Non-parabolic solar concentration to an area of controlled flux density conversion system and method
AssigneeBrightleaf Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames E. Vander Mey, Douglas Helff Kiesewetter, JR., Shane Mark Duckworth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar conversion system with a solar collector that is shaped to focus reflected sunlight along an area with a substantially constant flux density. The area shape can be resemble a rectangular, square, circular, or other shape. Included with the system is a solar conversion module having a photovoltaic cell that is alignable with the area. The cell converts the focused reflected sunlight into electrical energy when aligned with the area.
Claims20
A solar energy conversion system to convert solar light energy into electrical energy, the system comprising:
- a. a first solar collector having a reflective front surface contoured so that when positioned to receive solar light energy from the sun, the solar light energy contacts the reflective surface, is reflected from the collector outwardly from the reflective surface, and is concentrated in a planar portion of a plane having substantially constant flux density throughout the planar portion to thereby define a planar focal area;
- b. a photovoltaic cell having at least a portion of a surface coincident with the planar focal area to receive the concentrated light energy thereon;
- and
- c. a resistive load in electrical communication with the photovoltaic cell so that the concentrated light energy received by the photovoltaic cell is thereby converted to electrical energy and communicated to the resistive load.
A system for converting solar energy into electricity comprising:
- a first solar collector having a reflective surface that is shaped so that when solar energy contacts the reflective surface, the solar energy is reflected away from the reflective surface and converges into a planar area to define a focal area of concentrated light having a substantially uniform flux density;
- a second solar collector disposed on the side of the first solar collecting having the reflective surface and angled with respect to horizontal so that when solar energy is directed towards the second solar collector at least a portion of the solar energy is shielded by the second solar collector to form a shaded space;
- a solar cell having a reactive surface disposed coincident with the focal area and mounted on a side of the second solar collector in the shaded space, so that when the concentrated light of the focal area impinges on the reactive surface electricity is generated in the solar cell;
- a heat sink in thermal communication with the solar cell;
- and
- a resistive load in electrical communication with the solar cell, so that when electricity is generated in the solar cell, it is communicated to the resistive load.
A method of converting solar energy to electricity comprising:
- a. providing a collector comprising a reflective side profiled so that when light rays reflect from the reflective side, they converge to a focal area having a substantially uniform flux density;
- b. providing a solar conversion cell having a surface that coincides in space with the focal area;
- c. orienting the collector so that the reflective side is in the path of rays from the sun that contact and reflect from the reflective side of the collector and converge onto the surface of the solar conversion cell with substantially uniform flux density that is converted to electricity in the solar conversion cell;
- and
- d. directing the electricity converted by the solar conversion cell to a resistive load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.