Solar Energy Focus
Several requirements in need to meet:
- Easy to replicatable in deep space
- The reflection area should be about 50 by 50 meter or more
- The focus spot to 1~4 square meter
The Odeillo solar furnace is the world’s largest solar furnace. It is situated in Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales, in south of France. It is 54 metres (177 ft) high and 48 metres (157 ft) wide, and includes 63 heliostats. It was built between 1962 and 1968, and started operating in 1970, and has a power of one megawatt.
Temperatures above 3,500 °C (6,330 °F) can be obtained in a few seconds.