Conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or heat energy
AssigneeEdtek, Inc.
InventorsWilliam E. Horne, Mark D. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parabolic primary mirror (10) has a concave specular surface (12) that is constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point. A secondary mirror (14) having a convex specular surface (16) is constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver (18). The annular receiver (18) may include an annular array of optical elements (100) constructed to receive solar energy from the secondary specular surface (14) and focus it onto a ring of discreet areas. A ring of solar-to-electrical conversion units are positioned on the ring of discreet areas. A sun sensor that allows accurate solar tracking to keep mirror system aligned with the sun.
Claims46
A light energy collection system, comprising:
- a primary mirror having a concave specular surface constructed and positioned to receive light energy and focus it towards a focal point;
- and
- a secondary mirror having a convex specular surface constructed and positioned to receive focused light energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver.
A solar energy collection system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a primary mirror supported by the frame, said primary mirror having a concave mirror surface constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point;
- and
- a secondary mirror supported by the frame, said secondary mirror having a convex mirror surface constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver, said annular receiver being supported by the frame.
A mirror, comprising:
- a thin metal body having a curved surface;
- a polymer layer on said curved surface;
- a reflective metal layer on the polymer layer;
- and
- a thin glass layer on the metal layer;
- said layers providing the mirror with a specular surface.
A mirror, comprising:
- a sheet metal body formed to be convex on one side and concave on the other side, said body having a specular surface formed on one of its sides by:
- a polymer layer on said side, said polymer being applied to the surface while the sheet metal body is being spun about its geometrical axis at a rotational speed such that centrifugal forces acting on the polymer cancel gravitational forces;
- a reflective metal layer on the epoxy polymer layer;
- and
- a thin glass layer on the metal layer.
A mirror having a convex specular surface adapted to focus light energy onto an annular area, said convex specular surface being formed by:
- providing a hyperbolic curve formed symmetrically about an axis and having a concave side, a convex side, an imaginary focus point on the concave side and a real focus point on the convex side;
- tilting the axis and the hyperbolic curve about the imaginary focus point, so that in its tilted position the axis is separated from its original position by an acute angle and the parabolic curve is tilted from its original position;
- rotating the portion of the tilted hyperbolic curve that extends from the original axis to the tilted axis and beyond the tilted axis, about the original axis, so that the rotated portion of the tilted hyperbolic curve forms a surface of revolution about the original axis;
- and
- providing the convex specular surface of the mirror with the shape of the surface of revolution so that the specular surface will have an annular focus
An optical energy concentrator, comprising an annular array of glass lens/prism elements, said elements each having a convex top, a convex bottom, flat inner and outer ends, and flat sides which extend radially so that the glass lens/prism elements can substantially fit together and form an array of substantially annular form.
A light energy collection system, comprising:
- a primary mirror having a concave specular surface constructed and positioned to receive light energy and focus it towards a focal point;
- a secondary mirror having a convex specular surface constructed and positioned to receive focused light energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver, said convex specular surface being formed by:
- providing a hyperbolic curve formed symmetrically about an axis and having a concave side, a convex side, an imaginary focus point on the concave side and a real focal point on the convex side;
- tilting the axis and the hyperbolic curve about the imaginary focus point, so that in its tilted position the axis is separated from its original position by an acute angle and the parabolic curve is tilted from its original position;
- rotating the portion of the tilted hyperbolic curve that extends from the original axis to the tilted axis and beyond the tilted axis, about the original axis, so that the rotated portion of the tilted hyperbolic curve forms a surface of revolution about the original axis;
- and
- providing the convex specular surface of the secondary mirror with the shape of the surface of revolution so that the specular surface will have an annular focus pattern.
A sun position sensor, comprising:
- a base;
- a cylindrical shadow shield extending upwardly from the base, said shield including an upper end, a cylindrical inner surface, and an outer surface;
- a sensor support having a lower portion connected to the base inside the shadow shield and an upper portion in the form of a truncated pyramid, said upper portion having four sloping sides positioned substantially ninety degrees (90°) apart;
- four photovoltaic cells mounted on the support, one on each the sloping side of the truncated pyramid;
- and
- four photovoltaic cells mounted on the outer surface of the shadow shield ninety degrees (90°) apart.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.