Fibre optics as energy pipes.

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Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 12:23 pm Post subject: Fibre optics as energy pipes.
I know that fibre optics are very efficient for shifting information, but are they any good for moving energy? It seems to me that it should not be difficult to make a solar collector and focus it down a pipe. I know that sun-pipes are established technology, but they are short range and seem to be limited to straight lines, whereas fibre optics can be tied in knots and run for miles...

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45468
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 12:33 pm Post subject:
iirc there are some laser systems that use fibre optic "wires" but im not sure if any high power ones do there are microwave energy movement methods that work without wires

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 1:09 pm Post subject:
I'm not sure what you wrote that inspired me on which words to google, but I found this which claims a Maximum Power Density: 50 kW/cm2 @ 980 nm... Sounds like enough for what I was thinking.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45468
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 1:23 pm Post subject:
for a laser 50w aint huge but it would slice and toast or cut 1/4 inch plywood

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 5:05 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

for a laser 50w aint huge but it would slice and toast or cut 1/4 inch plywood

I was going to point ou it says kW, but then I noticed the diameter and price...

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45468
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 6:28 pm Post subject:
tis kw per cm2 these ones are a bit thinner i think still 50 w as light is a fair old bit down a posh wire

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 14 6:45 pm Post subject:
Yeah, but £100+ for a 2m length puts it back on the drawing board... or at least back to the market: those look a little bit specialised.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 14 7:16 am Post subject:
Moving energy is to do with wavelength. Fibre optic cables are designed to move light frequency, so although some near infra red might make it, most would be filtered out. You would need optical cable of a different diameter to move heat.

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