Conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or heat energy
AssigneeEdtek, Inc.
InventorsWilliam E. Horne, Mark D. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parabolic primary mirror (10) has a concave specular surface (12) that is constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point. A secondary mirror (14) having a convex specular surface (16) is constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver (18). The annular receiver (18) may include an annular array of optical elements (100) constructed to receive solar energy from the secondary specular surface (14) and focus it onto a ring of discrete areas. A ring of solar-to-electrical conversion units are positioned on the ring of discrete areas.
Claims20
A solar energy collection apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a primary mirror supported by the frame, said primary mirror having a concave mirror surface constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point;
- and
- a secondary mirror supported by the frame, said secondary mirror having a convex mirror surface constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and shapes the solar energy from the secondary mirror into an annular ring and focuses it onto an annular receiver, said annular receiver being supported by the frame.
A solar energy apparatus, comprising:
- a convergent reflector configured to reflect incident radiation towards a focal point;
- a divergent reflector positioned proximate the focal point of the convergent reflector and configured to receive and reflect at least a portion of the reflected incident radiation to define a second reflected radiation, wherein the second reflected radiation has been shaped into an annular ring;
- and
- a annular receiver positioned between the convergent reflector and the focal point, configured to receive the second reflected radiation, wherein the convergent reflector, the divergent reflector and the receiver are coupled by a supporting frame.
A solar energy apparatus, comprising:
- an axisymmetric convergent surface having a principal axis and configured to reflect received incident energy to define a first reflected energy;
- a divergent surface that is axisymmetric about the principal axis and spaced apart from the axisymmetric convergent surface and configured to receive at least a portion of the first reflected energy and to direct the received portion of the first reflected energy towards the axisymmetric convergent surface to define a second reflected energy wherein the second reflected energy has been shaped into an annular ring;
- and
- a annular receiver positioned on the principal axis and between the convergent surface and the divergent surface that is configured to receive at least a portion of the second reflected energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.