Solar collector unit and a method of providing such a solar collector unit
AssigneeAlpha-E ApS
InventorKim Nichum Lehmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The solar collector unit is adapted for reflecting light onto a receiver, and comprises a reflector element, and a support structure supporting the reflector element. The reflector element is flexible and comprises a reflective surface and a substrate having a predefined length and width. The support structure comprises a predefined number of profiles per length unit connected to the reflector element at a distance from each other to provide a predefined shape of the solar collector unit. The number of profiles per length of substrate may be varied and lies in the interval 3 to 12, preferably 4 to 10, most preferred 5 to 8 per 2000 mm of length of the substrate.
Claims3
A method of providing a solar collector unit comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate,
- providing a reflective surface on the substrate to form a reflector element,
- providing a support structure comprising a predefined number of profiles, followed by the successive steps of:
- adapting the shape of the reflector element, and
- fixing the shape of the reflector element by connecting the support structure to the reflector element;
- wherein the predefined number of profiles is selected so as to limit the deflection for a load of 20 kg to less than 25 mm when the solar collector unit is subjected to a test comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate with a length of 2000 mm and a width of 1400 mm,
- bending each longitudinal edge of the substrate 90° with a width of the height of the profile, and then a further 90° with a width of the rest of the plate, such about 30 mm,
- positioning the solar collector unit in a measuring rig by fixating one side edge and positioning a trestle having a 100 mm diameter underneath a centre of the solar collector unit,
- loading a corner of the other side edge by a variable force, and
- measuring the deflection at the opposite longitudinal edge.
A method of providing a solar collector unit comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate,
- providing a reflective surface on the substrate to form a reflector element,
- providing a support structure comprising a predefined number of profiles, followed by the successive steps of:
- adapting the shape of the reflector element, and
- fixing the shape of the reflector element by connecting the support structure to the reflector element;
- wherein the predefined number of profiles is selected so as to limit the deflection for a load of 20 kg to less than 25 mm when the solar collector unit is subjected to a test comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate with a length of 2000 mm and a width of 1400 mm,
- bending each longitudinal edge of the substrate 90° with a width of the height of the profile, and then a further 90° with a width of the rest of the plate, such about 30 mm,
- positioning the solar collector unit in a measuring rig by fixating one side edge and positioning a trestle having a 100 mm diameter underneath a centre of the solar collector unit,
- loading a corner of the other side edge by a variable force, and
- measuring the deflection at the opposite longitudinal edge;
- wherein the bending of each longitudinal edge of the substrate 90° with a width of the height of the profile is about 20 mm and the further bending of 90° with a width of the rest of the plate is about 30 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.