Bjorn Qorn is a new popcorn snack that is cooked not in a popcorn maker, but by a 5 meter basin structure that is built into the ground. The team behind the project is Jamie O’Shea, Ezer Lichtenstein and Bjorn Quenemoen who have been developing the cooking structure called the Caloris Basin, which can concentrate sunlight in an effective way for cooking.
All solar cooking devices work with reflecting light, but the unique thing about the Caloris Basin is that instead of being a structure built above ground, the Caloris Basin is a crater-like shape that is dug in the ground. To construct it, a lage hole is dug. This is then lined with concrete and mortar, and then laminated with a reflective material. The result is a large half dome structure which will heat up a kettle that is suspended at the center.
The idea came from team members looking at a picture of a bomb crater, and thinking about how this natural structure could be used instead of having to idea build the structure. With the cooking structure, you get free energy that you can use to cook for 6 hours a day.
Quenemoen has always wanted to make a popcorn business, so the team’s first project is using the Caloris Basin to make popcorn. To make the popcorn, the popcorn is put into a bucket and suspended in the central focal point of the circular reflective structure. When it heats up – the kettle gets up to around 600 degrees which is perfect for popping popcorn.
Earlier this month, a batch of Bjorn Qorn was made for an event at the Eyebeam center in New York, and you can currently buy some of the popcorn at the Eyebeam bookstore.
Their new facility will be opening this month in the Hudson Valley in New York state. Check out their website or video, which gives an overview of the project and you can see the Caloris Basin at work popping corn.
Image Source:
www.bjornqorn.com/
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