Inflatable solar energy collector apparatus
AssigneeThe Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsIan L. Winger, Sean A. Barton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.
Claims20
An optical collector for concentrating incoming rays of light, comprising:
- a. a middle reflective layer, rectangular in shape, having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;
- b. a central axis, parallel to said first and third edges of said middle reflective layer;
- c. a clear layer, rectangular in shape, having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, with said first and third edges being parallel to said central axis;
- d. a back layer, rectangular in shape, having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, with said first and third edges being parallel to said central axis;
- e. wherein said first edges of said clear layer, said middle reflective layer, and said back layer are joined together at a first union running parallel to said central axis;
- f. wherein said third edges of said clear layer, said middle reflective layer, and said back layer are joined together at a second union running parallel to said central axis;
- g. a reflector chamber formed by said clear layer and said middle reflective layer;
- h. a back chamber formed by said back layer and said middle reflective layer;
- i. wherein said middle reflective layer, said clear layer, and said back layer, are all made of thin and flexible material;
- j. wherein said reflector chamber is pressurized to a first pressure;
- and
- k. wherein said back chamber is pressurized to a second pressure which is lower than said first pressure so that said middle reflective layer deflects toward said back chamber and thereby forms a focusing reflector.
An optical collector for concentrating incoming rays of light, comprising:
- a. a pressurized reflector chamber having a central axis, said reflector chamber being made substantially of thin and flexible material, said reflector chamber having a first pressure;
- b. a pressurized back chamber parallel to said central axis, said back chamber being made substantially of thin and flexible material, said back chamber having a second pressure;
- c. a thin and flexible middle reflective layer parallel to said central axis, said middle reflective layer separating said reflector chamber from said back chamber;
- and
- d. wherein said first pressure is higher than said second pressure so that said middle reflective layer deflects toward said back chamber and thereby forms a focusing trough reflector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.