SolarRib. A design based on flat mirrors

[Daan van Geijlswijk]

Hi, I based my design on the notice that flat mirrors can boost your solar panel with up to 75%. The problem is big panels with big mirrors don't fit on your inclined roof. So the horizontal parts  are mirroring surface.

  This design is based on a simple construction. The base is folded metal sheet. On the sheet you put mirror-adhesive (sticker). On top of that you chalk/glue the solarcells and wires. Then you bolt the glass/perspex 'window' to the metal sheet.The 3D-printed or milled side parts make a solid form locking in the glass and the metal sheet. That's all there is to it.

SolarRib by Daan van Geijlswijk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at zininzelfdoen.ning.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at zininzelfdoen.ning.com.

[Gijs Zijlstra]

leuk idee Daan zullen we is een test bouwen?

[Daan van Geijlswijk]

In the forum english please :-)

Sure! Let's build a test-prototype!

Gijs Zijlstra said:

leuk idee Daan zullen we is een test bouwen?

[Oscar Rietkerk]

With the panel as designed I think the mirrors will get dirty because they are (almost) horizontal.

The mirrors made me think about applying solar panels on vertical surfaces (the wall). That is not the best way to put them but with the mirrors you increase the output. But shadow becomes a problem again.

[Daan van Geijlswijk]

Hi Oscar, thanks for your response.

The SolarRib has glass over it, so the mirrors should not get dirty that way. I am a bit worried though about the mirroring effect of the glass. Although nowadays they can do a lot with glass.

Interesting idea, to use the wall! Maybe sort of a luxaflex could be an interesting idea there. It all depends very much on the place on earth you use the system. Funny enough current systems seem to be designed for generic use, while living close to the pole desires a different design than living near to the equator. It is difficult to come up with a static mirroring system that works well under all circumstances. Any ideas?

One way is to use dynamic suntracing solutions. Me and a friend are working on a suntracer, maybe this is combinable with a mirror. Any suggestions?

Oscar Rietkerk said:

With the panel as designed I think the mirrors will get dirty because they are (almost) horizontal.

The mirrors made me think about applying solar panels on vertical surfaces (the wall). That is not the best way to put them but with the mirrors you increase the output. But shadow becomes a problem again.