SOLAR COLLECTORS HAVING SLIDABLY REMOVABLE REFLECTIVE PANELS FOR USE IN SOLAR THERMAL APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. A guide rail for directing and retaining a slidably removable reflective sheet in a solar concentrator, and for maintaining a slidably removable reflective sheet in a shape prescribed by the shape of the guide rail, the guide rail comprising a rail body, wherein the rail body has a longitudinal axis and comprises a first longitudinal channel having a retaining shape for retaining a longitudinal edge of one or more slidably removable reflective sheets.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided herein are solar collectors having reflective sheets which are slidably insertable and/or removable for quick installation, construction, removal, repair, and/or replacement. Also provided are solar collectors having reflective sheets under tension. Further provided are methods for constructing solar collectors. In another aspect, provided herein are guide rails for guiding and/or retaining slidably removable reflective sheets and holding the reflective sheets in a prescribed shape.
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Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A guide rail for directing and retaining a slidably removable reflective sheet in a solar concentrator, and for maintaining a slidably removable reflective sheet in a shape prescribed by the shape of the guide rail, the guide rail comprising a rail body, wherein the rail body has a longitudinal axis and comprises a first longitudinal channel having a retaining shape for retaining a longitudinal edge of one or more slidably removable reflective sheets.
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16. A reflective assembly for a concentrating solar collector comprising
a pair of guide rails for guiding and/or retaining longitudinal edges of one or more slidably removable reflective sheets; - and
one or more slidably removable reflective sheets having longitudinal edges mounted within longitudinal channels of the pair of guide rails. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A reflective trough for a concentrating solar collector comprising:
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a supporting structure; a plurality of supporting ribs;
wherein the plurality of ribs are mounted on the supporting structure;a plurality of guide rails, wherein each guide rail is mounted on a supporting rib; and a plurality of slidably removable reflective sheets having longitudinal edges mounted within channels of the guide rails. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification