Optical element for heat collection
OwnerDonald Bennett Hilliardinventor
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Abstract
The disclosed invention relates to an optical element preferably utilized for concentrating solar heat radiation, and more particularly, high-concentration, reflective concentrators that are constructed from discrete conical concentrators utilizing flexible high-reflectance layers that are produced by roll-to-roll manufacturing. In its first preferred embodiment, the disclosed optical element preferably comprises a quasi-parabolic, multi-frustum, concentration optic.
Claims3
A radiation-concentrating optical element having a conical aspect, comprising:
- a.) a first frustum-shaped conical structure;
- b.) a second frustum-shaped conical structure disposed in concentric relation to the first structure;
- and,
- c.) corrugated layers disposed in a space defined between the first structure and second structure, such that the corrugated layers form a radial symmetry.
A heat-concentrating optical element, comprising:
- a.) at least two frustum-shaped concentration structures possessing separate angles of conical aspect, wherein at least one of the frustum shaped concentration structures comprises a hollow-core structure, the hollow-core structure comprising corrugated layers disposed in a space defined between two conical layers, such that the corrugated layers form a radial symmetry having a repeating angular period;
- and,
- b.) means for securing the two concentration structures in a mutually concentric orientation
A process for forming a conical structure, comprising the steps:
- a.) pre-patterning a layer stock material so as to form an array of cuts;
- b.) corrugating the layer material;
- c.) forming a cylindrical preform comprising layers of the layer material;
- and,
- d.) separating the preform into a plurality of conical structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.