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US 6,528,716 B2Granted
Solar concentrator
AssigneeUniversite De Liege
InventorsJean-Paul Collette, Jean-Marc Defise, Serge Habraken
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AssigneeUniversite De Liege
InventorsJean-Paul Collette, Jean-Marc Defise, Serge Habraken
Estimating the term…
A space solar concentrator based on light-weight reflectors (3) attached to a honeycomb panel (1) is described. The integration of the reflectors (3) allows for a high modularity. Solar panel deployment is not perturbed by the reflectors (3) even with two-dimensional deployment concept. Each reflector (3) consists in small saw tooth aligned as rows (2) with solar cell rows in between. Low concentration is achieved with a high level of thermal control and a high optical efficiency. When small off-pointing occurs, the solar flux distribution is still the same on each cells. It guarantees a good electrical control and management on the whole panel. The reflectors (3) are preferably made of a thin film tight on a light-weight rigid frame deployed after launch. In another embodiment, the reflector is not deployable and is part of the panel substrate. A stowed configuration allows for superimposition of the solar panel. High reflectivity of the reflectors results from the use of vacuum deposited aluminum or preferentially over-protected silver.
A solar concentrator comprising rows of solar cells alternating with reflectors having two planar or bent sides extending as a hollow wedge along said rows, at least one honeycomb panel having a front face sheet on which the reflectors and rows of solar cells are mounted, a rear face sheet, and a honeycomb array of cells sandwiched therebetween, characterized in that the honeycomb array of cells are black coated.
A solar concentrator comprising rows of solar cells alternating with reflectors having two planar or bent sides extending as a hollow wedge along said rows, at least one honeycomb panel having a front face sheet on which the reflectors and rows of solar cells are mounted, a rear face sheet and a honeycomb array of cells sandwiched therebetween, characterized in that, on at least part of the surface of said honeycomb panel, the honeycomb cells have an open end on the rear face sheet.
A solar concentrator comprising rows of solar cells alternating with reflectors having two planar or bent sides extending as a hollow wedge along said rows, at least one honeycomb panel having a front face sheet on which the reflectors and rows of solar cells are mounted, a rear face sheet, and a honeycomb array of cells sandwiched therebetween, characterized in that the solar concentrator has a geometric concentration between 1.4/1 and 2/1.
A solar concentrator comprising rows of solar cells alternating with reflectors having two planar or bent sides extending as a hollow wedge along said rows, at least one honeycomb panel having a front face sheet on which the reflectors and rows of solar cells are mounted, a rear face sheet, and a honeycomb array of cells sandwiched therebetween, characterized in that at least some of the reflectors are made of a film reinforced with a frame on at least one of their sides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.