Multi-functional solar collector pole

• US 4,224,082 A
• Filed: 06/26/1979
• Issued: 09/23/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Independent Power Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Independent Power Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Jacobson, J. Merritt
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US06/052,209
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 136/89 HY, 136/89 PC, 136/89 AC, 126/432, 126/437, 126/438, 126/443
• US Class Current: 136/248
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/02 Ballasting means
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/74 with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/10 including a supplementary source of electric power, e.g. hybrid diesel-PV energy systems combinations with gas-turbine plants F02C6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/22 Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/054
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/44 Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/0525
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/60 Thermal-PV hybrids

Abstract

A plurality of solar collectors including at least a solar energy to electrical energy transducer and a solar energy to heat transducer positioned on a single pole. The electrical energy transducer comprises a plurality of solar cells arranged with their faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole and pointed in a plurality of directions. A reflector is positioned to the north of the pole and the cells which reflects sunlight to the northerly facing cells. The heat transducer comprises tubing helically arranged about the pole encased in a transparent ambient air screen. A reflector is attached to the north side of the ambient air screen. The wires from the solar cells and the pipes connected to the helical tubing run down through the center of the pole. A wind energy to electrical energy transducer may also be positioned at the top of the pole.

Claims

1. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole;

means for conducting heat generated by said heat transducer from said heat transducer; and

means for conducting the electrical energy generated by said electrical energy transducer from said electrical energy transducer.

6. A solar energy collector as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein:

said heat conducting means comprises a first conduit for conducting a fluid to said heat transducer and a second conduit for conducting said fluid from said heat transducer; and

said apparatus further comprises;

heat storing means adapted to be at least partially filled with said fluid;

means for controlling the entry of unheated fluid into said heat storing means;

a third conduit connecting said heat storing means to said first conduit for conducting fluid from said heat storing means to said first conduit;

a fourth conduit connecting said heat storing means to said second conduit for conducting fluid from said second conduit to said heat storing means;

a first check valve disposed in said third conduit;

a second check valve disposed in said fourth conduit;

pumping means for circulating fluid from said heat storing means through said third conduit, first conduit, said heat transducer, said second conduit and said fourth conduit to said heat storing means; and

means for conducting heated fluid from said heat storing means.

7. A solar energy collector as in claim 1, further comprising a wind energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole.

2. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole above said heat transducer;

means for conducting heat generated by said heat transducer from said heat transducer; and

means for conducting the electrical energy generated by said electrical energy transducer from said electrical energy transducer.

4. A solar energy collector as in claim 2 or 3 wherein said electrical energy transducer comprises:

a plurality of solar cells disposed about said pole, said solar cells being organized in first and second banks, the solar cells of said first bank primarily being adapted for receiving the direct rays of the sun, the solar cells of said second bank primarily not being adapted for receiving the direct rays of the sun; and

means for reflecting sunlight to said second bank.

5. A solar energy collector as in claim 4 wherein said first bank and second bank are electrically connected in parallel.

10. A solar energy collector as in claims 2 or 8 wherein said solar energy to heat transducer comprises:

tubing helically disposed about said pole;

a transparent shield disposed about and enclosing said tubing; and

means for reflecting sunlight to the portion of said tubing not directly illuminated by the rays of the sun.

3. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole, said heat transducer including tubing helically disposed about said pole, a transparent shield disposed about and enclosing said tubing, and reflecting means for reflecting sunlight to the portion of said tubing not directly illuminated by the direct rays of the sun;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole;

means for conducting heat generated by said heat transducer from said heat transducer; and

means for conducting the electrical energy generated by said electrical energy transducer from said electrical energy transducer.

9. A solar energy collector as in claim 3 or 8 wherein said electrical energy transducer is disposed on said pole above said heat transducer.

8. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole comprising a plurality of solar cells disposed about said pole, said means for reflecting sunlight to those of said solar cells not primarily adapted to be directly illuminated by the rays of the sun;

means for conducting heat generated by said heat transducer from said heat transducer; and

means for conducting the electrical energy generated by said electrical energy transducer from said electrical energy transducer.

11. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole, said heat transducer comprising tubing helically disposed about said pole, a transparent shield disposed about and enclosing said tubing, and means for reflecting sunlight to the portion of said tubing not directly illuminated by the rays of the sun;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole above said heat transducer;

means for conducting heat generated by said heat transducer from said heat transducer; and

means for conducting the electrical energy generated by said electrical energy transducer from said heat transducer.

12. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole above said heat transducer, said electrical energy transducer including a plurality of solar cells disposed about said pole and means for reflecting the rays of the sun to the portion of said plurality of solar cells not directly illuminated by the rays of the sun;

means for conducting heat generated by said heat transducer from said heat transducer; and

means for conducting the electrical energy generated by said electrical energy transducer from said electrical energy transducer.

13. A solar energy collector comprising:

a pole adapted to be vertically disposed;

a solar energy to heat transducer mounted on said pole including;

tubing helically disposed about said pole,

a transparent shield disposed about and enclosing said tubing, and

means for reflecting sunlight to the portion of said tubing not directly illuminated by the rays of the sun;

a solar energy to electrical energy transducer mounted on said pole including;

a plurality of solar cells disposed about said pole, above said tubing, and

means for reflecting sunlight to the portion of said plurality of solar cells not directly illuminated by the rays of the sun;

means for storing heat adapted to be at least partially filled with a fluid;

first conducting means for conducting fluid from said heat storing means to one end of said tubing;

second conducting means for conducting fluid from the second end of said tubing to said heat storing means;

means for controlling the entry of unheated fluid to at least one of said heat storing means and said first conducting means;

pumping means for circulating fluid from said heat storing means, through said first conducting means, said tubing, said second conducting means, to said heat storing means;

means for conducting heated fluid from at least one of said heat storing means and second conducting means;

a battery;

means for electrically connecting said plurality of solar cells to said battery; and

means for conducting electrical energy from at least one of said battery, said electrical connecting means, and said solar cells.