Polycarbonate parabolic trough solar concentrator
OwnerMatthew A. Jansseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The parabolic trough solar concentrator described within is sized for shipping in containers and mounting on existing structures without requiring specialized labor or equipment. Besides achieving a proximity to the thermal load not previously achievable economically and preserving precious land, the concentrator array shelters the area below from the sun reducing its energy requirement for cooling and making it more inhabitable when cooling is not provided. As the troughs are generally mounted on an incline on roof structures, they can provide for rainwater collection.
Claims19
A Polycarbonate Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator comprising:
- a body comprised of a top surface, a bottom surface, two opposing ends, and two opposing longitudinal sides, wherein said body is further comprised of a top layer comprising a flexible reflector sheet, wherein said flexible reflector sheet lays on top of a sheet of multi-walled polycarbonate and said flexible reflector sheet is a specified width less than a specified width of said sheet of multi-walled polycarbonate, and a specified length less than a specified length of said sheet of multi-walled polycarbonate, wherein said reflector sheet moves freely upon said sheet of multi-walled polycarbonate while said body is arced into a parabolic curve and said body is held in a shape of said parabolic curve by a frame.
A method of manufacturing a Polycarbonate Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator comprising the steps of:
- a. creating a body of said Polycarbonate Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator by;
- b. cutting a multi-wall polycarbonate sheet to a specified width and a specified length;
- C. cutting a reflector sheet to a specified width less than said specified width of said multi-wall polycarbonate sheet, and a specified length less than said specified length of said multi-wall polycarbonate sheet;
- d. laying said reflector sheet onto said multi-wall polycarbonate sheet;
- e. clamping a first end of said multi wall polycarbonate sheet to a first opposing longitudinal rail of a frame and clamping a second end of said multi-wall polycarbonate sheet to a second opposing longitudinal rail of said frame;
- f. arching said body into a parabolic curve, wherein said reflector sheet moves freely upon said multi-wall polycarbonate sheet;
- and
- g. fastening said body to said frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.