Heatsink for concentrating or focusing optical/electrical energy conversion systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising;
- a) an optical element having an optical axis and a focus;
b) a source of thermal energy;
c) an illuminated volume between the optical element and the focus; and
d) a heatsink thermally coupled to the source of thermal energy in a manner effective to help dissipate the thermal energy, said heatsink comprising a plurality of fins having opposed major faces that are parallel to the optical axis, wherein at least a portion of a first fin of said plurality is inside the volume and wherein at least a portion of a second fin of the plurality is outside of the volume.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to heatsink technology for helping to dissipate thermal energy generated or absorbed with respect to optical focusing and/or concentrating systems such as projectors and spotlights as well as trough or dish reflectors. More specifically, the present invention relates to heat sink technology for helping to dissipate thermal energy generated by or absorbed in the proximity of the focus of optical concentrating elements of solar concentrator modules, wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system, comprising;
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a) an optical element having an optical axis and a focus;
b) a source of thermal energy;
c) an illuminated volume between the optical element and the focus; and
d) a heatsink thermally coupled to the source of thermal energy in a manner effective to help dissipate the thermal energy, said heatsink comprising a plurality of fins having opposed major faces that are parallel to the optical axis, wherein at least a portion of a first fin of said plurality is inside the volume and wherein at least a portion of a second fin of the plurality is outside of the volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising;
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a) an optical element having an optical axis and a focus;
b) an illuminated volume between the optical element and the focus; and
c) a heat sink thermally coupled to the system, wherein at least a portion of the heatsink is positioned in said volume. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system comprising;
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a) an optical element having an optical axis and a focus;
b) an illuminated volume between the optical element and the focus; and
c) a heatsink thermally coupled to the system, wherein the heatsink comprises a fin having a major face parallel to the optical axis and having a first portion that has a perimeter that is adjacent to and follows a boundary of the illuminated volume. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A photovoltaic power system, comprising at least one articulating photovoltaic concentrator module, said module comprising:
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a) at least one photovoltaic cell;
b) an optical element that has a focus on a focal plane and that concentrates incident light onto the photovoltaic cell, wherein said optical element has an optical axis, and wherein said concentrating generates thermal energy;
c) a volume under concentrated illumination between the optical element and the photovoltaic cell; and
d) a heatsink comprising at least one heat dissipating fin that is thermally coupled to the photovoltaic cell in a manner effective to help dissipate thermal energy from the module, said fin having opposed major faces that are generally parallel to the optical axis of the optical element, and said fin having a portion that is positioned inside a volume between the focal plane and the optical element.
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30. A photovoltaic power system, comprising at least one articulating photovoltaic concentrator module, said module comprising:
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a) at least one photovoltaic cell b) an optical element that has a focus on a focal plane and that concentrates incident light onto the photovoltaic cell, wherein said optical element has an optical axis, and wherein said concentrating generates thermal energy;
c) a volume under concentrated illumination between the optical element and the photovoltaic cell; and
d) a heatsink comprising at least one heat dissipating fin that is thermally coupled to the photovoltaic cell in a manner effective to help dissipate thermal energy from the module, said fin having opposed major faces that are generally parallel to the optical axis of the optical element, and said fin having a first portion that is positioned outside the volume under concentrated illumination and has a perimeter that is adjacent to and follows a boundary of the illuminated volume and having a second portion that is positioned outside the volume under concentrated illumination and extends above the focus.
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31. A heat sink for dissipating thermal energy, comprising:
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a) a stack of spaced apart fins, said fins having major faces parallel to an axis;
b) an open volume below the stack; and
c) at least a portion of a fin positioned in the open volume and having major faces parallel to the axis. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A heat sink for dissipating thermal energy, comprising:
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a) a stack of spaced apart fins, said fins having major faces parallel to an axis;
b) an open volume below the stack; and
c) a plurality of additional fins positioned at least partially in the open volume below the stack, said additional fins having major faces parallel to the axis and extending radially from the axis, and said additional fins supporting the stack.
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Specification