Nonimaging radiant energy device

• US 5,557,478 A
• Filed: 09/01/1993
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Argonne National Laboratory The University of Chicago Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Argonne National Laboratory The University of Chicago Development Corporation
• Inventors: Winston, Roland, Ning, Xiaohui
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thong Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/115,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 359/709, 359/727, 359/362-366, 359/846-853, 126/438-441, 126/657, 126/683, 126/695, 136/206, 136/246, 385/50, 385/146
• US Class Current: 359/853
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2023/837 hyperbolic
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/30 with lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/70 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0033 characterised by the use
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0042 for use with direct solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

A nonimaging radiant energy device may include a hyperbolically shaped reflective element with a radiant energy inlet and a radiant energy outlet. A convex lens is provided at the radiant energy inlet and a concave lens is provided at the radiant energy outlet. Due to the provision of the lenses and the shape of the walls of the reflective element, the radiant energy incident at the radiant energy inlet within a predetermined angle of acceptance is emitted from the radiant energy outlet exclusively within an acute exit angle. In another embodiment, the radiant energy device may include two interconnected hyperbolically shaped reflective elements with a respective convex lens being provided at each aperture of the device.

Claims

1. A radiant energy transformer for receiving radiant energy impinging upon said transformer within a first acute angle and emitting said radiant energy within a second acute angle, said transformer comprising:

a reflective element having a nonlinear reflective surface;

first lens means operatively coupled to transmit radiant energy to said reflective element;

second lens means operatively coupled to receive radiant energy from said reflective element;

the shape of said reflective element causing radiant energy that impinges upon said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element from within a first acute angle with respect to said radiant energy transformer to be reflected such that said radiant energy emerges from said radiant energy transformer exclusively within a second acute angle with respect to said radiant energy transformer.

2. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflective element comprises a substantially hollow body.

3. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 2 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means and said second lens means comprises concave lens means.

4. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 2 wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

5. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 2 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means, wherein said second lens means comprises concave lens means, and wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

6. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflective element comprises a solid body.

7. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 6 wherein one of said first and second lens means comprises a curved surface on said solid body.

8. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second lens means comprise curved surfaces on said solid body.

9. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 6 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means and said second lens means comprises concave lens means.

10. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 6 wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

11. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 6 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means, wherein said second lens means comprises concave lens means, and wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

12. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflective element has a radiant energy inlet and a radiant energy outlet, wherein said first lens means is operatively coupled to said reflective element at said radiant energy inlet, and wherein said second lens means is operatively coupled to said reflective element at said radiant energy outlet.

13. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 12 wherein said reflective element comprises a substantially hollow body.

14. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 13 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means and said second lens means comprises concave lens means.

15. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 13 wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

16. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 13 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means, wherein said second lens means comprises concave lens means, and wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

17. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 13 wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a diameter that decreases from said radiant energy inlet and said radiant energy outlet towards an intermediate point between said radiant energy inlet and said radiant energy outlet.

18. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 12 wherein said reflective element comprises a solid body.

19. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 18 wherein one of said first and second lens means comprises a curved surface on said solid body.

20. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 18 wherein said first and second lens means comprise curved surfaces on said solid body.

21. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 18 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means and said second lens means comprises concave lens means.

22. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 18 wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

23. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 18 wherein said first lens means comprises convex lens means, wherein said second lens means comprises concave lens means, and wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a cross-section which is substantially hyperbolic.

24. A radiant energy transformer as defined in claim 18 wherein said nonlinear reflective surface of said reflective element has a diameter that decreases from said radiant energy inlet and said radiant energy outlet towards an intermediate portion between said radiant energy inlet and said radiant energy outlet.