Rapid defocusing system for electromagnetic radiation reflective concentrator

A reflector assembly comprising:

• a hollow housing having a top opening;
• a flexible, elastic reflective membrane;
• coupling means for coupling said membrane over said top opening in a gas-tight manner;
• evacuation means, coupled to said housing, for creating a partial vacuum in said housing and causing said membrane to deflect into said housing to a focused position from an unfocused position;
• and
• inflation means, coupled to said housing, for rapidly restoring pressure in said housing and causing said membrane to move from said focused position to said unfocused position, said inflation means including a tank, and compressed fluid held within said tank.

A reflector assembly for concentrating energy toward a target, the combination comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of reflectors coupled to said frame;
• a target spaced from said plurality of reflectors;
• evacuation means, coupled to each of said reflectors, for concentrating energy reflected from said reflectors toward said target;
• and
• inflation means, coupled to each of said reflectors, for rapidly deconcentrating energy reflected from said reflectors toward said target, said inflation means including compressed fluid means for rapidly supplying a fluid with a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to said reflectors.

A reflector assembly for concentrating energy toward a target, the combination comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of reflectors coupled to said frame;
• a target spaced from said plurality of reflectors;
• evacuation means, coupled to each of said reflectors, for concentrating energy reflected from said reflectors toward said target, said evacuation means comprises a vacuum source;
• inflation means, coupled to each of said reflectors, for rapidly deconcentrating energy reflected from said reflectors toward said target, said inflation means comprises a compressed fluid source;
• distribution means having fluid lines coupled between said plurality of reflectors and said vacuum source and said compressed fluid source;
• and
• valve means, coupled to said distribution means, for selectively restricting flow of fluid from said vacuum source and said compressed fluid source;
• whereby said inflation means causes each of said reflectors to deconcentrate energy reflected from said reflectors to said target in substantially less than 45 minutes.

A method of rapidly defocusing a solar concentrator using an elastic reflective membrane, comprising the steps of:

• storing a fluid under compression;
• creating a partial vacuum adjacent the elastic reflective membrane to deflect the membrane into a concave focused configuration;
• and
• conveying the fluid stored under compression into contact with the membrane to eliminate the concave focused configuration of the membrane.

A method of rapidly defocusing a solar concentrator using an elastic reflective membrane, comprising the steps of

• storing a fluid under compression;
• creating a partial vacuum adjacent the elastic reflective membrane to deflect the membrane into a concave focused configuration;
• and
• discontinuing creation of the partial vacuum adjacent the elastic reflective membrane and conveying the fluid stored under compression into contact with the membranes to eliminate the concave focused configuration of the membrane.