Modular off-axis solar concentrator

A solar concentrator comprising:

• a housing consisting of a receiving wall and a reflecting wall attached to said receiving wall to define an internal volume and an opening into said internal volume, said opening having a vertical axis, wherein said receiving wall and said reflecting wall are formed from a polymeric material, and wherein said reflecting wall defines at least one parabolic optical element, said housing further including a cover connected to said receiving wall and said reflecting wall to seal said opening;
• said reflecting wall being constructed from an optically clear material and having a coating on an external surface thereof of reflective material such that sunlight entering said internal volume passes through said reflecting wall and is reflected by said coating back through said reflecting wall into said internal volume to said receiver;
• at least one receiver having a photovoltaic cell and mounted on said receiving wall, said receiver having an axis parallel with a surface normal of the photovoltaic cell, such that said axis of said receiver is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said vertical axis of said opening;
• said receiving wall having an elongated wall that supports said receiver, a first side wall extending from a first end of said elongated wall and connected to said reflecting wall, and a second side wall extending from a second end of said elongated wall and connected to said reflecting wall;
• said receiving wall and said reflecting wall defining a lip;
• and
• a cover attached to said receiving wall and said reflecting wall at said lip to seal said opening into said internal volume, thereby creating a rigid structure.

A solar concentrator comprising:

• a housing consisting of a receiving wall and a reflecting wall attached to said receiving wall to define an internal volume, and an opening into said internal volume, said opening having a vertical axis, wherein said receiving wall and said reflecting wall are formed from a polymeric material, said housing further including a cover connected to said receiving wall and said reflecting wall to seal said opening;
• at least one receiver having a photovoltaic cell mounted on said receiving wall and having an axis parallel with a surface normal of the photovoltaic cell such that said axis of said receiver is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said vertical axis of said opening;
• said receiving wall having an elongated wall that supports said receiver, a first side wall extending from a first end of said elongated wall and connected to said reflecting wall, and a second side wall extending from a second end of said elongated wall and connected to said reflecting wall;
• said receiving wall and said reflecting wall defining a lip;
• a cover attached to said receiving wall and said reflecting wall at said lip to seal said opening into said internal volume, thereby creating a rigid structure;
• and
• at least one optical element supported by said reflecting wall and aligned with said receiver, said optical element being separate from said reflecting wall, said optical element being constructed from an optically clear material and having a coating on an external surface thereof of reflective material such that sunlight entering said internal volume passes through said optical element and is reflected by said coating back through said optical element into said internal volume to said receiver.

A solar concentrator comprising:

• a housing consisting of a receiving wall, a reflecting wall having a plurality of parabolic optical elements, the reflecting wall being attached directly to the receiving wall, and first and second side walls attached directly to the reflecting wall and receiving wall to define an internal volume having an opening into the internal volume, the opening having a vertical axis;
• at least one receiver having at least one photovoltaic cell, said receiver being mounted on said receiving wall and positioned to receive solar radiation entering said housing through said opening and reflected by said receiving wall, said receiver having an axis parallel with a surface normal of the photovoltaic cell, such that said axis is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said vertical axis of said opening;
• the receiving wall including an elongated wall that supports said at least one receiver, and that includes a first end and a second end, a first side wall extending from said first end and a second side wall extending from said second end, said first side wall and said second side wall connected to said reflecting wall, said receiving wall and said reflecting wall defining a lip;
• a cover connected to said lip to seal said opening into said internal volume, thereby creating a rigid structure that ensures proper optical alignment between said receiving wall and said reflecting wall, said cover secured to said lip by a selected one of adhesives, tape, and mechanical fasteners.