How Close Can We Build Solar Collectors to the Sun?

Say you've got a space-faring civilization that needs a LOT of power. Sure, fusion is a thing, but there's really not that much helium-3 to be found in our solar system, and it's hard to get. So the best way to get gargantuan quantities of energy is to start on a Dyson swarm. We don't need the whole thing, just enough collector stations to meet current demand, whatever that might be. But if collected energy is a limiting factor to any of our endeavors, then we want to maximize our power generation for the smallest possible cost, which means we'll want to get closer to the sun than we are now, so the sunlight is more intense. The question is, how close can we get? How close is it practical to get?

EDIT: Let's assume the collectors are designed using technologies and materials we have today, though we are developed enough as a space-faring race that getting into and around in space isn't a problem. Also, assume that technologies and materials which are currently expensive cutting edge (like graphene) are now mass-producible.

Presumably, if we get too close, any station we built would need to spend an inordinate amount of mass on radiators and other systems to keep itself cool. Where do you think that point is?

At Earth's distance from the sun, we get about 1360 watts per square meter from the sun. At Mercury's orbit, we get about 9000. One suggestion for building a Dyson sphere is to mine Mercury for the raw materials and put the satellites (which would mostly be giant mirrors reflecting to central collecting stations). Could we get closer? Is Mercury already too close? Or is it just right?

EDIT2: Let's also assume that we're not restricted to solar panels; we could also be using mirrors that redirect light to a central boiler, or other means of collecting solar power.

posted about 5 years ago

FlyingLemmingSoup‭

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