Apparatus and Method for Building Linear Solar Collectors Directly from Rolls of Reflective Laminate Material
First Claim
1. A linear solar reflector comprising:
- (a) a fixed mount;
(b) a mirror comprising at least one continuous reflective laminate sheet, which is under tension being exerted along its length, the sheet having a fixed end and tension end, wherein the fixed end is operably connected to the fixed mount;
(c) a tension mount operably connected to the tension end of the reflective laminate sheet; and
(d) one or more ground connections for the reflective laminate sheet separately connected to the ground and spaced along a line defined by the fixed mount and the tension mount.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided herein are linear solar reflectors and collectors, and methods of efficiently constructing such reflectors and collectors. The reflectors are made using reflective laminate sheets, which can be reinforced by tension-bearing strips. Methods and apparatuses for installing the sheets from a roll dispensing the sheets carried on a deployment vehicle are disclosed, as well as methods and apparatuses for assembling and constructing various collector components, methods and apparatuses for tensioning the reflective laminate sheets, methods and apparatus for passively changing the focal length of the reflectors while controlling their movement to track the sun, and methods and apparatuses for compensating for temperature changes in system components for moving the collectors, are provided.
116 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A linear solar reflector comprising:
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(a) a fixed mount; (b) a mirror comprising at least one continuous reflective laminate sheet, which is under tension being exerted along its length, the sheet having a fixed end and tension end, wherein the fixed end is operably connected to the fixed mount; (c) a tension mount operably connected to the tension end of the reflective laminate sheet; and (d) one or more ground connections for the reflective laminate sheet separately connected to the ground and spaced along a line defined by the fixed mount and the tension mount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A curvature-adjustment system for adjustment of curvature of a mirror of a linear solar reflector supported by a rib pivotally attached to a horizontal support rod at a pivot point in response to movement of the rib by an actuator to track the sun throughout the day, said system comprising:
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(a) a first main plate as a component of said rib; (b) a compliant mirror support operationally attached to the first main plate, wherein the compliant mirror support is flexible and can bend through a range of desired curvatures for the linear solar reflector; (c) a reflective laminate sheet operationally secured to the compliant mirror support, (d) a mechanism that automatically changes the curvature of the compliant mirror support to a desired curvature in passive response to the actuation mechanism rotating the rib to track the sun through the day. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of constructing a linear Fresnel collector, comprising the steps:
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(a) providing a fixed mount; (b) providing a reflective laminate sheet having a fixed end and a tension end; (c) forming an operable connection between the fixed end of the reflective laminate sheet and the fixed mount; (d) providing a tension mount; (e) providing a first ground connection for the reflective laminate sheet between the fixed mount and tension mount; (f) attaching the reflective laminate sheet to the first ground connection; g) extending the tension end of the reflective laminate sheet to a location at or near the tension mount; and h) forming an operable connection between the tension end of the reflective laminate sheet and the tension mount. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A deployment vehicle useful for constructing a linear Fresnel reflector, the deployment vehicle comprising:
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(a) a chassis; (b) at least one reflective laminate sheet disposed on said vehicle; (c) a tool disposed on said vehicle selected from the group consisting of; (i) means for cutting reflective laminate sheets; and (ii) means for attaching reflective laminate sheet to ground connections, wherein the chassis provides a means for moving the vehicle along the length of the mirror, while deploying the reflective laminate sheet. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification