US 4,223,174 AGranted

Sun-tracking solar energy conversion system

AssigneeSun Trac Corporation

InventorDouglas E. Moeller

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Abstract

A number of solar energy converter assemblies are carried by a support frame which is mounted for independent rotation about a horizontal and a vertical axis. Sensors detect the position of the sun; and control circuitry positions the support frame in elevation and azimuth so that the converter assemblies track and face the sun whenever the sun incident energy is greater than a threshold level of about 25 percent of normal. Each converter assembly includes a solar cell and a multiangular conical concentrator shell for collecting, concentrating and directing incident solar energy onto the solar cell. The converter assemblies, the support frame and its mount, and the drive mechanism for the support frame are all located within a transparent stationary housing or enclosure, which provides complete environmental protection for all elements mounted within the enclosure.

Claims9

Dependent claims

Apparatus comprising a frame;

a plurality of solar energy converter means mounted on said frame to form a solar panel for converting solar energy to another form of energy each of said solar energy converter means including a photovoltaic cell, heat exchanger means in heat transfer communication with said cell, and an energy concentrator having a collection window and an outlet aperture adjacent said cell, said concentrator having a gain of at least 6 to 1 and an interior reflective surface;
a biangular conical shell having a first frustoconical wall extending from said cell to an intermediate location and defining a first angle relative to the boresight of said concentrator and a second frustoconical wall extending from said intermediate position to said collection window and defining a second angle relative to said boresight, said second angle being smaller than said first angle;
support means for mounting said frame and said solar panel for independent motion about first and second axes;
drive means for independently positioning said frame and said solar panel relative to said support means about said axes;
control circuit means including sun sensor means for energizing said drive means to position said solar panel to face the sun;
housing means of a material permitting transmission of solar energy substantially throughout its entire surface area and enclosing said solar panel, support means and drive means;
and base means attached to said housing for rigidly supporting the same, whereby incident wind forces are transmitted from said housing directly to said base and not to said panel and support means.

4 more elements

In combination with a solar panel comprising a plurality of solar cell conversion means rigidly secured together, and reversible drive means for rotating said panel about a predetermined axis;

sun tracking circuit means comprising:
reference sensor means responsive to solar energy for generating a reference signal in response to incident solar energy;
opaque wall means extending in a plane parallel to said axis;
first and second detecting sensor means, one on each side of said wall means for generating respectively second and third signals representative of incident solar radiation;
first circuit means responsive to said reference signal and said second signal for energizing said drive means in one direction to rotate said panel about said axis toward the sun when the sun in on one side of said wall means;
and second circuit means responsive to said reference signal and said third signal for energizing said drive means in a second direction to rotate said panel about said axis toward the sun when the sun is on the other side of said wall means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.