Solar concentrator system
AssigneeSolar Age Technologies
InventorDavid Borton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar energy concentrator system includes a supporting structure and a plurality of solar modules coupled to the supporting structure. Each module of the plurality of solar modules includes a plurality of Fresnel reflectors. The plurality of reflectors is arranged to focus solar radiation linearly onto a photovoltaic cell providing two axis concentration. The supporting structure is rotatably connected to a plurality of support members and aligned to allow the supporting structure to rotate about a polar axis. A plurality of optical trusses is connected to the plurality of solar modules and rotatably connected to the supporting structure to allow the plurality of solar modules to be rotated about a declination axis to track a motion of the sun through seasons of the year.
Claims19
A solar energy concentrator system comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a plurality of solar modules coupled to said supporting structure, each module of said plurality of solar modules comprising a plurality of Fresnel reflectors and a photovoltaic cell;
- said plurality of reflectors of each module arranged to focus solar radiation linearly onto said photovoltaic cell of each module;
- said supporting structure rotatably connected to a plurality of support members and aligned to allow said supporting structure to rotate about a polar axis;
- and
- a plurality of optical trusses connected to said plurality of solar modules and rotatably connected to said supporting structure to allow said plurality of solar modules to be rotated about a declination axis to track a motion of the sun through seasons of the year.
A method for concentrating solar energy to generate electricity comprising:
- providing a plurality of solar modules coupled to a supporting structure, each module of the plurality of the modules comprising a plurality of Fresnel reflectors and a photovoltaic cell;
- arranging the plurality of reflectors to focus solar radiation linearly onto the photovoltaic cell;
- rotatably connecting the supporting structure to a plurality of support members and aligning the supporting structure to allow the supporting structure to rotate about a polar axis;
- and
- connecting a plurality of optical trusses to the plurality of solar modules and rotatably connecting the plurality of optical trusses to the supporting structure to allow the plurality of solar modules to be rotated about a declination axis to track a motion of the sun through seasons of the year.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.