I'm intrigued by this idea...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower

A German company actually built one in the 80's in Spain thats 200m tall...

http://www.sbp.de/en/html/solar/aufwindkraftwerk.html


Anyway, I'm designing a desert home and I'm trying to incorporate one that is made out of 55 gallon oil drums that would be about 45 to 50 feet tall w/ a 40' x 10' collector.

Anyone with the brains to figger out the practical possibilities of such a system mathematically is invited to comment.. please show your work

the diameter of a 55 gallon drum is 23"

I'm still working on the specifics of the collector, but it would receive both direct sunlight and reflected light from the bldg in an attempt to increase the heat.

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Cheers,
Robert