Spherical system for the concentration and extraction of solar energy

Abstract

A spherical system for the concentration and extraction of solar energy includes a boiler fitted with a heat transfer fluid such as liquid sodium and connectable to means for converting heat energy to electrical energy such as a magneto-hydrodynamic generator. The boiler is surrounded by a concentrically spaced spherical shell having a plurality of aplanatic lenses set into the shell in such manner as to receive and collect the sun's rays onto the boiler. Apparatus is provided for cleaning the exterior of the shell and lenses to facilitate the passage of radiant energy therethrough, this means being shown as comprising a pair of circular conduits supported in concentrically spaced relation to the shell upon carriages movable along a circular trackway so the conduits can rotate around the vertical axis of the shell. Nozzles are carried by and communicate with the interior of the conduit for selectively directing jets of cleaning water and drying air against the surface of the shell as the cleaning unit revolves.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.