US 2008/0184989 A1 · Solar blackbody waveguide for high pressure and high temperature applications

Abstract

A solar blackbody waveguide that captures and uses sunlight to heat a thermal heat transfer fluid. One or more systems of optical mirrors provided on each tower captures and concentrates the sunlight. Each system of optical mirrors is movably mounted on its tower to track the daily movement of the sun and to maintain the proper angle with the horizon throughout the year. Each system of optical mirrors directs the light into an associated short light pipe which delivers the light into a curved solar coil contained within an enclosure. Energy from the light rays is absorbed by the solar coil and transferred to thermal working fluid or heat transfer fluid flowing between the solar coil and the enclosure. The energy laden thermal heat transfer fluid is gathered from a plurality of towers for use with existing technologies, such as with a combined cycle gas turbine, boiler, or steam generator.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A solar blackbody waveguide for high pressure and high temperature applications comprising:

a means for collecting and concentrating ambient solar flux,
a hollow lossy solar coil surrounded by an insulated enclosure,
a means for directing the concentrated flux from the means for collecting and concentrating ambient solar flux into an interior of the hollow lossy solar coil in a manner that the concentrated solar flux makes repeated reflections off interior surfaces on the solar coil causing the energy from the concentrated solar flux to be absorbed as heat energy into the solar coil, the solar coil being formed into a varying alignment configuration and located within the insulated enclosure,
said insulated enclosure spaced apart from walls of the enclosure so that an enclosed space is formed between the solar coil and walls of the enclosure;
and
a thermal fluid moving within the enclosed space of the enclosure in a manner that the thermal fluid receives heat energy from the solar coil which can be used as a source of energy inside the enclosure or can be used as a source of energy outside the enclosure upon removal of heated thermal fluid from the enclosure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solar blackbody waveguide for high pressure and high temperature applications

Life of this patent

Solar blackbody waveguide for high pressure and high temperature applications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12