Solar energy collector and concentrator
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsAden B. Meinel, Walter B. Meinel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Modular structures for the collection, concentration and conversion of solar energy to another usable form such as electrical energy. The structures feature three conic section reflective surfaces, two of which focus in front of a receiver element and off the axis of the structure. The third reflective surface is utilized to redirect that energy which would otherwise miss the receiver element to improve overall efficiency.
Claims33
An apparatus for collecting energy from a remote electromagnetic radiation source, the apparatus having a cross section generally symmetrical about an axis, a cross section of the apparatus comprising in combination:
- first reflective means for collecting and reflecting the energy from the remote source, said first reflective means being concave and having a shape generally of a conic section, said first conic section shape having an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the apparatus, said first reflective means having an aperture around said apparatus axis;
- second reflective means spaced from said first reflective means for collecting said energy reflected from said first reflective means and for further reflecting the energy through said aperture in said first reflective means, that portion of said second reflective means lying on one side of the axis of the apparatus and facing said first reflective means being convex and having a shape generally of a conic section, said second conic section shape having an axis being angularly displaced from the axis of the apparatus;
- and
- receiving means for absorbing said further reflected energy, a nominal ray crossover point of said further reflected energy being between said second reflective means and said receiving means, said receiving means being positioned to receive said further reflected energy through said aperture in said first reflective means, said further reflected energy being thereby dispersed generally over said receiving means.
An apparatus for collecting energy from a remote electromagnetic radiation source, the apparatus having a cross section generally symmetrically about an axis, a cross section of the apparatus comprising in combination:
- first reflective means for collecting and reflecting the energy from the remote source, said first reflective means being concave and having a shape generally of a conic section, said first conic section shape having an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the apparatus, said first reflective means having an aperture around said apparatus axis;
- second reflective means spaced from said first reflective means for collecting said energy reflected from said first reflective means and for further reflecting the energy through said aperture in said first reflective means, that portion of said second reflective means lying on one side of the axis of the apparatus and facing said first reflective means being convex and having a shape generally of a conic section, said second conic section shape having an axis being angularly displaced from the axis of the apparatus, said second reflective means having a nominal ray crossover point of said further reflected energy lying off the axis of the apparatus, and
- receiving means for absorbing said further reflected energy, said receiving means comprising a receiving surface area, said nominal ray crossover point of said further reflected energy being between said second reflective means and said receiving means, said receiving means being positioned to receive said further reflected energy through said aperture in said first reflective means, said further reflected energy being thereby dispersed generally over said receiving means.
An apparatus for collecting energy from a remote electromagnetic radiation source, the apparatus having a cross section generally symmetrical about an axis and having a right side and a left side, a cross section of the apparatus comprising in combination:
- first reflective means for collecting and reflecting the energy from the remote source, said first reflective means being concave and having a shape generally of a conic section, said first conic section shape having an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the apparatus, said first reflective means having an aperture around said apparatus axis;
- second reflective means spaced from said first reflective means for collecting said energy reflected from said first reflective means and for further reflecting the energy through said aperture in said first reflective means, that portion of said second reflective means lying on one side of the axis of the apparatus and facing said first reflective means being convex and having a shape generally of a conic section, said second conic section shape having an axis being angularly displaced from the axis of the apparatus;
- and
- receiving means for absorbing said further reflected energy, said receiving means comprising a receiving surface area, a nominal ray crossover point of said further reflected energy being between said second reflective means and said receiving means, said receiving means being positioned to receive said further reflected energy through said aperture in said first reflective means, said further reflected energy being derived from the energy of the remote source impinging of the right side of the apparatus being thereby dispersed generally over a left side of said receiving means, and said further reflected energy being derived from the energy of the remote source impinging of the left side of the apparatus being thereby dispersed generally over a right side of said receiving means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.