SOLAR RELAY AIRCRAFT POWERED BY GROUND BASED SOLAR CONCENTRATOR MIRRORS IN DUAL USE WITH POWER TOWERS

• US 20150021442A1
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John William Hunter
• Original Assignee: John William Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, John William
• Application Number:
  US14/014,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20150021442A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/53.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/0009 Aerodynamic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2039/105 of blended wing body type
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/10 All-wing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/08 of power plant cooling systems cooling of internal-combustion engines per se F01P; cooling of gas-turbine plants or jet-propulsion plants per se F02C, F02K
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0525 including means to utilise heat energy directly associated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Seebeck elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A solar relay aircraft system includes a solar relay aircraft having an upper surface, and a lower surface, and equipped with a solar radiation receiver on said lower surface and capable of converting solar energy to electrical energy. An electric motor in electrical connection with said solar radiation receiver to receive the electrical energy and drives a propeller to propel the solar relay aircraft. A number of ground-based reflector arrays include a plurality of reflecting mirrors for receiving solar radiation from the sun and direct the solar radiation from the sun towards the solar relay aircraft.

Claims

1. A solar relay aircraft system, comprising:

a solar relay aircraft having an upper surface, and a lower surface;

a solar radiation receiver on said lower surface and capable of converting solar energy to electrical energy;

an electric motor in electrical connection with said solar radiation receiver to receive said electrical energy;

a ground-based reflector array having a plurality of reflecting mirrors for receiving solar radiation from the sun; and

a means for directing said solar radiation from the sun towards said solar relay aircraft.