# US 2014/0196764 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 2014/0196764 A1 - Document ID: US20140196764A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/740,770 - Filed: 2013-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Cogenra Solar, Inc. - Applicants: Cogenra Solar, Inc. - Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle; Jason C. Kalus; Nathan P. Beckett; Ratson Morad; Gilad Almogy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196764A1 ## CPC - H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking - F24S 20/20: Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants - F24S 23/70: with reflectors - F24S 23/74: with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces - F24S 23/745: {flexible} - F24S 25/10: extending in directions away from a supporting surface - F24S 25/50: comprising elongate non-rigid elements, e.g. straps, wires or ropes - F24S 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements - F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis - F24S 40/80: Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements - F24S 80/30: Arrangements for connecting the fluid circuits of solar collectors with each other or with other components, e.g. pipe connections; Fluid distributing means, e.g. headers - H02S 20/10: Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) - H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment - H02S 40/22: Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42) - H02S 40/44: Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/67) - H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection} - H10F 77/63: Arrangements for cooling directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. heat sinks directly associated with the photovoltaic cells or integrated Peltier elements for active cooling - H10F 77/68: {using gaseous or liquid coolants, e.g. air flow ventilation or water circulation} - F24S 2020/16: {Preventing shading effects} - F24S 2023/874: {Reflectors formed by assemblies of adjacent similar reflective facets} - F24S 2030/15: {Bearings} - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - Y02E 10/60: Thermal-PV hybrids - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - 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, heat, or a combination of electricity and heat are disclosed herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar energy collector comprising: a linearly extending receiver comprising solar cells; a linearly extending reflector oriented parallel to a long axis of the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the receiver; and a linearly extending support structure supporting the receiver and the reflector and pivotably mounted to accommodate rotation of the support structure, the reflector, and the receiver about a rotation axis parallel to the long axis of the receiver to concentrate solar radiation onto the solar cells; wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of receiver supports arranged to support the receiver above the reflector, and each of the receiver supports is tilted in a same direction along the rotation axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the solar cells are arranged on a surface of the receiver oriented perpendicularly to optical axes of the reflector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of receiver supports comprises a plurality of primary receiver supports and a plurality of secondary receiver supports, the primary receiver supports are in compression, and the secondary receiver supports are under tension. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The solar energy collector of claim 3, wherein the secondary receiver supports are thinner than the primary receiver supports. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The solar energy collector of claim 3, wherein the primary receiver supports are arranged in mirror image pairs along the rotation axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The solar energy collector of claim 5, wherein the secondary receiver supports are arranged along the rotation axis in an alternating manner with longitudinally adjacent secondary receiver supports on opposite sides of the rotation axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The solar energy collector of claim 3, wherein the secondary receiver supports are more tilted along the rotation axis than are the primary receiver supports. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the receiver supports are coupled to the receiver with hinged brackets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solar energy collector of claim 8, wherein the hinged brackets have two pivot axes each of which is oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is oriented in a North-South or approximately North-South direction, and the receiver supports are tilted away from the equator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, comprising an end receiver support at each end of the solar energy collector, the end receiver supports extending parallel to optical axes of the reflector to support outer ends of the receiver above the reflector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, comprising a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector, wherein the lower ends of the receiver supports are attached to outer ends of corresponding transverse reflector supports. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflector subsections arranged end-to-end along the rotation axis with ends of adjacent reflector subsections vertically offset with respect to each other to form a repeating pattern of tilted reflector subsections. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The solar energy collector of claim 13, wherein the offset ends of adjacent reflector subsections overlap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of linearly extending receiver subsections coupled end-to-end, each receiver subsection comprises one or more fluid channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver subsection along its long axis, and fluid interconnections between the receiver subsections are rigid and in line with the receiver subsections. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The solar energy collector of claim 15, wherein the receiver supports are coupled to the receiver with hinged brackets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises one or more fluid channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver, comprising a heat exchanger at least partially shaded by the solar energy collector during operation of the solar energy collector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The solar energy collector of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger is a passive heat exchanger attached to and rotating with the support structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The solar energy collector of claim 18, wherein the passive heat exchanger comprises finned tubes shaded by the reflector during operation of the solar energy collector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The solar energy collector of claim 18, wherein the receiver comprises heat-exchanger fins. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflector-panel assemblies, each reflector-panel assembly comprising a plurality of linearly extending reflective elements arranged side-by-side on an upper surface of a flexible panel and oriented parallel to the rotation axis. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The solar energy collector of claim 21, wherein each reflector-panel assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinal reflector supports arranged under the flexible panel and oriented parallel to the linearly extending reflective elements. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The solar energy collector of claim 22, comprising a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector and a plurality of hanger joists attached to each transverse reflector support, wherein ends of the longitudinal reflector supports are attached to and supported by the hanger joists. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The solar energy collector of claim 23, wherein the longitudinal reflector supports snap on to the hanger joists, with features on the longitudinal reflector supports interlocking with complementary features on the hanger joists. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The solar energy collector of claim 23, wherein attachment of the longitudinal reflector supports to the hanger joists forces ends of the flexible panels against curved edges of the transverse reflector supports to thereby impose a desired reflector curvature on the reflector-panel assemblies. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The solar energy collector of claim 23, wherein reflector-panel assemblies are arranged end-to-end in line along the rotation axis with ends of adjacent reflector-panel assemblies vertically offset with respect to each other to form a repeating pattern of tilted reflector-panel assemblies. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The solar energy collector of claim 26, wherein the offset ends of adjacent reflector-panel assemblies overlap. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, comprising a torque tube defining the rotation axis and a plurality of support posts supporting the torque tube above an underlying surface, wherein each support post comprises a neck region below the rotation axis which provides clearance for a portion of the support structure and thereby extends the angular range over which the support structure may be rotated. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The solar energy collector of claim 1, comprising a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector, wherein: the solar cells are arranged on a surface of the receiver oriented perpendicularly to the optical axes of the reflector; the lower ends of the receiver supports are attached to outer ends of corresponding transverse reflector supports and the upper ends of the receiver supports are coupled to the receiver with hinged brackets; and the plurality of receiver supports comprises a plurality of primary receiver supports and a plurality of secondary receiver supports, the primary receiver supports are in compression, the secondary receiver supports are under tension, and the secondary receiver supports are more tilted along the rotation axis than are the primary receiver supports. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The solar energy collector of claim 29, comprising an end receiver support at each end of the solar energy collector, the end receiver supports extending parallel to optical axes of the reflector to support outer ends of the receiver above the reflector. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The solar energy collector of claim 30, wherein the rotation axis is oriented in a North-South or approximately North-South direction, and the primary and secondary receiver supports are tilted away from the equator. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The solar energy collector of claim 30, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflector subsections arranged end-to-end along the rotation axis with ends of adjacent reflector subsections vertically offset with respect to each other to form a repeating pattern of tilted reflector subsections. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The solar energy collector of claim 30, wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of linearly extending receive subsections coupled end-to-end, each receiver subsection comprises one or more fluid channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver subsection along its long axis, and fluid interconnections between the receiver subsections are rigid and in line with the receiver subsections. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The solar energy collector of claim 30, wherein the receiver comprises one or more fluid channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver, comprising a passive heat exchanger attached to and rotating with the support structure and shaded by the reflector during operation of the solar energy collector. ### Claim 35 A solar energy collector comprising: a linearly extending receiver; a linearly extending reflector oriented parallel to a long axis of the receiver and fixed in position with respect to the receiver; and a linearly extending support structure supporting the receiver and the reflector and pivotably mounted to accommodate rotation of the support structure, the reflector, and the receiver about a rotation axis parallel to the long axis of the receiver; wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of receiver supports and a plurality of hinged receiver brackets, the hinged receiver brackets coupling the receiver to upper ends of the receiver supports, the receiver supports arranged to support the receiver above the reflector. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein the receiver comprises solar cells arranged on a surface of the receiver oriented perpendicularly to optical axes of the reflector. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein the receiver comprises one or more channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of linearly extending receiver subsections coupled end-to-end, each receiver subsection comprises one or more fluid channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver subsection along its long axis, and fluid interconnections between the receiver subsections are rigid and in line with the receiver subsections. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The solar energy collector of claim 37, comprising a heat exchanger at least partially shaded by the solar energy collector during operation of the solar energy collector. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The solar energy collector of claim 39, wherein the heat exchanger is a passive heat exchanger attached to and rotating with the support structure. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The solar energy collector of claim 40, wherein the passive heat exchanger comprises finned tubes shaded by the reflector during operation of the solar energy collector. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein the hinged brackets have two pivot axes each of which is oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis. ### Claim 43 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, comprising a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector, wherein lower ends of the receiver supports are attached to outer ends of corresponding transverse reflector supports. ### Claim 44 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflector subsections arranged end-to-end along the rotation axis with ends of adjacent reflector subsections vertically offset with respect to each other to form a repeating pattern of tilted reflector subsections. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The solar energy collector of claim 44, wherein the offset ends of adjacent reflector subsections overlap. ### Claim 46 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflector-panel assemblies, each reflector-panel assembly comprising a plurality of linearly extending reflective elements arranged side-by-side on an upper surface of a flexible panel and oriented parallel to the rotation axis. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The solar energy collector of claim 46, wherein each reflector-panel assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinal reflector supports arranged under the flexible panel and oriented parallel to the linearly extending reflective elements. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The solar energy collector of claim 47, comprising a plurality of transverse reflector supports extending away from the rotation axis to support the reflector and a plurality of hanger joists attached to each transverse reflector support, wherein ends of the longitudinal reflector supports are attached to and supported by the hanger joists. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The solar energy collector of claim 48, wherein the longitudinal reflector supports snap on to the hanger joists, with features on the longitudinal reflector supports interlocking with complementary features on the hanger joists. ### Claim 50 (depends on 47) The solar energy collector of claim 47, wherein attachment of the longitudinal reflector supports to the hanger joists forces ends of the flexible panels against curved edges of the transverse reflector supports to thereby impose a desired reflector curvature on the reflector-panel assemblies. ### Claim 51 (depends on 47) The solar energy collector of claim 47, wherein reflector-panel assemblies are arranged end-to-end in line along the rotation axis with ends of adjacent reflector-panel assemblies vertically offset with respect to each other to form a repeating pattern of tilted reflector-panel assemblies. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The solar energy collector of claim 51, wherein the offset ends of adjacent reflector-panel assemblies overlap. ### Claim 53 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, comprising a torque tube defining the rotation axis and a plurality of support posts supporting the torque tube above an underlying surface, wherein each support post comprises a neck region below the rotation axis which provides clearance for a portion of the support structure and thereby extends the angular range over which the support structure may be rotated. ### Claim 54 (depends on 35) The solar energy collector of claim 35, wherein: the receiver comprises a plurality of linearly extending receiver subsections coupled end-to-end, each receiver subsection comprises one or more fluid channels accommodating flow of a heat transfer fluid through the receiver subsection along its long axis, and fluid interconnections between the receiver subsections are rigid and in line with the receiver subsections; and each receiver subsection comprises solar cells arranged on a surface of the receiver subsection oriented perpendicularly to optical axes of the reflector. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The solar energy collector of claim 54, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflector subsections arranged end-to-end along the rotation axis with ends of adjacent reflector subsections vertically offset with respect to each other to form a repeating pattern of tilted reflector subsections. ### Claim 56 (depends on 54) The solar energy collector of claim 54, comprising a passive heat exchanger attached to and rotating with the support structure and shaded by the reflector during operation of the solar energy collector.