Chris Morton (Inventor/Environmental Technologist) Presents

All materials and concepts herein are Intellectual Property of Chris MortonA Production – Copyright 2010

Ferro-fluids are simply a suspension of magnetic iron oxide (magnetite/Fe204) in oil

Ferro-fluids are not magnetic by themselves, the iron oxide particles must be aligned by an external magnetic polarisation

Ferro-fluids have 3 important and useful properties when it comes to harnessing solar energy: they can be magnetised, they are variably viscous, they are black

Ferro-fluids are not expensive to manufacture in bulk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me5Zzm2TXh4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Ti6PeGdNQ

They absorb a large amount of the suns energy and convert it to heat, they are not only limited to short wavelengths of light (blue spectrum, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays) that photovoltaic cells are limited to.

They are relatively non toxic, can be disposed of/recycled easily and can be manufactured as a biodegradable material

They are easily manufactured in bulk, and do not require expensive specialised equipment

Suns energy is absorbed by the black ferro-fluid and is converted to heat

The ferro-fluid is channelled in a similar way to a solar water heater and is convected

The convecting ferro-fluids are magnetised (iron particles magnetism is aligned) by an external magnet (permanent magnet or electro-magnet)

The magnetised ferro-fluid is passed over copper wires and causes electromagnetic induction

Solar Heat Collection Panel (with possible solar energy concentrator)

Thermally/Electrically insulated plastic or glass piping and connections

Radiator Inductance Coil Permanent Magnets Enhancement but not essential – Hydrogen Fuel

Cells for storing excess power, Neodymium Permanent Magnets/Electromagnets for more efficient output

www.makenet.co.za/concept/halfbakery/magneticsolarpanel/msp.htm

Property Photovoltaic Cell Magnetic Solar Panel

Expensive Yes No

Requires High Technology Manufacturing Facility

Yes No

Maximum Theoretical Efficiency 40% (normally 19%-20%) Research Needs to be conducted. I estimate upto 70%

Uses Toxic Raw Materials Yes No

Can Withstand Hail (3cm) Yes, dependant on design Yes, dependant on design

Easily Recycled No Yes

Can be Manufactured in Curved Shapes Yes with difficulty Yes

Can be assembled on site No Yes

Can be used as windows/skylights No Yes

Maximum Service Duration 25 years Needs periodic maintenance, indefinite

Can be sold in kit form Yes Yes

Maximum Voltage Depends on Number of Cells in Series

Depends on Inductor Coils

Ferro-fluid possess good thermal properties, which can cause a good convection effect.

Ferro-fluid can absorb close to 100% of energy from solar light as heat.

Main losses will be due to internal friction of ferro-fluids on pipe walls, inductor coil and internal resistance.

Ferro-fluids are thixotropic which means they do not need valves to change rate of flow, as magnetic fields can be applied instead, using this its possible to achieve ideal rate of flow.

Estimated theoretical efficiency of greater than 70% can be achieved. Research needs to be conducted

Ferro-fluids are made from a colloidal suspension of Iron Oxide in Oil using additives such as Iron Chloride and Oleic Acid

Oil is usually mineral oil, but can possibly be vegetable oil.

Glass can be obtained via recycling glass Copper Induction Coils are expensive but cheaper

than photovoltaic materials Production costs are significantly cheaper because

of simple technology In my opinion they will be significantly cheaper

overall (I estimate at least ½ of cost of photovoltaic with similar output)

Main disadvantages are weight, periodic service intervals, theft of copper, bulk

Advantages: Cheaper More efficient Can be manufactured according to contours Can be used for skylights, roof tiles and windows Does not pose end of life environmental hazard Flexible and Strong Has indefinite service life More resistance to weather (Hail) Can produce more power that photovoltaic's on cold days Low capitalisation Can be extended to include high tech components such as fuel

cells, neodymium magnets, solar concentrators and solar trackers for maximum efficiency installations.

Aesthetically more pleasing (glass can be colored and beautified)

Property Water Ferrofluid Glass Steel Cable Unit

Density 1000  925 (approx) 240O 7700 Kg/m3

Thermal Conductivity

0.58 1.09 (approx) 1.05 43 W/mK

Heat Capacity 1 0.5 (approx) 0.84 0.46 kJ/kg K

State Liquid Liquid with special properties: Thixofluid

(Thixotropic)

Highly Viscous Fluid.Can be considered solid

Solid None STP

Approximate % Light Sun Spectrum Absorbed

20% 80% depending on composition

10-95% 65% Joules

Viscosity 0.001 0.3 (approx) >12 N/A Log10 Pa.s

Composition Description

H20 Fe204 10-30%Oil 60– 90%Other 5-10%

Si02 >90%Other <10%

Fe >85%Other >15%

None. Dependant

on composition

Relevant Properties For Comparison

Can be magnetised,Low Hazard,

Variable Viscosity,Non Toxic,

Shows Very good thermal properties and light

absorption characteristics, can be manufacture

cheaply in bulk, DenseVALUES DEPEND ON

COMPOSITION

Non Hazardous, Can be Pigmented,

Can be obtained from recycling, Translucent, Ductile, Good Thermal

Conductivity.Inexpensive, Flexible,

Dense

High Tensile Strength,

Inexpensive in Bulk,Non Hazardous, Flexible, Dense

The maximum efficiency of a MSP can be reached when the viscosity/magnetism/rate of flow and temperature are in the right balance.

To achieve the right balance of the factors above various designs will need to be tried according to the wattage required.

The correct design of the inductor/radiator of the system will determine the overall efficiency.

The design must balance cooling and rate of flow requirements of ferro-fluid to achieve the highest rate of flow, strongest magnetism which is important to achieve a suitable electrical output.

The Solar Heat collector can be made very absorbent of heat by means of using pigments in the glass and non reflective surfaces.

The internal surface area of the pipes containing the ferro-fluids must be correctly balanced according to the viscosity and heat capacity of the ferro-fluid as to minimise internal losses due to friction with the pipe internals (which will slow the rate of flow)

Magnetic Thixotropic ‘valves’ can be used regulate the flow to optimise performance in various conditions (hot sunny day vs cold cloudy day).

Permanent Magnets need to be distributed evenly throughout the inductor mechanism to maintain good magnetic properties of the ferro-fluid.

Can make use of local glass recycling initiatives Iron Oxide readily available and easily purified Iron Chloride, Oleic Acid and Glycerine are not a toxic

hazard. Mineral and vegetable oil ferro-fluid substrates. Delivers an eco-friendly and cost effective alternative

to photovoltaic alternatives with competitive power output.

Components can easily be recycled Manufacturing energy is possibly lower than

photovoltaic manufacturing energy costs. Can be disposed of in land fills and will not severely

effect ground water due to low toxicity components (no heavy metals)

Not suitable for solar powered vehicles or small solar powered electronics such as calculators due to weight and bulk.

Suitable for roof/wall tiles, curved surfaces, standalone units.

Will provide a competitive alternative for photovoltaic cell arrays

Increasing demand for renewable energy may mean suitable demand and economies of scale

Long service life means that MSP installations will be a good option for existing or new buildings.

Glass can easily be extruded or moulded Ferro-Fluids can employ sonication to achieve correct colloidal dispersion of Iron

Oxide Copper Wire can be easily wound into inductor coils Thermally insulated piping can be made with ceramics Radiators could be a simple aluminium extrusion with appropriate air cooling heat

fins Moving parts are not necessary in the design reducing number of components Soft Iron Permanent magnets are easily manufactured Flow control can be regulated by electromagnets Defective materials and components can possibly be recovered back into the

production facilities easier than defective photovoltaic cells. Production would be best if out sourced to specialist manufacturers and

assembled or packed in kit form for the retail market. Employment opportunities for semi-skilled labourers would be generated. Environmental benefits would be realised in a short time frame than photovoltaic

adoption on a wide scale.

Difficult to work out at this point Further research needs to done for MSP development. Consider the following in terms of MSP and Photovoltaic manufacturing costs:

If the efficiency is greater than 40% (the highest the most expensive photovoltaic can achieve) and the materials are less expensive it is not unreasonable to expect this technology to be as low as 80% cheaper than existing photovoltaic equivalents. With the current cheapest per wattage rate of R25 p/W to the end user this could translate into R5 p/W for equivalent MSP Wattage output.

Consider MSP Photovoltaic

Glass as a part of the solar absorption

Cheap, Recycled Glass is perfect,

Expensive, Silicon is and needs to doped.

Ferro-fluid as a Conductive Mechanism

Can be Cheap, Oil and Iron are both plentiful.

Expensive, High Tech Circuitry

Copper as an inductor Expensive, but not only option

Expensive, Batteries and Circuits

Aluminium Radiator to provide convection

Cheap, can be made from recycled metals

Research Budget for building a working prototype

Access to Workshop/Vehicles and Tools Access to/budget for human resources

when needed Researchers/Inventors Living Expenses Onsite Residence Expense Budget Internet Connection Software (Computer Aided Design) and

office equipment

What potential do you see? What problems do you see? What about Patents and Intellectual

Property? Time estimate for a prototype? Is it commercially viable? Are the human and physical resources

available in South Africa? Would this qualify to be funded by African

Conservation Trust? Is this worth investing in?

Chris Morton, Born Nelspruit 26 November 1977 Qualified Software Engineer (6 years experience) 2 Years of Tertiary Level Chemistry Work Experience includes aluminium joinery,

electroplating, construction, manufacturing Self Employed/Environmental

Technologist/Inventor/Amateur Scientist More Ideas at www.halfbakery.com/user/codrakon Original Concept at

www.halfbakery.com/idea/Magnetic_20Solar_20Panel CV – Download from www.makenet.co.za/CV.pdf Contact chrism@makenet.co.za or +27 (0)76 858

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