RawSolar, Inc. - Technology

Solar Thermal Dish

A solar thermal dish reflects the rays of the sun onto a small receiver using specially curved mirrors, concentrating the sunlight 1000 times. The high concentration increases the efficiency of the energy collection by reducing the surface area for thermal losses. A robust tracking system keeps the dish pointed directly at the sun all day, maximizing the available sunlight.

Water is pumped through the receiver where the high intensity sunlight heats it to 212-750F (100-400C), making steam. The steam can then be piped into an existing steam system, such as a district energy system or food processing plant.

RawSolar Innovations

Solar thermal dishes are not a new idea, and have been used to efficiently gather sunlight for centuries. The key is in doing it inexpensively without sacrificing performance.

Mirrored glass is commonly used in the solar thermal industry because it is highly reflective, but also very durable and is expected to last more than 30 years in the field. Traditionally, these glass reflectors have required expensive processing in order to form the precise parabolic shape necessary for good performance. RawSolar's patented design flexes flat mirror into precisely the right shape without any special tooling or skilled labor, achieving incredibly high performance, long lifetime, and at a very low cost.

Frequently Asked Questions