Systems and methods of generating energy from solar radiation
AssigneeAdvanced Lab Group Cooperative
InventorsJohn D.H. King, Thomas E. Oliver, Nicholas A. Kramer, Keeney D. Willis
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Abstract
A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.
Claims20
A solar reflector assembly comprising:
- an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material;
- and
- a reflective sheet coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation;
- wherein the elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.
A system for generating energy from solar radiation, comprising:
- a pool housing a supporting body of liquid;
- one or more solar reflector assemblies floating on the supporting body of liquid, each solar reflector assembly including:
- an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion at least partially formed of flexible material and a lower ballast portion at least partially formed of flexible material, and an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of the supporting body of liquid;
- and
- a reflective sheet coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation;
- and
- a solar collector spaced apart from the elongated tube and positioned to receive reflected solar radiation from the reflective sheet;
- wherein the lower ballast portion of the elongated tube contains liquid facilitating ballast, the liquid having a top surface generally parallel to the surface of the supporting body of liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.