Refracting solar energy concentrator and thin flexible Fresnel lens
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorRoger H. Appeldorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar energy concentrator including a thin flexible Fresnel lens for focusing incident solar radiation not normal to the lens onto a target area by refraction. The Fresnel lens is supported or suspended above the target area by a frame and folded along at least one line or region parallel to the refractive prisms of the lens which are generally parallel to the axis of the target area whereby the Fresnel lens opens toward the target area. Thus the Fresnel lens is so positioned so as to allow it to bow and flex under wind loads, gravity and other environmental factors without causing significant deterioration in the efficiency of the system.
Claims5
A solar energy concentrator comprising:
- a target area;
- lens means including a sheet of thin flexible transparent polymeric film having a first surface and a second surface, and having a plurality of lenticular light refracting prisms forming said second surface for refracting incident solar radiation striking said lens means at an acute angle to said lens means;
- support means for supporting said lens means above said target area and said lens means being mounted upon said support means to open toward said target area whereby said lens means is folded at at least one line parallel to said lenticular light refracting prisms to define at least two sections, and said light refracting prisms being defined for focusing said incident solar radiation onto said target area whereby the efficiency of the concentrator is not materially affected by image deterioration at said target area due to bowing of said sections of said lens means during use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.