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US 4,134,393 AGranted
Solar energy collection
AssigneeVirgil Stark
InventorsVirgil Stark, Alexandre Vayda, Paul Rousset
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AssigneeVirgil Stark
InventorsVirgil Stark, Alexandre Vayda, Paul Rousset
Estimating the term…
Apparatus and methods for concentrating and collecting solar energy are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, solar energy is concentrated by economical refringent lenses or lens systems including fluid lenses and/or Fresnel-type lenses. The lenses concentrate the solar energy preferably along lines in continuous linear foci or in discrete foci at an elongated collector comprising one or more fluid-carrying conduits and one or more fluids therein. In one embodiment, a plurality of photoelectric cells are located in or on the collector along the linear foci or at the discrete foci and operate at increased efficiency with heat being removed by the collector. A first fluid in the collector is heated by the concentrated solar energy and in a preferred embodiment is used to heat a second fluid contiguous to the first fluid, the first fluid having a boiling point exceeding that of the second fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the first fluid is carried in an inner conduit while the second fluid is carried by an outer conduit which encloses the inner conduit and first fluid. Thus, the two fluids can be heated to different temperatures by a single concentrating system and used for different purposes. Additionally, the invention provides for the storage of energy using two fluids of different boiling points. Also disclosed are methods and fixed and portable apparatus for distilling water containing salt or other substances by evaporation of the water and condensation of the water vapor wherein preferably the heat of condensation is recovered. The invention also provides for assemblies of individual systems to form larger systems. The present invention provides heat from solar energy at a cost competitive with heat produced from fuels.
Apparatus for collecting solar energy comprising collector means including at least two elongated conduits for passing fluids therethrough and at least two different fluids, said conduits having substantially parallel axes and being disposed so that an inner first of said conduits containing one of the different fluids therein is enclosed by an outermost conduit containing another fluid therein with the fluids in said inner and outermost conduits being in a heat exchanging relationship, said inner and outermost conduits being transparent at least in part, said apparatus further comprising elongated lens means having an axis extending substantially parallel to said axes of said conduits and being disposed to concentrate solar energy through transparent portions of said inner and outermost conduits to an elongated focus located substantially on or within and substantially along the length of said inner conduit.
An elongated collector for converting concentrated solar energy into heat energy comprising an elongated container including at least two elongated conduits for passing fluids therethrough, said conduits and container having substantially parallel axes, said container having an elongated opening having an axis substantially parallel to that of the container, said conduits being disposed so that an inner first of said conduits containing one of the different fluids therein is enclosed by an outermost conduit containing another fluid therein with the fluids in said inner and outermost conduits being in a heat exchanging relationship, said inner and outermost conduits being transparent at least in part, said container including said elongated opening and transparent portions of said inner and outermost conduits being aligned to permit passage of solar energy through said opening and transparent portions, whereby an elongated focus of concentrated solar energy may be located substantially on or within and substantially along the length of said inner conduit.
A method for collecting solar energy comprising concentrating solar energy in a narrow elongated focus and locating said focus on or within and substantially along the length of a first elongated conduit which is transparent at least in part, contains a first fluid therein and is enclosed by a second elongated circuit which is also transparent at least in part and contains a second different fluid therein, the axes of the conduits and the focus being substantially parallel, the method including the steps of placing the two fluids in a heat exchanging relationship, selectively circulating the fluids through the conduits and concentrating the solar energy through the transparent portions of the conduits to said focus.
Apparatus for collecting solar energy comprising collector means including at least two elongated conduits for passing liquids therethrough and at least two different liquids, said conduits having substantially parallel axes and being disposed so that an inner first of said conduits containing a first liquid is enclosed by an outermost conduit which is transparent at least in part and contains a second liquid therein, the liquids in said inner and outermost conduits being in a heat exchanging relationship, the apparatus further comprising elongated lens means having an axis extending substantially parallel to the axes of said conduits and being disposed to concentrate solar energy through a transparent portion of said outermost conduit to an elongated focus located substantially on and substantially along the length of said inner conduit.
An elongated collector for converting concentrated solar energy into heat energy comprising an elongated container including at least two elongated conduits for passing liquids therethrough and at least two different liquids, said conduits and container having substantially parallel axes, said container having an elongated opening having an axis substantially parallel to that of the container, said conduits being disposed so that an inner first of said conduits containing a first liquid is enclosed by an outermost conduit which is transparent at least in part and contains a second liquid therein, the liquids in said inner and outermost conduits being in a heat exchanging relationship, said container including said elongated opening and transparent portion of said outermost conduit being aligned to permit passage of solar energy through said opening and transparent portion, whereby an elongated focus of concentrated solar energy may be located substantially on and substantially along the length of said inner conduit.
A method for collecting solar energy comprising concentrating solar energy in a narrow elongated focus and locating the focus on and substantially along the length of a first elongated conduit containing a first liquid therein enclosed by a second elongated conduit which is transparent at least in part and contains a second different liquid therein, the axes of the conduits and the focus being substantially parallel, the method including the steps of placing the liquids in a heat exchanging relationship, selectively circulating the liquids through the conduits and concentrating the solar energy through a transparent portion of the second conduit to said focus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.