Multi-element Concentrator System
First Claim
1. A system for concentrating the sunlight for energy recovery, storage, or production, said system comprising:
- an array of reflective elements;
at least two photodetectors;
a differential tracker;
a tracking and control processor;
an X-direction control processor;
a Y-direction control processor; and
a target;
wherein each of said array of reflective elements comprising;
a rigid slab;
a tilt mechanism;
wherein said tilt mechanism comprising;
an X-direction actuation mechanism;
a Y-direction actuation mechanism;
wherein said two photodetectors are located at a distance from each other;
wherein said target converts sunlight to other forms of energy;
wherein said rigid slab comprising a conductive material that has a reflective top surface;
wherein said tilt mechanism tilts said rigid slab;
wherein said two photodetectors are connected to said differential tracker;
wherein said differential tracker generates a differential signal or adjustment signal related to or proportional to the signals from said two photodetectors;
wherein said differential signal is fed to said differential tracking and control processor;
wherein said differential tracker generates an X-signal and a Y-signal that is fed to said X-direction control processor and said Y-direction control processor, respectively;
wherein said X-direction control processor generates −
X and +X signals;
wherein said Y-direction control processor generates −
Y and +Y signals;
wherein said −
X and +X signals are fed to said X-direction actuation mechanism;
wherein said −
Y and +Y signals are fed to said Y-direction actuation mechanism; and
wherein said rigid slab is tilted by said X-direction actuation mechanism and said Y-direction actuation mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel concentrator system is described, which increases the efficiency of collecting sunlight energy and concentrates it on a target. This method uses an array of small movable reflective or refractive concentrator components that can move via a feedback mechanism which tracks the sun and concentrates the suns energy on to a second array of energy converting elements. In order to improve the effective collected energy, the array of concentrator elements is placed on a moving or tiltable flat slab (or dish, substrate, plane, plate, holder, tablet, or similar flat or non-flat surface) that tracks the sun. An alternative method uses an array of target elements or linear elements and a second array of concentrator elements in harmony such that and suns energy is efficiently redistributed by the reflective/reactive array on to the energy converting array as the sun'"'"'s position in the sky (elevation and azimuth) changes. The elements of the reflective/refractive array are tilted by novel actuation mechanisms describe herein.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A system for concentrating the sunlight for energy recovery, storage, or production, said system comprising:
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an array of reflective elements; at least two photodetectors; a differential tracker; a tracking and control processor; an X-direction control processor; a Y-direction control processor; and a target; wherein each of said array of reflective elements comprising; a rigid slab; a tilt mechanism; wherein said tilt mechanism comprising; an X-direction actuation mechanism; a Y-direction actuation mechanism; wherein said two photodetectors are located at a distance from each other; wherein said target converts sunlight to other forms of energy; wherein said rigid slab comprising a conductive material that has a reflective top surface; wherein said tilt mechanism tilts said rigid slab; wherein said two photodetectors are connected to said differential tracker; wherein said differential tracker generates a differential signal or adjustment signal related to or proportional to the signals from said two photodetectors; wherein said differential signal is fed to said differential tracking and control processor; wherein said differential tracker generates an X-signal and a Y-signal that is fed to said X-direction control processor and said Y-direction control processor, respectively; wherein said X-direction control processor generates −
X and +X signals;wherein said Y-direction control processor generates −
Y and +Y signals;wherein said −
X and +X signals are fed to said X-direction actuation mechanism;wherein said −
Y and +Y signals are fed to said Y-direction actuation mechanism; andwherein said rigid slab is tilted by said X-direction actuation mechanism and said Y-direction actuation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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21. A system for concentrating the sunlight for energy recovery, storage, or production, said system comprising:
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an array of refractive elements; at least two photodetectors; a differential tracker; a tracking and control processor; an X-direction control processor; and a Y-direction control processor; a target; wherein each of said array of refractive elements comprising; a rigid slab; a tilt mechanism; wherein said rigid slab has a hole that holds the refractive element in the middle; wherein said tilt mechanism comprising; an X-direction actuation mechanism; a Y-direction actuation mechanism; wherein said at least two photodetectors are located at a distance from each other; wherein said target converts sunlight to other forms of energy; wherein said tilt mechanism tilts said rigid slab; wherein said two photodetectors are connected to said differential tracker; wherein said differential tracker generates a differential signal proportional to or related to the difference of the angle of sun rays to said two photodetectors, or to the relative position of said two photodetectors; wherein said differential signal is fed to said differential tracking and control processor; wherein said differential tracker generates an X-signal and a Y-signal that is fed to said X-direction control processor and said Y-direction control processor, respectively; wherein said X-direction control processor generates −
X and +X signals;wherein said Y-direction control processor generates −
Y and +Y signals;wherein said −
X and +X signals are fed to said X-direction actuation mechanism;wherein said −
Y and +Y signals are fed to said Y-direction actuation mechanism; andwherein said rigid slab is tilted by said X-direction actuation mechanism and said Y-direction actuation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification