A TRACKING SOLAR CONCENTRATOR
THE MIRROR FRAME
The mirror frame is the biggest and most impressive part of our project, yet it's probably the simplest. Kind of like assembling Tinkertoys. It will be built up in layers using one-inch square steel tubing. The array will have a saucer shape that reduces the necessary width, is stronger than a flat frame and simplifies the assembly and welding. We need a flat area to lay out a ten foot square with working room all around. The frame will start off with a ten foot square and later we will add some outriggers to each side to sort of round the square.
The schematic diagram figure 4 shows the critical dimensions and identifies the nine levels of assembly. Figure 7 is a pictorial of part of the frame to show the pyramid like stacking.
MAJOR MATERIAL LIST - MIRROR FRAME
14-20 foot lengths .083 x 1" square steel tube
cut as follows:
6 ea 10' (001) mirror frame rails
4 ea 8' (002)
8 ea 6' (003)
2 ea 4' (004)
4 ea 5' (005) & (006) corner rails
8 ea 1'-3" (009) outriggers
4 ea 10' (010) collector supports
4 ea 10' set aside for tail assembly
84 ea 4" x 1/4" mild steel bolts
32 ea 5" x 1/4" mild steel bolts
116 ea 1/4" lock washers
232 ea 1/4" flat washers
232 ea 1/4" nuts
A good fistful of 1/4" bolts, nuts and lock washers should
be on hand. Anything over 1-1/2" will be identified above
and on other major material lists.
2 ea 6'-2" x 2" x 2" x 1/8" angle iron
misc "drop" steel including 3/16" plate for item (008)
