Back to results
US 12,111,079 B2Granted
Enclosed solar thermal energy generation system and methods of operation
AssigneeSolarSteam Inc.
InventorsApostol Ivanov Radev, Samuel DeSaulniers, Robert Garth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to enclosed solar parabolic trough reflector systems for thermal heat generation that can ultimately be used in various applications. The system includes a modular dual arch building design with a transparent building envelope and a reflector assembly connected within the building through a bearing assembly. The system is particularly suited for solar heat collection in harsh environment.
Claims17
A solar reflector system comprising:
- a building enclosing at least a portion of a thermal pipe;
- a reflector assembly comprising a support frame and a parabolic reflector, wherein the support frame is configured to support the parabolic reflector via a plurality of support members interconnected by cross members, wherein the cross members are rotatably interconnected via one or more connector nodes such that plurality of support members and cross members are (i) collapsible and (ii) expandable for forming the support frame;
- a flexible membrane, wherein the parabolic reflector comprises a first attachment system configured to attach the flexible membrane to the parabolic reflector;
- a tensioning system configured to hold the flexible membrane substantially taut along a top of the parabolic reflector, wherein the tensioning system comprises at least one of the one or more connector nodes, wherein the at least one of the one or more connector nodes allows for an individual support member to be set to at least one angle of a plurality of angles when the support frame is formed;
- and
- an actuation system configured to move the reflector assembly within the building in manner suitable to move the parabolic reflector within the building while maintaining the reflector assembly at a distance from the thermal pipe that is sufficient for the parabolic reflector to focus solar radiation received by the parabolic reflector onto the thermal pipe.
3 more elements
A solar reflector system comprising:
- a building formed at least in part from a plurality of structural members and a transparent membrane covering at least a portion of the plurality of structural members;
- a thermal pipe supported in the building;
- a reflector assembly comprising a support frame and a parabolic reflector, wherein the support frame is configured to support the parabolic reflector via a plurality of support members interconnected by cross members, wherein the cross members are rotatably interconnected via one or more connector nodes such that the plurality of support members and cross members are (i) collapsible and (ii) expandable for forming the support frame;
- a flexible membrane, wherein the parabolic reflector comprises a first attachment system configured to attach the flexible membrane to the parabolic reflector;
- a tensioning system configured to tension the flexible membrane, wherein the tensioning system comprises at least one of the one or more connector nodes, wherein the at least one of the one or more connector nodes allows for an individual support member to be set to at least one angle of a plurality of angles when the support frame is formed;
- and
- an actuation system configured to move the reflector assembly within the building in a manner suitable to move the parabolic reflector within the building while maintaining the reflector assembly at a distance from the thermal pipe that is sufficient for the parabolic reflector to focus solar radiation received by the parabolic reflector onto the thermal pipe.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.