2292) "Odeillo Solar Furnace", Republic of France: La Poste France (French Post) has issued a Postage Stamp of 1.16 Euro on the World's largest Solar Furnace located in France: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 28.03.2022):
About the Odeillo Solar Furnace:
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 the South of France.
It was built between 1962 and 1968, started operating in 1969, and has a power of one megawatt.
It is 54.00 metres (177.00 ft) high and 48.00 metres (157.00 ft) wide, and includes 63 heliostats.
The site was chosen because of:
- the length and the quality of sunshine with direct light (more than 2,500 h/year).
- the purity of its atmosphere (high altitude and low average humidity).
- The solar power plant of Themis and the Mont-Louis Solar Furnace are situated nearby.
Working principle:
The principle used is the concentration of rays by reflecting mirrors (9,600 of them). The solar rays are picked up by a first set of steerable mirrors located on the slope, and then sent to a second series of mirrors (the concentrators), placed in a parabola and eventually converging on a circular target, 40.00 cm in diameter, on top of the central tower.
Equivalent to concentrating the energy of "10,000 suns", the solar furnace produces a peak power of 3200 kW.
Uses:
It serves as a science research site studying materials at very high temperatures.
The research areas are also extended to the aviation and aerospace industries. Experiments can be conducted there in conditions of high chemical purity. The high temperature materials division use the furnace to evaluate radome survival during MIRV warhead earth re-entry along with investigating other material properties under the "high energy thermal radiation environment" frequently produced by "nuclear devices".
The Stamp:
The Postage Stamp of 1.16 Euro depicting the Odeillo Solar Furnace.
A Collectible giving a description of the Solar Furnace.
Technical details:
Issue Date: 28.03.2022
Designer: Humbert Basset
Illustrator: Humbert Basset
Process: Heliogravure
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