Linear Concentrating Solar Collector With Decentered Trough-Type Relectors
First Claim
1. A linear concentrating solar collector comprising:
- at least one solar energy collection element;
a first trough-type reflector having a first curved reflective surface defining a first focal line; and
a second trough-type reflector having a second reflective surface defining a second focal line,wherein the first trough reflector and the second trough-type reflector are fixedly connected along a common edge in a decentered arrangement in which the first focal line is parallel to and spaced-apart from the second focal line, and said first and second curved reflective surfaces are arranged such that first solar radiation directed onto said first curved reflective surface is reflected and concentrated by said first curved reflective surfaces toward the first focal line, and second solar radiation directed onto said second curved reflective surface is reflected and concentrated by said second curved reflective surfaces toward the second focal line, said reflected first and second solar radiation is respectively directed by the first and second curved reflective surfaces such that said first and second solar radiation overlap in a defocused state, andwherein the at least one solar energy collection element is fixedly connected to the first and second trough-type reflectors and positioned to operably receive at least one of the reflected first and second solar radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linear concentrating solar collector includes two trough-type reflectors having respective curved reflective surfaces that define respective focal lines, and are connected along a common edge in a decentered arrangement such that the focal lines are parallel and spaced-apart, and such that solar radiation reflected by the curved reflective surfaces is concentrated and overlaps in a defocused state. In one embodiment a solar cell is disposed in the overlap region to receive the all of the reflected radiation from the curved reflective surfaces in a defocused state. An optional solid optical structure is used to support and position the trough-type reflectors and solar cell, and to facilitate self-forming of the curved reflective surfaces. In other embodiments, two solar cells are mounted on the rear surface of the optical element, and the curved reflective surfaces reflect sunlight at angles that produce total internal reflection of the sunlight onto the solar cells.
106 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A linear concentrating solar collector comprising:
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at least one solar energy collection element; a first trough-type reflector having a first curved reflective surface defining a first focal line; and a second trough-type reflector having a second reflective surface defining a second focal line, wherein the first trough reflector and the second trough-type reflector are fixedly connected along a common edge in a decentered arrangement in which the first focal line is parallel to and spaced-apart from the second focal line, and said first and second curved reflective surfaces are arranged such that first solar radiation directed onto said first curved reflective surface is reflected and concentrated by said first curved reflective surfaces toward the first focal line, and second solar radiation directed onto said second curved reflective surface is reflected and concentrated by said second curved reflective surfaces toward the second focal line, said reflected first and second solar radiation is respectively directed by the first and second curved reflective surfaces such that said first and second solar radiation overlap in a defocused state, and wherein the at least one solar energy collection element is fixedly connected to the first and second trough-type reflectors and positioned to operably receive at least one of the reflected first and second solar radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A linear concentrating solar collector comprising:
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a solid, light-transparent optical structure having a substantially flat front surface and an opposing rear surface, the rear surface including a first reflective surface region and a second reflective surface region; at least one solar energy collection element mounted on the light-transparent optical structure; a first trough-type reflector mounted on the first reflective surface region and having a first curved reflective surface defining a first focal line; and a second trough-type reflector mounted on the second reflective surface region and having a second reflective surface defining a second focal line, wherein the at least one solar energy collection element, the first trough reflector and the second trough-type reflector are arranged on the light-transparent optical structure in a decentered arrangement such that first solar radiation passing through the front surface onto said first curved reflective surface is reflected and concentrated by said first curved reflective surfaces in an overlap region, and second solar radiation passing through the front surface onto said second curved reflective surface is reflected and concentrated by said second curved reflective surfaces in the overlap region, and wherein the at least one solar energy collection element is positioned to operably receive at least one of the reflected first and second solar radiation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification