Compound parabolic radiant concentrator
OwnerWill John Templeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a device (1) for the use of concentrating radiant energy onto a receiver (2). The device comprises a first concentrator (5) that is filled with a transmissible material for the use of increasing the acceptance angle of the concentrator and concentrating the radiant energy onto a bifacial receiver (2). Embodiments also comprise a second concentrator (4) that directs the concentrated radiant energy to both sides of the bifacial receiver, whereby the second concentrator enables the device to use a substantially smaller receiver. In some embodiments, the receivers comprise photovoltaic (PV) cells.
Claims15
A concentrator device for concentrating radiant energy onto at least one receiver;
- the device comprising a first concentrator, wherein the first concentrator comprises an aperture and a cross-section, wherein the cross-section comprises a plurality of walls that are substantially parabolic shaped, and wherein the first concentrator is filled with a transmissible material with an index of refraction of 1.2 or higher, wherein the transmissible material increases an acceptance angle of the concentrator device, wherein each receiver comprises a plurality of sides and is bifacial, wherein the receiver receives radiant energy concentrated by the first concentrator on both sides.
A method of transferring energy radiantly to a receiver from a source;
- the method comprising:
- a. refracting radiant energy as it passes from a source through an aperture of a radiant concentrator;
- b. concentrating radiant energy from a source;
- c. directing the concentrated radiant energy to a plurality of sides of a bifacial receiver;
- d. absorbing radiant energy at the receiver;
- wherein one of the bifacial sides of the receiver comprises a total area less than one third of the area of the aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.