What is a Solar Furnace?
A solar furnace is any device that creates heat by concentrating solar radiation through the use of reflectors. A small solar furnace may be used to cook food without consuming firewood, whereas a larger solar furnace can generate electricity by heating a gas. There have been attempts to introduce the technology to developing countries to minimize firewood-related deforestation, but only with limited success. The principle of operation of a solar furnace is quite simple. Take two mirrors, point them at a focus, and the intensity of sunlight in that focus will increase by around threefold. This is because, instead of only getting light from the sun, the focus gets light from the sun and two mirrors. Make that ten mirrors, and you start to get levels of heat that are useful for applications like cooking food. At least a few groups of hobbyists have made a solar furnace that generates over a thousand degrees of heat, capable of reducing most organic material to ash. In principle, the main
A solar furnace produces heat by concentrating solar energy in a specific location. In order to concentrate this energy, the furnace uses a set of reflectors. A small solar furnace can be used to prepare food as a substitute for firewood. A large one can produce enough electricity to power a small community. Some organizations have introduced this technology to developing nations, in the hopes that it might lessen the consumption of firewood, and help solve the deforestation problems in that particular region. How Does a Solar Furnace Work? This is a really a very simple system. In principle, one needs to have two mirrors and point them in the same direction so that they focus on a concentrated area. This in return intensifies the sunlight, because the area not only receives heat from the sun, but also from the two mirrors. If you add more mirrors into the mix, you can produce a much greater degree of heat, which can then be used for cooking and in other applications where heat energy
