Lightweight, low-cost heliostat mirror for concentrating solar power

• US 10,642,011 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• 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:
  US16/048,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20190041618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 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 panel, comprising:

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 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.

2. The heliostat panel of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a second metal sheet.

3. The heliostat panel of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface is a surface of the metal sheet.

4. The heliostat panel of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface comprises a film on the metal sheet.

5. The heliostat panel of claim 4, wherein the film comprises a thin polymeric material coated on an outer surface of the metal sheet with a thin layer of reflective material comprising metal.

6. A heliostat comprising:

a support structure comprising a primary support having a first direction and a plurality of secondary supports having a second direction different from the first direction, the primary support configured to slideably engage the panel of claim 1.

7. The heliostat of claim 6, wherein the plurality of second supports comprises a plurality of rails, adjacent rails configured to support the panel of claim 1 therebetween.

8. The heliostat of claim 7, wherein the plurality of secondary supports comprises a plurality of rails, adjacent rails configured to support the panel of claim 1 therebetween.

9. The heliostat of claim 6, wherein the support structure comprises removable struts such that the support structure may be collapsed and expanded.

10. The heliostat of claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises a cable.

11. A heliostat comprising, at least three panels including a first wing panel, a second wing panel, and a centerpiece panel, wherein each of the at least three panels comprise separate panels each having:

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 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.

12. The heliostat of claim 11, wherein the first wing panel is a mirror opposite of the second wing panel and is on an opposing side of the centerpiece panel from the second wing panel.

13. The heliostat of claim 12, wherein the centerpiece panel is shaped to impose a desired orientation of the first wing panel and the second wing panel relative to the centerpiece panel.

14. The heliostat of claim 13, wherein a width of the centerpiece panel is tapered such that when adjacent edges of the first wing panel and the second wing panel rest against edges of the centerpiece panel, a front face of the first wing panel and second wing panel is angled greater than 0 degrees relative to a front face of the centerpiece panel.