Solar Billy
The Solar Billy is a tubular-shaped kettle powered by solar energy. It is 750ml long and presently designed to hold and heat up to 1.2 litres of water which is enough to make some five regular sized cups of coffee or tea.
As mentioned above, the Solar Billy uses existing evacuated (or vacuum) solar technology to capture the solar energy needed to power the kettle. Vacuum tube technology is superior for heating water because the vacuum insulates the heat without blocking out sunlight. Also, unlike other types of solar collectors, evacuated tube solar collectors still provide excellent results on cloudy days. This is because the tubes are able to absorb the energy from infra-red rays, which can pass through clouds.
The evacuated tube is comprised of two layers of strong glass with a vacuum (or void) between the two layers. On the outside surface of the inner layer is a black coating which absorbs, then transmits the solar rays through the vacuum to heat the water. As mentioned above, the Solar Billy also has a "highly reflective panel" located within the void between the evacuated tube and the outer tube. This feature generates a "mirror effect" which dramatically increases the Billy's efficiency and capacity to heat as the reflective panel maximises the sun's energy which can be reflected and absorbed by the Billy.
Also, the cylindrical shape of Billy enables the inner tube of the vessel to passively track or follow the sun's path as the sun moves throughout the day thereby maximising exposure to sunlight.
The Solar Billy prototype stands on tripod legs. The legs fold back onto the Billy which enables it to fit snugly into a carry bag for transportation. (However, the inventor is designing another method of "standing" the Billy which will work in conjunction with a hard cover).
The inventor says the Solar Billy would take 35 minutes to three hours to get water hot enough to make a cup of tea or coffee depending on the climatic conditions.
Robert F McMahon & Associates Pty Ltd
Level 20 68 Pitt Street
Sydney, New South Wales
2000
AU
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