Trough shaped Fresnel reflector solar concentrator
OwnerJeffrey Michael Citroninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a solar concentrator composed of a generally V-shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. The Fresnel reflective steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V-shaped trough and parallel to its central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration a preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector is realized. Various types of solar energy receiving structures are shown that serve to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy to realize the preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector.
Claims7
A solar concentrator comprising:
- a. a V-shaped support structure having a first side and a second side that oppose, and are mirror images of, one another, wherein a slope extending from a lowermost edge to an uppermost edge of the first side and the second side, respectively, is constant;
- b. a solar tracking device;
- c. a plurality of support members extending from the support structure, said support members being disposed parallel to a central axis of the concentrator, wherein the solar tracking device directs movement of the concentrator such that incoming solar radiation is always parallel to each of the support members;
- d. a plurality of plane reflectors, wherein each reflector is connected to at least one support member, wherein the reflectors are collectively arranged in a stepped architecture along the support structure;
- and
- e. a solar energy receiving element disposed at a central focal area of the concentrator, the central focal area being disposed upon the central axis of the concentrator, wherein the receiving element has a circular cross-section,
- wherein the reflectors reflect and concentrate the incoming solar radiation to the central focal area, wherein each reflector illuminates an entire width of the receiving element, as measured across a face of the cross-section of the receiving element, the cross-section being oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the receiving element, wherein the receiving element converts the concentrated solar radiation to another form of energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.