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US 9,958,185 B2Granted
Solar thermal concentrator and method of forming same
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsRoland Winston, Lun Jiang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A concentrator tube comprises a reflector portion having two walls; and an aperture closing an opening to the reflector portion. The aperture and the reflector portion extend longitudinally. The aperture is substantially flat relative to curvature of the reflector portion.
Claims37
A concentrator tube extending from a distal end to a proximal end comprising:
- a trough shaped reflector portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end and defining an upper opening, the reflector portion configured to concentrate light from a source onto an absorber;
- a light transmissive aperture member closing the upper opening of the trough shaped reflector portion, wherein the reflector portion and the aperture member are formed by rolling a mandrel on an outside surface of a softened glass tube;
- and
- the absorber located within the tube;
- wherein the reflector portion is configured such that substantially any radiation energy emitted from the absorber onto the reflector portion is either directed to the source or directed back to the absorber;
- and
- wherein each end of the tube is sealed.
4 more elements
A method of forming a concentrator tube extending from a distal end to a proximal end, comprising:
- forming a trough shaped reflector portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end and defining an upper opening, the reflector portion configured to concentrate light from a source onto an absorber;
- forming a light transmissive aperture member closing the upper opening of the trough shaped reflector portion, wherein the reflector portion and the aperture member are formed by rolling a mandrel on an outside surface of a softened glass tube;
- and
- positioning the absorber located within the tube;
- wherein the reflector portion is configured such that substantially any radiation energy emitted from the absorber onto the reflector portion is either directed to the source or directed back to the absorber.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving light from a source through a light transmissive aperture member of a concentrator tube extending from a distal end to a proximal end;
- reflecting and concentrating at least a portion of the light to an absorber of the concentrator tube by a trough shaped reflector portion of the concentrator tube, wherein the reflector portion extends between the proximal end and the distal end, the reflector portion defines an upper opening that is closed by the light transmissive aperture member, and the reflector portion has a cross section of a compound parabolic shape, and wherein the trough shaped reflector portion and the light transmissive aperture member are formed by rolling a mandrel on an outside surface of a softened glass tube;
- and
- absorbing the light by the absorber located in the tube, wherein the reflector portion is configured such that substantially any radiation energy emitted from the absorber onto the reflector portion is either directed to the source or directed back to the absorber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.