Adjustable solar collector and method of use
OwnerTheodore Edward Larsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar collector has operably connected reflective panels that can be positioned to substantially form a parabolic trough that concentrates solar radiation onto a tube running along the focal line of the trough. A folding mechanism can be manually or automatically operated to selectively fold and unfold the panels into open and closed positions and into any number of intermediate positions, including the position characterized by formation of a parabolic trough. A rotating mechanism can be manually or automatically operated to selectively rotate the solar collector about an axis parallel to the focus line of the parabolic trough.
Claims21
A solar collector for concentrating solar radiation, the solar collector comprising:
- a first reflective panel and a second reflective panel for reflecting sunlight, the panels being selectively positionable to substantially form a parabolic trough having a focus line above a vertex, each panel having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a tube positioned at the focus line;
- a folding mechanism for positioning the panels between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a rotating mechanism for rotating the solar collector about an axis, the axis being parallel to the focus line.
A system for generating electricity, the system comprising:
- a first reflective panel and a second reflective panel for reflecting sunlight, the panels being selectively positionable to substantially form a parabolic trough having a focus line above a vertex, each panel having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a tube positioned at the focus line;
- a folding mechanism for positioning the panels between an open position and a closed position;
- a rotating mechanism for rotating the solar collector about an axis, the axis being parallel to the focus line;
- and
- a generator.
A method of positioning a solar collector having a tube, the method comprising the step of:
- positioning a first panel in relation to a second panel to substantially form a parabolic trough having a focus line above a vertex, each panel having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- and
- wherein the parabolic trough redirects short-wavelength radiation to the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.