Solar thermal concentrator apparatus, system, and method
OwnerRoland Winstoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed including: a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis and including at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber.
Claims42
An apparatus for concentrating light to an elongated absorber comprising:
- a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis having at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber.
An apparatus for concentrating light to an absorber comprising:
- at least one reflective surface configured to receive light incident at angles less than an acceptance angle and concentrate the received light to the absorber;
- and
- wherein the concentrator includes a configuration in that substantially any light ray emitted from the absorber would exit the concentrator without returning to the absorber.
An apparatus for converting incident solar light to heat, comprising:
- an evacuated tubular enclosure extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
- a tubular absorber element located within the evacuated enclosure, and comprising a selective surface configured to absorb solar light incident through the evacuated enclosure and convert the solar light to heat;
- and
- a U-shaped tube in thermal contact with the absorber element and comprising:
- a fluid input and a fluid output located at the proximal end of the tubular enclosure,
- an input portion extending from the fluid input along an interior surface of the tubular absorber element;
- an output portion extending from the fluid output along an interior surface of the tubular absorber element;
- a curved portion located proximal the distal end of the enclosure and providing fluid communication between the input and output portions;
- and
- wherein the input portion and the output portion are spaced apart.
An apparatus for concentrating light to an elongated absorber comprising:
- a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis, the reflector spaced apart from the absorber;
- wherein the reflector has a portion of at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of a virtual absorber surrounding the absorber and contacting the reflector.
A method of manufacturing a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis having at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber, the method comprising:
- manufacturing a reflective surface;
- and
- manipulating the reflective surface so the reflective surface comprises an involute shape.
A collector system for converting solar light to heat comprising:
- a working fluid;
- at least one absorber element;
- and
- at least one concentrator;
- wherein the at least one concentrator concentrates solar light onto the absorber element to generate heat;
- and the working fluid flows through the absorber element to extract heat from the absorber element;
- and
- wherein the at least one concentrator comprises a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis having at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber.
An optimal solar concentrator comprising:
- a window for receiving a radiation source;
- and
- an absorber, wherein the absorber includes a convex or flat shaped geometry where a distance from a top to the bottom of the convex or flat approaches an amount that includes a predetermined maximum probability to receive and concentrate a maximum amount of solar radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.