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US 12,385,671 B1Granted
Modular solar concentrator systems
OwnerChristopher Newcombeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for modular solar concentrator systems including one or more interconnected solar concentrator units. In one example, the solar concentrator units include a weather-resistant container with a transparent top, a receiver, and a plurality of reflectors positioned within the weather-resistant container and adapted to reflect light onto the receiver.
Claims18
A solar concentrator unit, comprising:
- a weather-resistant container with a transparent top, wherein the weather resistant container is rectangular prism shaped and has a height significantly smaller than a length and a width;
- a receiver positioned above the weather-resistant container;
- and
- a plurality of reflectors positioned within the weather-resistant container and adapted to reflect light onto the receiver, wherein the plurality of reflectors extends along first axes, wherein the first axes are parallel axes of rotation about which the plurality of reflectors rotates at approximately the same angular speed, and wherein each of the plurality of reflectors comprises three non-coplanar flat surfaces angled to account for changes in angles of sunlight perpendicular to rotation of the plurality of reflectors about the first axes.
1 more element
A solar concentrator system, comprising:
- two or more interconnected solar concentrator units, each solar concentrator unit comprising:
- a weather-resistant container with a transparent top;
- a receiver positioned outside of the weather-resistant container;
- and
- a plurality of reflectors positioned within the weather-resistant container, the plurality of reflectors rotationally coupled to a rack positioned within the weather-resistant container and driven by a driver rotationally coupled to a drive gear in mesh with the rack, wherein racks of adjacent solar concentrator units are coupled via a drive coupling extending through ports in the weather-resistant container to form drive lines, and wherein receivers of adjacent solar concentrator units are coupled via receiver couplings between the receivers to form receiver lines.
2 more elements
A method for operating a solar concentrator system, comprising:
- receiving notification of sunrise;
- in response to receiving the notification of sunrise, initiating rotation of reflectors of the solar concentrator system about axes of rotation in a first angular direction from a starting position, wherein ends of the reflectors are bent or curved about second axes perpendicular to the axes of rotation;
- regulating the rotation of the reflectors towards an ending position to reflect sunlight onto a receiver and account for sunlight angle changes in two non-parallel directions;
- storing or using energy collected by the receiver;
- receiving notification of sunset;
- and
- in response to receiving the notification of sunset, rotating the reflectors in a second angular direction to return the reflectors to the starting position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.