LENS SYSTEM WITH DIRECTIONAL RAY SPLITTER FOR CONCENTRATING SOLAR ENERGY
First Claim
1. A concentration system for supplying concentrated solar energy, comprising:
- a lens array comprising at least one linear lens extending a length of the lens array and focusing light received on an outer surface onto a focal point; and
a light wafer with a substantially planar body formed of a thickness of a light transmissive material, wherein the body includes a top surface facing the lens array and receiving the focused light from at least one the linear lens and a bottom surface opposite the top surface and wherein the light wafer comprises at least one ray splitter directing at least a portion of the received focused light into the body, whereby at least a portion of the directed light from the ray splitter is trapped in the body by total internal reflection.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A concentration system or solar concentrator for supplying concentrated solar energy. The system includes a lens array with linear lenses focusing light received on an outer surface onto a number of focal point or focused lines of light. The system includes a light wafer with a substantially planar body formed of a thickness of a light transmissive material. The body includes a top surface facing the lens array and receiving the focused light from at least one the linear lens and further includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The light wafer includes a ray splitter, in the form of a triangular air gap, paired to each linear lens at or near a focal point of the paired lens to direct the received focused light into the body or towards edges or sides of the body where a solar collector such as a thermal or photovoltaic collector is positioned.
22 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A concentration system for supplying concentrated solar energy, comprising:
-
a lens array comprising at least one linear lens extending a length of the lens array and focusing light received on an outer surface onto a focal point; and a light wafer with a substantially planar body formed of a thickness of a light transmissive material, wherein the body includes a top surface facing the lens array and receiving the focused light from at least one the linear lens and a bottom surface opposite the top surface and wherein the light wafer comprises at least one ray splitter directing at least a portion of the received focused light into the body, whereby at least a portion of the directed light from the ray splitter is trapped in the body by total internal reflection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A concentrated solar power system, comprising:
-
a concentration panel comprising a sheet of light transmissive material with a first surface for receiving sunlight and an opposite second surface, the second surface including a plurality of spaced apart recessed surfaces defining ray splitters in the sheet; at least one solar collector positioned proximate an edge of the sheet of the concentration panel; and a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses focusing received sunlight onto a paired one of the ray splitters in the sheet of the concentration panel, wherein the ray splitters direct at least a fraction of the focused sunlight into the material of the sheet where it is trapped by total internal reflection and toward the edge for collection by the solar collector. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A concentrator for a solar power system, comprising:
-
a lens array comprising a plurality of linear lenses each focusing received light onto a focal point a distance apart from the lens array; a light wafer with a body of material that is substantially transparent to light, the body having a planar first surface facing the lens array to receive the focused light and having a second surface opposite the first surface; and a plurality of linear grooves with triangular cross sections in the second surface, each of the linear grooves being positioned proximate to one of the focal points of the linear lenses and arranged with a longitudinal axis parallel to the linear lenses. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
Specification