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Fri 1 Apr, 2005 04:40 pm
We can perhaps dangle a large solar panel (about 3 meters by ten meters) from the top wire of a high tension line by a single wire, slightly off center. Two or three other wires connect to some of the corners with light duty winches. A computer controls the winches so the sunlight falls on the panel perpendicular as the sun moves across the sky and corrects for wind loading. Two or more wires connect to an inverter which feeds 60 hertz ac to the low voltage side of a transformer that connects to one of the phases of the high tension line. When high winds are detected the computer lowers the panel to a protective box on the ground. Please refute, comment and/or embellish. Neil
How much of the power produced by the panel would be consumed by the operation of the winches and computer?
With frequent wind gusts, there would be a net energy loss if clouds obscured the sun every few minutes. Under favorable conditions, well designed system would use less than 1% of the energy. Initially we should select unusually sunny locations where wind gusts are rare. A low performance microprocessor (that uses perhaps 2 watts and rarely needs a fan) will probably suffice. A panel that size produces several thousand watts under favorable conditions. Neil
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