METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SOLAR CONCENTRATORS USING GLASS PROCESS
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a glass concentrator for a solar module, the method comprising:
- providing a glass material in a molten state;
processing the glass material in the molten state to form a ribbon glass including a first surface and a second surface;
subjecting the first surface to one or more drum members to form a plurality of concentrating structures while continuously passing the ribbon glass via the second surface over a plurality of rollers, each of the concentrating structures including an aperture region, an exit region, and one or more reflection regions, the aperture region configured to receive incoming light and the one or more reflection regions configured to concentrate the received incoming light to the exit region, the exit region being smaller in area than the aperture region; and
cutting the ribbon glass into one or more sheets of glasses, each sheet of glass including a predetermined number of the plurality of concentrating structures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a glass concentrator for a solar module. The method includes providing a glass material in a molten state and processing the glass material in the molten state to form a ribbon glass including a first surface and a second surface. Additionally, the method includes subjecting the first surface to one or more drum members to form a plurality of concentrating structures while continuously passing the ribbon glass via the second surface over a plurality of rollers. Each of the concentrating structures includes an aperture region, an exit region, and one or more reflection regions. The aperture region is configured to receive incoming light and the one or more reflection regions are configured to concentrate the received incoming light to the exit region. The method further includes cutting the ribbon glass into one or more sheets of glasses including a predetermined number of the plurality of concentrating structures.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a glass concentrator for a solar module, the method comprising:
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providing a glass material in a molten state; processing the glass material in the molten state to form a ribbon glass including a first surface and a second surface; subjecting the first surface to one or more drum members to form a plurality of concentrating structures while continuously passing the ribbon glass via the second surface over a plurality of rollers, each of the concentrating structures including an aperture region, an exit region, and one or more reflection regions, the aperture region configured to receive incoming light and the one or more reflection regions configured to concentrate the received incoming light to the exit region, the exit region being smaller in area than the aperture region; and cutting the ribbon glass into one or more sheets of glasses, each sheet of glass including a predetermined number of the plurality of concentrating structures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification