Alternative Energy Forums

I have a few questions about the Solartron parabolic solar heater that is advertised on the main page of this site. It looks very interesting. I would love to hear from the owners of the company.

1) How is it 98% more efficient than evacuated tubes? Tubes manufactures often claim that tubes convert 94% of the solar energy into heat already. Lets look at heat produced per surface area. Shouldn't an evacuated tube with the same surface area as the entire solartron reflector surface, produce close to the same amount of heat? In fact, wouldn't the evacuated tube do a better job because it does not lose heat to the atmosphere as the solartron would? Specifically, the aluminum block that the light beam is focused on would lose heat to the environment would it not? Unless the aluminum block itself is enclosed in a vacuum to prevent this loss.
2) How does it do in extreme cold in comparison to an evacuated tube system?
3) How about on cloudy days?

Thanks for any ideas.

Solar Beam Concentrator


The calculation is based on the fallowing conditions: Water Temp. Rise of 80C (176F) and Solar heat generated 7.2kW. The evacuated tubes (113 square feet) do not have a dual axis tracking system to follow the sun and they lose the efficiency ( max 78%) as they heat the water/coolant. The higher the temperature rise of the coolant , the more losses occur, see graph below, (Thermomax).


However, the SolarBeam is a dual axis system ( it follows the sun) and concentrates energy from 113 square feet in to a very small heat exchanger .69 square feet (10”s X 10”). From the low of the physics is known that such a small surface cannot dissipate heat. In addition, SolarTron heat exchanger is using a special material which has high heat absorption 98% and very low emissivity 3% As a result, the heat losses are very small around 50W.

Reg. Question no. #2.
The SolarBeam energy loss between summer ( 104F) and winter(-13F) is only 180W.

Reg. Question no. #3[b]
SolarBeam concentrator needs sun to operate.
In addition to the above, The Solar Beam concentrators will be capable to produce electricity in the focal point ( 10” X 10”) up to 4kW at the cost $ 1.5/W