Creation of Solar Powered Kiln for Brick Manufacturing — 33p — William Nixon, Dr. Jon Keller, Stephen Gebes, Brandon Stuber, Ann Sheehy, Dr. Rodney Rice

Brick manufacturing is a massive industry that produces over a trillion bricks per year. Conventional brick making relies on fossil fuels to heat furnaces to upwards of 1200 ℃ for days on end. The combustion byproducts of coal, oil and other fuels contribute to global warming and are harmful to human health for both workers and surrounding communities. This study examines the potential use of concentrated solar energy to fire bricks with a Fresnel lens. A kiln was constructed that utilized a frame holding the lens such that it directed sunlight into a small furnace containing clay samples from the Belle Fourche Formation. Microstructural, chemical, and phase analyses will be done on the samples comparing them to a control sample. If solar energy could be used to effectively fire bricks from local clay formations, this could dramatically cut down on pollutants being released into the atmosphere as well as benefiting the health of brick making workers and their communities.

University of Denver
Jacob Petersen