Solar energy conversion system
Assignee101 Celsius, LLC
InventorDavid Funcheon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar energy conversion system includes a solar collector having a protective cover having a closed position and an open position, wherein a surface of the protective cover adjacent to the solar collector includes a reflective surface configured to reflect solar radiation at the solar collector when the protective cover is in the open position. The solar collector further includes a plane angle modifier configured to allow adjustment of the solar collector relative to the sun.
Claims21
A solar energy conversion system comprising:
- a collector module including
- a solar collector;
- a protective cover having a closed position and an open position, a surface of the protective cover adjacent to the solar collector including a reflective surface configured to reflect solar radiation at the solar collector when the protective cover in the open position;
- and
- a plane angle modifier configured to allow adjustment of the solar collector relative to the sun;
- wherein the protective cover is configured to be positioned at an inclination angle of about 120 degrees with respect to the solar collector when in the open position.
A solar energy conversion system comprising
- a collector module including
- a solar collector;
- a protective cover having a closed position and an open position, a surface of the protective cover adjacent to the solar collector including a reflective surface configured to reflect solar radiation at the solar collector when the protective cover is in the open position;
- and
- a plane angle modifier configured to allow adjustment of the solar collector relative to the sun;
- wherein when the protective cover is in an open position, the plane angle modifier automatically adjusts an angle of the solar collector relative to the protective cover based on at least one of location, elevation, date, and time.
A method of maintaining a desired temperature within a solar collector module, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a collector module including a solar collector, a protective cover having a surface adjacent to the solar collector including a reflective surface configured to reflect solar radiation at the solar collector, and a plane angle modifier configured to allow adjustment of the solar collector relative to the sun;
- and
- adjusting the protective cover and the solar collector to maintain the collector module at a desired working temperature.
A method of increasing energy output of a solar collector module, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a collector module including a solar collector, a protective cover having a surface adjacent to the solar collector and including a reflective surface configured to reflect solar radiation at the solar collector, and a plane angle modifier configured to allow adjustment of the solar collector relative to the sun;
- optimizing an aperture area of the solar collector based on a location and time of day;
- and
- increasing an amount of solar radiation that is reflected and absorbed into the aperture area of the solar collector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.