Solar insolation and concentration by coupled fiber optics

• US 4,433,199 A
• Filed: 06/17/1982
• Issued: 02/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald W. Middy
• Original Assignee: Gerald W. Middy
• Inventors: Middy, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US06/389,440
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/10 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/12 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/30 with lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• 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 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A plurality of bundles of fiber optic light pipes are each arranged for the reception of a selected color band of monochromatic light emanating through a prism with which they act in combination as a secondary concentrator. Incoming multiple wavelength sunlight from a primary concentrator is directed through said prism, and photovoltaic cells are positioned at a spectrum plane according to their efficiency in relation to said selected color bands of the spectrum.

Claims

1. Solar insolation and power generation means which includes:

a primary concentrator means comprising a linear parabolic reflector projecting a narrowed band of light through a first plane,

a secondary concentrator means comprising, in combination, a prism disposed to receive said narrowed band of light through said first plane and by refraction projecting said light in the form of a spectrum of substantially monochromatic areas of light from a second plane and through a third source plane, and a plurality of bundles of fiber optic light pipes having source ends aligned at said third source plane with a substantially monochromatic area of light and arranged in pairs of bundles coupled into single bundles thereof by means of bifurcated couplings therefor and having light concentrating ends remote from said source ends,

and a power generation means comprising a photo voltaic cell at a fourth plane coincidental with and coextensive with said concentrating ends of each of said plurality of bundles and receiving said substantially monochromatic light for electrical power generation.

2. The solar power generation means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prism of the secondary concentrator is a curvilinear transparent body for linear refractive concentration of the spectrum through the second plane and for projection through the third source plane.

3. The solar power generation means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary concentrator means comprises a plurality of bundles of fiber optic light pipes and each having a source end aligned with a separate monochromatic area of light and having a transmitting end remote from said source end, and a separate power generating means which comprises a photovoltaic cell at a fourth plane coincidental with and coextensive with each of said transmitting ends.

4. The solar power generation means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary concentrator means comprises a plurality of bundles of fiber optic light pipes to cover the spectrum and each having a source end adjacently aligned with a separate monochromatic area of light and having a transmitting end remote from said source end, and a separate power generating means which comprises a photovoltaic cell at a fourth plane coincidental with and coextensive with each of said transmitting ends.

5. The solar power generation means as set forth in claims 1 and 2, wherein the prism of the secondary concentrator is an elongated linear transparent body for refractive concentration of the spectrum through the second plane and for projection through the third source plane.

6. The solar power generation means as set forth in claims 1 or 3, wherein the fiber optic light pipes for light transmission are tubular and liquid filled with transparent heat transfer media circulated therethrough.

7. The solar power generation means as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the projected and narrowed band of light is straightened by a linear lens system preceeding said first plane.

8. The solar power generation means as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the photovoltaic cell of the power generation means is in each instance of a particular type efficient for the wavelength of the substantially monochromatic light to which it is exposed.