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 discrete areas. A ring of solar-to-electrical conversion units are positioned on the ring of discrete areas.
Claims20
An optical energy concentrator, comprising an annular array of optical elements, the elements each having a convex top, a convex bottom, flat inner and outer ends, and flat sides which extend radially so that the sides of the optical elements are configured to be mutually abutting to form the annular array.
An optical element for an annular optical energy concentrator, comprising:
- first opposing optical surfaces having an optical axis and configured to converge incident optical energy;
- second opposing optical surfaces having normal directions extending outwardly from respective second optical surfaces so that the normal directions are co-planar with the optical axis, wherein the second opposing optical surfaces are planar optical surfaces;
- and
- third opposing optical surfaces parallel to the optical axis, wherein the third opposing optical surfaces are planar optical surfaces.
An optical energy concentrator, comprising:
- a plurality of optical elements configured to form an annular structure, wherein the optical elements are each configured to converge incident optical radiation onto a corresponding focal area positioned proximate each of the optical elements.
An optical energy concentration assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of optical elements configured to converge incident optical radiation;
- and
- a support substrate having an annular recess configured to receive the plurality of optical elements, the annular recess including a plurality of focal areas proximate to and in positional correspondence with the optical elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.