using a very small scale solar tower. The source of concentrated solar energy is a large fresnel lens from a rear projection TV.

The two main big new features of version 4 were:

• putting the absorber in a chamber behind double paned glazing (glass) to reduce heat loss from the absorber and
• enclosing the entire thing in relatively thick extruded polystyrene insulation.

Both of the above helped because, as you can see in a photo below, unlike verison 3 where I got only 65C (150C) in the air chamber, this time I got at least 165C (330F).

The problem was that the polystyrene insulation melted, as you can see in the last photo below.

How it's made.

View down the air path.

Testing with unrestricted air holes at both ends.

Inserted a thermometer. Inside is 165C (330F) and rising.

After testing - showing the melting that went on.

Video for version 4 of the mini solar tower

The following video is of version 4.