Nontracking parabolic solar energy collector apparatus
AssigneeAdvanced Solar Systems
InventorsMichael Gill, Mark C. Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mirror collector having a generally parabolic surface terminating near the vertex in a circular or cylindrical curve, an evacuated cylindrical heat entrapment tube composed of a clear glass for energy admission and an elongated, U-shaped heat collector tube centrally located in the heat entrapment tube for passing an inner fluid to be heated. The U-shaped tube is constructed of copper with a selective absorption coating for receiving heat and positioned so that the mirror collector concentrates substantially all incoming energy upon the central heat collector tube for providing a concentration factor of about four (4).
Claims8
A solar energy collection apparatus comprising:
- a support;
- at least one trough in the support, said at least one trough having an internal reflective surface comprising two oppositely disposed truncated parabolic sections rotated away from its vertical axis to create a wide angle of acceptance opening, and a reflective circular face joining the ends of said two parabolic sections which are opposite said acceptance opening, said reflective surface being molded with said support, said internal reflective surface having a focal line to which said internal reflective surface reflects incident solar energy;
- a heat entrapment tube formed of glass which is vacuum sealed and nested in said at least one trough and extending substantially along the focal line of said reflective surface such that a portion of the trough engages the heat entrapment tube therein which permits thermal expansion of said collector cylinder;
- and
- a U-shaped metallic tube mounted within said heat entrapment tube for conducting a heat absorption material therethrough for collecting heat from incident solar energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.