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Solar Furnace at Odeillo
photos taken August 2004
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The Four Solaire at Odeillo. This area, in the eastern Pyrenees, rises to the ski area of Fort Romeau and decends gently away to the Spanish border. It lies close to the natural watershed between France and Spain, on the line of the 'Little Yellow Train' and the busy duty-free road to Andorra.
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The solar furnace and its bank of hillside collectors.
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A small furnace has been operating a few miles down the valley in the grounds of the historic town of Mont Louis. |
The mirrors are computer-controlled and sit on substantial mountings. |
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The furnace sits inside a tower, which faces the giant reflector.
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The shape of the parabolic reflector and the furnace tower shows up well here.
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The hillside mirrors reflect the images from the parabolic reflector .. which reflects the images ... |
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800-P1000222.JPG 187KB
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A charred mouth bears witness to the high temperatures generated in this furnace. |
The array of mirrors turn with the Sun.
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Another blackened furnace on display at Odeillo. |
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A Stirling engine, using solar-heated gas to power a turbine to generate electricity .
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A sunshine map of France shows this corner of southern France, and a larger area of Provence, to be rich in solar resources. |
An explanation of the workings of a Stirling engine.
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