Lightweight, low-cost heliostat mirror for concentrating solar power

• US 10,036,878 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Garde, Inc.
• Original Assignee: L'Garde, Inc.
• Inventors: Greschik, Gyula, Palisoc, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carruth, Jennifer D
• Application Number:
  US14/642,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20150286039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/80 Special profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/803 having a central web, e.g. I-shaped, inverted T- shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/804 U-, C- or O-shaped; Hat profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2080/013 Foams
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/77 with flat reflective plates
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/82 characterised by the material or the construction of the reflector
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/65 for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0019 having reflective surfaces only (e.g. louvre systems, systems with multiple planar reflectors)
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0042 for use with direct solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/09 Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors , e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/183 specially adapted for very large mirrors, e.g. for astronomy, or solar concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein that may be used to form a heliostat. Various reflective surfaces and support structures are described that permit lightweight construction of configurable heliostats.

Claims

1. A heliostat, comprising:

a plurality of panels defining a reflective surface, where the plurality of panels comprises;

a rigid foam creating a support structure having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and a peripheral edge between the first surface and the second surface,

a first metal sheet directly adhered to the rigid foam on the first surface,

a reflective surface rigidly adhered to the rigid foam,

and a barrier layer circumscribing the peripheral edge and extending across the rigid foam, the first metal sheet, and the reflective surface;

and

a support frame for orienting the plurality of panels in a desired configuration relative to each other.

2. The heliostat of claim 1, further comprising a second metal sheet directly adhered to the rigid foam on the second surface.

3. The heliostat of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface is directly adhered to the second metal sheet.

4. The heliostat of claim 3, further comprising a protective layer directly contacting the reflective surface.

5. The heliostat of claim 4, wherein the heliostat comprises an rms slope error of 0.15 milli-radians or less.

6. The heliostat of claim 5, wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least three panels including two wing panels and a centerpiece panel.

7. The heliostat of claim 6, wherein the wing panels are mirror opposites on opposing sides of the centerpiece panel.

8. The heliostat of claim 7, wherein the second surface of the rigid foam of the centerpiece panel defines a smaller surface area than the first surface of the rigid foam of the centerpiece panel.

9. The heliostat of claim 7, wherein the second surface of the rigid foam of each of the wing panels defines a smaller surface area than the first surface of the rigid foam of the centerpiece panel.

10. The heliostat of claim 7, wherein the support frame is configured to position an interior edge of each of the wing panels adjacent to an edge of the centerpiece panel and position an exterior edge of each of the wing panels opposite the interior edge above the reflective surface.

11. The heliostat of claim 10, wherein the support frame is configured to position the wing panels in a mirrored position about the centerpiece panel.

12. The heliostat of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is directly adhered to the second surface of the rigid foam.

13. The heliostat of claim 12, further comprising a protective layer directly contacting the reflective surface.

14. The heliostat of claim 13, wherein the heliostat comprises an rms slope error of 0.15 milli-radians or less.

15. The heliostat of claim 14, wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least three panels including two wing panels and a centerpiece panel.

16. The heliostat of claim 15, wherein the wing panels are mirror opposites on opposing sides of the centerpiece panel.

17. The heliostat of claim 16, wherein the second surface of the rigid foam of the centerpiece panel defines a smaller surface area than the first surface of the rigid foam of the centerpiece panel.

18. The heliostat of claim 16, wherein the second surface of the rigid foam of each of the wing panels defines a smaller surface area than the first surface of the rigid foam of the centerpiece panel.

19. A heliostat, comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a reflective surface, where the plurality of panels comprises;

a support structure including a lightweight rigid base support having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and a metal sheet covering at least a portion of the first surface and the second surface, and

a reflective surface directly contacting the support structure;

and

a support frame for orienting the plurality of panels in a desired configuration relative to each other, the support frame having a primary support in a first direction and a plurality of secondary supports, each of which are perpendicular to the first direction;

wherein the plurality of panels are not in direct contact with the plurality of primary supports;

wherein the plurality of secondary supports comprises a plurality of rails, wherein the plurality of rails comprises parallel rails, adjacent rails configured to support at least one panel therebetween;

wherein the plurality of rails are configured to retain a panel in two dimensions, such that a panel is permitted to slide in one direction along the rails;

wherein each rail comprises a pair of opposing flanges to define an indentation for which a portion of a panel is retained and a wedge positioned between the panel and one of the flanges of the opposing flanges such that the panel is held stationary relative to the rail by frictional engagement;

wherein two adjacent secondary supports are coupled on opposing sides of a projection of the primary support;

wherein the projection and each of the two adjacent secondary supports include an aperture aligned to couple the adjacent secondary supports by clamping the secondary supports to the primary support.