No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{OpenKnowHowManifest | {{OpenKnowHowManifest | ||
|manifest-date-created=2020-07-17 | |manifest-date-created=2020-07-17 | ||
|manifest-date-updated=2020-07- | |manifest-date-updated=2020-07-20 | ||
|manifest-author-name=Megan Moore | |manifest-author-name=Megan Moore | ||
|manifest-author-affiliation=Appropedia | |manifest-author-affiliation=Appropedia | ||
|manifest-author-email=info@appropedia.org | |manifest-author-email=info@appropedia.org | ||
|title=Reflecting materials | |title=Reflecting materials | ||
|description=This site compares different types of reflective materials that can be used to build a Papasan Chair Solar Cooker. | |||
|intended-use=Reflective materials for solar cookers | |||
|keywords=Solar cooker, sun, reflective material, reflectors | |||
|project-link=https://www.appropedia.org/Papasan_Chair_Solar_Cooker | |||
|contact-affiliation=Appropedia user | |contact-affiliation=Appropedia user | ||
|contact-appropedia-user=Stef | |contact-appropedia-user=Stef | ||
|made=No | |made=No | ||
|documentation-home=http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/research/solarthermal/solar_cooker/documents/reflectivematerialsreport.pdf | |||
|manifest-language=English | |||
|documentation-language=English | |||
|date-published=2007/03/27 | |date-published=2007/03/27 | ||
|main-materials=Polished anodized aluminum, mylar, aluminum foil, can lids, acrylic mirror, glass mirror, astro-foil | |||
|sustainable-development-goal=SDG07 Affordable and clean energy, SDG09 Industry, SDG12 Responsible consumption and production | |||
}} | }} | ||
Reflecting materials - Light Reflectivity | Reflecting materials - Light Reflectivity | ||
Revision as of 01:09, 21 July 2020
Reflecting materials - Light Reflectivity
This table compares different aspects of potential reflectors for the Papasan Chair Solar Cooker:
| Material | Reflectivity | Weight | Internet price quote | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polished Anodized Aluminum | ~95% | Light | ~$7/square foot | Reflective, lightweight, can be salvaged, structurally durable, easily flexed and shaped | Easily scratched, not super cheap |
| Mylar | >98% | Super light | $30 for a 4'x'50 roll | Super reflective, super light, super cheap | Not good at standing up to the elements, forms 'bubbles' if glue starts to give, requires a rigid backing |
| Aluminum Foil | 88% on bright side | Super light | $3.29 for 1.5'x70' roll | Extremely cheap and widely available | Not so reflective, corrodes when mixed with acidic juices, structurally weak, would only last one or 2 sessions |
| Can lids | 70-80% (my estimate) | Light | FREE | Widely Available, effective, salvageable, did I mention free?! | Not super reflective, non-uniform shape is labor intensive to use |
| Acrylic Mirror | 99% | Medium/Heavy | $78 for 1'x4' plane | Very reflective, nearly unbreakable | Comes in plane, likely very difficult to fit to parabola and still maintain reflectivity, super expensive |
| Glass Mirror | 99% | Very heavy | At least $100/square foot | Super reflective, widespread- meaning it could be salvaged | Very expensive new, comes in rigid plane- could be broken to fit paraboloid in mosiac in exchange for a precise focus |
| Astro-foil | 76% | Light | $37 for 1'x50' roll | Relatively strong | Not so relective |
- Many potential materials with high reflectivity and strength are only available by special order from industrial companies. Though I have not tried to order or to ask for a donation of these fine products, the manufacturers usually deal in bulk.
In addition, I am not sure a special-order industrial super-reflector meets this projects criteria of salvageablility and wide availability. That said, a bulk roll of high quality reflective material may be a wise investment for the aspiring do-it-yourself solar technician.