PS10--- the first solar power tower

Construction of the PS10 project, an 11 MW Solar Thermal Power Plant in Southern Spain has been completed. The main project goals for design, construction and commercial operation have been achieved. The plant is a first-of-its-kind Solar Central Receiver System (CRS) producing electricity in grid-connected mode.The PS10 solar power plant, which is located in Sanlúcar la Mayor, 15 km west of the city of Seville...

The PS10 solar power tower is the first commercial plant in the world to use tower technology. This 11 MW tower is located at the Solúcar Complex in Sanlúcar la Mayor (Seville). PS10 went online in mid-2007 and the plant has been operating successfully since then, supplying clean energy to the power grid.

 The PS10 power tower/heliostat field technology has a solar field composed of 624 120 m2 heliostats with a mobile curved reflective surface that concentrate solar radiation on a receiver at the top of a 100 m tower. The receiver, which produces 40 bar 250ºC saturated steam from thermal energy supplied by the concentrated solar radiation flux, has a cavity design to reduce radiation and convection losses.

 The solar field occupies 148 acres and is composed of 624 heliostats, each being 1,291 sq. ft. Designed by Abengoa Solar, these heliostats concentrate the solar radiation they capture onto a receiver located at the top of a 377-foot tower. PS10 also features a 30-minute storage capability, which enables the plant to continue running under conditions of low solar radiation and no insolation.

 The PS10 tower produces enough electricity to meet the demand of approximately 5,500 households, the equivalent to the population of Sanlúcar la Mayor. It prevents the release of 6,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually, while at the same time reducing natural resource consumption and waste generation.

PS10, the World’s First Commercial Power Tower
Description:
Location: Solucar Complex, Seville, Spain
Output: 11 MW
Technology: power tower
Solar field: 148 acres
Household supplied with clean energy: 5,500
CO2 emissions eliminated each year: 6,000
Status: in operation

Q-SOUND Bluetooth headphones---Solar-powered Bluetooth headphones

When it comes to wearable devices that harness the power of the sun, it would seem to make sense that the obvious place for solar panels would be the place that generally gets the most sunlight – namely the top of the head. That might not be desirable for items such as backpacks, jackets or sunglasses, but it’s such a perfect fit for headphones that you wonder why no one has thought of it before. Engineering student Shepeleff Stephen has hit on the obvious with his concept for Bluetooth-enabled headphones that incorporate solar panels into the headband.

 The Q-SOUND headphones would not only allow you to listen to music via any Bluetooth-enabled digital audio player, but also would let you take calls on any Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. If your player doesn’t support Bluetooth there is also a 3.5mm jack to allow for a wired connection. The headband is constructed of flexible plastic incorporating amorphous silicon solar cells, while each rubber-based earpiece can be adjusted to fit differently shaped and sized heads.

 Two removable NiMH rechargeable batteries, with a capacity of 800mAh and operating voltage of 1.2V, are located within the headband, just above either earpiece, which keep the headphones charged for up to 40 hours. According to Shepeleff, an hour of sunlight should provide more than 2.67 hours of running time for the headphones when operating on maximum volume.

Shepeleff’s futuristic design for the Q-SOUND headphones not only ensures that your music enjoyment is energy-efficient, but also that your projection of detached cool won’t be compromised. Makes us wonder just how long it is before we see something like Shepeleff’s concept crop up in the real world.

Solar Tent From Orange

 Orange has revealed their vision for the tent of the future. Utilising cutting edge eco-energy technology, the Orange Solar Concept Tent will allow campers to keep in touch and power their essential camping gadgets.

 The Concept Tent has been designed in association with American product design consultancy Kaleidoscope and builds on learnings from the original Orange Solar Tent that was trialled at Glastonbury in 2003, as well as 2004’s Orange Text Me Home Dome. Having worked closely with Glastonbury for the last eleven years, Orange know the importance of keeping in contact with friends while on site and undertook this concept project to look at how the festival goers communication and power supply needs might be met in the future.

Latest research shows that by weaving specially coated solar threads into conventional fabric, revolutionary new ways of capturing the sun’s energy could soon become a reality. These radical advances mean that rather than relying upon familiar fixed panels, designers were free to conceive how a tent of flexible solar fabrics might look.

The Concept Tent’s solar shell uses this technology to full effect with three directional glides which can be moved throughout the day to maximise its solar efficiency, capturing the optimum amount of energy which can to be used throughout the tent in a variety of new and exciting ways.

 The heart of the Concept Tent is a central wireless control hub which displays energy generated and consumed as well as providing a wireless internet signal; all information is displayed on a flexible, touchscreen LCD display screen.

 Integrated into the hub is a wireless charging pouch which powers mobile phones and other portable devices without the need for messy wires and multiple chargers. The ‘magnetic induction’ technology passes an electric current through a coil embedded in the charging pouch, this in turn generates a magnetic field which creates a charge and powers the battery.

Also controlled by the central hub is an internal heating element embedded within the tent’s groundsheet; this under floor heating is triggered automatically once the interior temperature falls below a set level.

Kaleidoscope Strategist, Finn McKenty, said: “The development of photovoltaic fabric will revolutionise festival tent design, in working with Orange we have created a vision for a solar tent that we believe is a great glimpse of what’s to come.”

Ian Smith, Head of Sponsorship, Orange UK, said: “Since becoming Official Communications Partner of Glastonbury Festival in 1997 Orange have strived to enhance the camping experience through a variety of sustainable initiatives. Our vision of the concept tent builds on this heritage and recognises the revolutionary effect cutting edge solar technology and wireless communication could have on festival goers’ camping experiences.”

Whilst currently only a concept, the vision of the Orange Solar Concept Tent has been designed to celebrate Orange’s 11th year at Glastonbury. This year, Orange Chill ‘n’ Charge tent will be at Glastonbury again, providing 600 mobile phone charging points, free internet access and live music.

Honda’s V4 Motorcycle Concept Model

 Honda V4concept has come up with a deadly sports bike that proposes a new bike design direction for the brand. This model is designed to indicate the beginning of a new era. The bike has V4 engine and it is clearly shown in the design.It’s hard to see how the hub-less wheels, faired-in front swingram, and tire covers are workable, though.  The hubless wheels are fixed with all-enveloping cowls which most likely assist in reducing drag. This stylish and futuristic sports bike concept was exposed at the 2008 Intermot bike show in Germany. Overall, this bike is going to offer a new look to all the bike riders with excellent performance.If Honda does make a V4 powered bike with big oval pistons and hub-less wheels, it’ll be big news, and probably set some new trends in the whole industry. I excited to see how it works out.