# US 2014/0190555 A1 · Concentrating solar energy collector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190555 A1 - Document ID: US20140190555A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/207,257 - Filed: 2014-03-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-17 - Assignees: Cogenra Solar, Inc. - Applicants: Cogenra Solar, Inc. - Inventors: Gilad ALMOGY; Ratson MORAD; Amir BAR; Amir Arie WEISS; Ofer RICKLIS; Andrey BOCHKARIOUV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190555A1 ## CPC - H10F 77/67: including means to utilise heat energy directly associated with the photovoltaic cells, e.g. integrated Seebeck elements - F24S 23/74: with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces - F24S 25/12: using posts in combination with upper profiles - F24S 25/13: Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses (F24S25/12 takes precedence) - F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis - H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection} - H10F 77/68: {using gaseous or liquid coolants, e.g. air flow ventilation or water circulation} - G02B 7/1822: {comprising means for aligning the optical axis (G02B7/1821 takes precedence)} - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide electricity or a combination of heat and electricity are disclosed herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A concentrating solar energy collector comprising: a linearly elongated reflector having a linear focus; a linearly elongated receiver oriented parallel to the linear focus of the reflector and fixed in position with respect to the reflector, the receiver comprising solar cells that in operation of the solar energy collector are illuminated by solar radiation concentrated by the reflector onto the receiver; and a support structure supporting the reflector and the receiver and pivotally mounted to accommodate rotation of the support structure, the reflector, and the receiver about a rotation axis parallel to the linear focus of the reflector; wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of linearly elongated reflective elements each having a long axis, and the linearly elongated reflective elements are arranged in two or more parallel side-by-side rows with the rows and the long axes of the linearly elongated reflective elements oriented parallel to the linear focus of the reflector; wherein each row of linearly elongated reflective elements includes two or more of the linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end such that gaps or joints between the linearly elongated reflective elements in each row are not next to gaps or joints between linearly elongated reflective elements in an adjacent row; and wherein in each row of linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end each gap or joint between linearly elongated reflective elements is separated from its nearest neighbor gap or joint in the other rows of linearly elongated reflective elements by at least one row of linearly elongated reflective elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are of two different lengths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein in each row of linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end each gap or joint between linearly elongated reflective elements is separated from its nearest neighbor gap or joint in the other rows of linearly elongated reflective elements by at least two rows of linearly elongated reflective elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 3, wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are of three different lengths. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are flat or substantially flat transverse to their long axes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the reflector has a parabolic curvature transverse to the long axis of the receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises coolant channels accommodating flow of liquid coolant in thermal contact with the solar cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a lower surface oriented horizontally above the reflector to receive solar radiation concentrated by the reflector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises first and second lower surfaces arranged to form a V-shape above the reflector, with a section of the reflector on one side of the receiver arranged to focus solar radiation onto the first surface and a section of the reflector on the other side of the receiver arranged to focus solar radiation onto the second surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a torque tube extending along the rotation axis and a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 10, wherein the support structure comprises a slew gear at an end of the torque tube, the slew gear driving rotation of the reflector, the receiver, and the support structure about the rotation axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 11, wherein the slew gear is shared with and also drives rotation of another solar energy collector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein: the receiver comprises a lower surface oriented horizontally above the reflector to receive solar radiation concentrated by the reflector; the linearly elongated reflective elements are flat or substantially flat transverse to their long axes; and the reflector has a parabolic curvature transverse to the long axis of the receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 13, wherein the receiver comprises coolant channels accommodating flow of liquid coolant in thermal contact with the solar cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 13, wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are of two different lengths. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 13, wherein in each row of linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end each gap or joint between linearly elongated reflective elements is separated from its nearest neighbor gap or joint in the other rows of linearly elongated reflective elements by at least two rows of linearly elongated reflective elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 16, wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are of three different lengths. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 13, wherein the support structure comprises: a torque tube extending along the rotation axis and a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector; and a slew gear at an end of the torque tube, the slew gear driving rotation of the reflector, the receiver, and the support structure about the rotation axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 18, wherein the slew gear is shared with and also drives rotation of another solar energy collector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The concentrating solar energy collector of claim 19, wherein the receiver comprises coolant channels accommodating flow of liquid coolant in thermal contact with the solar cells.