# US 9,039,212 B2 · Solar concentrator systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,212 B2 - Document ID: US9039212B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/153,605 - Filed: 2011-06-06 - Published: 2011-09-29 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-12 - Assignees: Heliofocus Ltd. - Applicants: Yanir Blumenthal; Oren Gadot - Inventors: Yanir Blumenthal; Oren Gadot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039212B2 ## CPC - F24S 23/80: {having discontinuous faces} - F24S 23/71: with parabolic reflective surfaces (with cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces F24S23/74) - F24S 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors - F24S 30/452: Vertical primary axis - F24S 50/20: for tracking - F24S 25/13: Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses (F24S25/12 takes precedence) - F24S 2023/872: {Assemblies of spaced reflective elements on common support, e.g. Fresnel reflectors} - F24S 2023/878: {Assemblies of spaced reflective elements in the form of grids, e.g. vertical or inclined reflective elements extending over heat absorbing elements} - F24S 2030/136: {for moving several solar collectors by common transmission elements} - F24S 2050/25: {Calibration means; Methods for initial positioning of solar concentrators or solar receivers} - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A solar concentrating system including a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, the concentrator including a support structure, and an array of concentrating reflectors mounted on the support structure, wherein at least one of the reflectors is formed with a reflective surface facing the Sun and configured as a concave surface such that the incident sunlight impinging on the reflective surface is reflected on to the focal location, the array of concentrating reflectors being mounted on the support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement thus defining the concentrator as a Fresnel reflector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar concentrating system, comprising: a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, said concentrator comprising: a support structure having a generally flat upper surface; and an array of a plurality of discrete concentrating reflectors mounted at said generally flat upper surface of said support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement defining said concentrator as a Fresnel reflector, at least one of said discrete concentrating reflectors comprises a reflective surface facing the Sun, and said reflective surface being configured as a concave surface curved along two axes of said at least one discrete concentrating reflector, such that said incident sunlight impinging on said reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said concave surface is configured as a portion of a paraboloid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said support structure is configured as a space structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said concentrator is mounted on a base structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises protrusions provided on said generally flat upper surface of said support structure, said protrusions are formed with a Fresnel angular dislocation so as to allow said least one discrete concentrating reflector to be mounted on said generally flat upper surface of said support structure in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation of said protrusions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, wherein said support structure further comprises at least one reflector support mounted on at least one respective protrusion, and said least one discrete concentrating reflector is mounted on said at least one reflector support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein said at least one reflector support comprises aligning screws operative to support said at least one discrete concentrating reflector thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein said aligning screws are aligned in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein alignment of said aligning screws is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein said prism reflector is mounted on a jig. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein said jig is mounted on said reflector support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A method for arranging a solar concentrating system in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement, comprising: providing a solar concentrating system according to claim 9; measuring an angular inaccuracy of said Fresnel angular dislocation on said aligning screws; and rotating said aligning screws to correct said Fresnel angular dislocation, thereby arranging a solar concentrating system in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein said measuring is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector, said reflector prism mounted on a jig and engaged with said aligning screws via said jig mounted on said reflector support comprising said aligning screws. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the plurality of discrete concentrating reflectors each comprise a reflective surface facing the Sun, each reflective surface being configured as a concave surface curved along two axes of each discrete concentrating reflector, such that said incident sunlight impinging on said each reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of reflector supports each comprising aligning screws, each reflector support is mounted on a respective protrusion, and each discrete concentrating reflector is mounted on a respective reflector support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a base structure for mounting said support structure thereon, said base structure being placed on a flat surface, said base structure comprising a rotatable portion operative to rotate about a longitudinal axis perpendicular to said flat surface upon a stationary annular portion, thereby allowing said concentrator to track the Sun. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein each discrete concentrating reflector of the plurality of discrete concentrating reflectors, comprises a reflective surface facing the Sun, each reflective surface being configured as a concave surface curved along two axes of each discrete concentrating reflector, such that said incident sunlight impinging on said each reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location. ### Claim 18 A solar concentrating system, comprising: an array of a plurality of discrete concentrating reflectors mounted on a support structure, said reflectors being operative to reflect incident sunlight impinging thereon onto a predetermined focal location; and a dislocation functionality engaged with at least one of said discrete concentrating reflectors configured for tilting said at least one discrete concentrating reflector so as to reflect incident sunlight impinging thereon onto a location other than said predetermined focal location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein said dislocation functionality comprises a piston. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein a portion of said plurality of discrete concentrating reflectors are each tilted to reflect incident sunlight impinging thereon onto a location other than said predetermined focal location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The solar concentrating system of claim 18, wherein said at least one discrete concentrating reflector comprises a reflective surface configured as a concave surface curved along two axes of said at least one discrete concentrating reflector. ### Claim 22 A solar concentrating system, comprising: a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, said concentrator comprising: a support structure; and an array of concentrating reflectors mounted on said support structure, wherein at least one of said reflectors is formed with a reflective surface facing the Sun and configured as a concave surface such that said incident sunlight impinging on said reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location, said array of concentrating reflectors being mounted on said support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement thus defining said concentrator as a Fresnel reflector, wherein said support structure is formed with protrusions on an upper surface thereof wherein said protrusions are formed with a Fresnel angular dislocation so as to allow said least one of said reflectors to be mounted on said support structure in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation of said protrusions, wherein a reflector support is mounted on said protrusions and said least one of said reflectors is mounted on said reflector support, wherein said reflector support comprises aligning screws operative to support said least one of said reflectors thereon, wherein said aligning screws are aligned in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation, and wherein alignment of said aligning screws is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system according to claim 22, wherein said prism reflector is mounted on a jig. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system according to claim 23, wherein said jig is mounted on said reflector support. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The system according to claim 22, wherein a portion of the plurality of discrete concentrating reflectors each comprise a reflective surface facing the Sun, said each reflective surface being configured as a concave surface curved along two axes of each discrete concentrating reflector, such that said incident sunlight impinging on said each reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system according to claim 25, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of reflector supports each comprising aligning screws, each reflector support is mounted on a respective protrusion, and each discrete concentrating reflector is mounted on a respective reflector support. ### Claim 27 A method for arranging a solar concentrating system in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement, comprising: providing a solar concentrating system comprising: a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, said concentrator comprising: a support structure; and an array of concentrating reflectors mounted on said support structure, wherein at least one of said reflectors is formed with a reflective surface facing the Sun and configured as a concave surface such that said incident sunlight impinging on said reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location, said array of concentrating reflectors being mounted on said support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement thus defining said concentrator as a Fresnel reflector, wherein said support structure is formed with protrusions on an upper surface thereof wherein said protrusions are formed with a Fresnel angular dislocation so as to allow said least one of said reflectors to be mounted on said support structure in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation of said protrusions, wherein a reflector support is mounted on said protrusions and said least one of said reflectors is mounted on said reflector support, wherein said reflector support comprises aligning screws operative to support said least one of said reflectors thereon, wherein said aligning screws are aligned in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation, and wherein alignment of said aligning screws is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector; measuring an angular inaccuracy of said Fresnel angular dislocation on said aligning screws; and rotating said aligning screws to correct said Fresnel angular dislocation, thereby arranging a solar concentrating system in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement, wherein said measuring is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector, said reflector prism mounted on a jig and engaged with said aligning screws via said jig mounted on said reflector support comprising said aligning screws.