Flat plate panel solar electrical generators and methods
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel flat plate solar panels are disclosed, which, using low profile multiple axes tracking, keep the surface of each flat plate panel upon which rays of the sun are impinged essentially perpendicular to those rays enabling a higher rate of conversion to electrical energy and a long interval each day during which conversion of sunlight to electricity is accommodated. Side peripheral sunlight deflectors redirect rays of sunlight perpendicular to the face fo the flat plate panel but directly adjacent to and somewhat out of alignment with the impingement surface of the flat plate panels upon the impingement surfaces thereby concentrating a greater amount of sunlight to produce a greater quantity of electricity. A cooling system for the flat plate panels, using circulated fluid is disclosed whereby the thermal energy so obtained may be used to perform work to make the system more cost effective.
27 Citations
46 Claims
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1-31. -31. (canceled)
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32. A method of deriving electricity from sunlight via an angularly and rotationally variable low profile solar-to-electricity apparatus comprising acts characterized by:
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supporting a low profile flat plate solar panel upon several engagement locations so as to be vertically compact and disposed at a variable angle to the vertical and at a variable rotational position;
impinging sunlight upon a surface comprised of solar cells of the moving flat plate solar panel and deriving electricity therefrom; and
bi-axially tracking the flat plate solar panel automatically changing the angle to the vertical and the rotational position of the flat plate solar panel without changing the vertically compact nature of the flat plate solar panel to thereby follow the sun so that the surface is automatically kept essentially perpendicular to rays of the sun. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A solar generator comprising:
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a solar energy-to-electrical energy flat plate panel converter comprised of at least one surface comprised of solar cells angularly disposed to the vertical upon which sunlight is impinged, the converter being characterized by being low profile and mounted in flat angular relation on a vertically narrow support for biaxial displacement;
at least one optical sensor continuously monitoring the location of the sun in the sky and issuing signals representative of the instantaneous position of the sun; and
at least one control responsive to the signals from the optical sensor continuously varying the angular and rotational position of the surface of the converter to maintain perpendicularity between the rays of the sun and the solar cells without human intervention. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification