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US 4,230,095 AGranted
Ideal light concentrators with reflector gaps
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorRoland Winston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cylindrical or trough-like radiant energy concentration and collection device is provided. The device includes an energy absorber, a glazing enveloping the absorber and a reflective wall. The ideal contour of the reflective wall is determined with reference to a virtual absorber and not the actual absorber cross section.
Claims5
A cylindrical radiant energy concentration and collection device, comprising:
- an energy absorber having an exterior surface, a glazing enveloping and spaced from said absorber, and a first reflective wall, said absorber, said glazing and said first wall being aligned parallel to an axis to form a trough-shaped structure, said wall having an ideal contour determined with respect to a virtual absorber shape, said virtual absorber shape having a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis defined by the cross sectional area of said absorber in said plane and the additional area defined by the intersection of a first and a second tangent line drawn from a first and a second point respectively along said glazing to be tangent with the exterior surface of said absorber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.