Secondary reflectors for solar collectors and methods of making the same
AssigneeAlliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
InventorGuangdong ZHU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aspect of the present disclosure is a device that includes a reflecting surface having a length aligned along a first axis (z), where a cross-section of the reflecting surface in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (z) forms a curve comprising a concave section positioned between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, at least a portion of the concave section is accurately approximated by a polynomial equation, an aperture is formed by a straight line connecting the first endpoint to the second endpoint, and the concave section is configured to focus a plurality of beams of light passing through the aperture onto a focal point.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a reflecting surface having a length aligned along a first axis (z), wherein:
- a cross-section of the reflecting surface in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (z) forms a curve comprising a concave section positioned between a first endpoint and a second endpoint,
- at least a portion of the concave section is accurately approximated by a polynomial equation,
- an aperture is formed by a straight line connecting the first endpoint to the second endpoint, and
- the concave section is configured to focus a plurality of beams of light passing through the aperture onto a focal point.
A method comprising:
- defining a geometric configuration of a field of primary reflectors and the optics of the field, such that the field can receive and reflect a light;
- defining a width of an aperture of a secondary reflector configured to receive at least a portion of the light, such that the portion passes through the aperture;
- and
- calculating a profile for a reflecting surface of the secondary reflector, wherein:
- the aperture is positioned between a first endpoint and a second endpoint of the profile,
- the secondary reflector comprises the aperture, and
- the profile resulting from the calculating, results in the reflecting surface maximizing the portion reflected off of the reflecting surface and directed to a focal point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.