Fiber optic power-generation system

• US 5,575,860 A
• Filed: 01/18/1995
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matthew Cherney
• Original Assignee: Matthew Cherney
• Inventors: Cherney, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US08/374,308
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 136/245, 136/246, 136/248
• US Class Current: 136/245
• 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 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A fiber optical solar power generating system provides a tower outside a structure to be supplied with solar energy and on which a multiplicity of collectors is provided. An optical fiber trunk carries the collected optical energy to the structure in which a photovoltaic and/or a light/heat transducing stack can be provided and to which light is distributed from the optical fiber trunk so that the transducers need not occupy large areas of the property.

Claims

1. A power-generating assembly comprising a stack of alternating photovoltaic members and light-distributing members positioned to distribute light over surface areas of said photovoltaic members, and means for tapping electricity from said photovoltaic members, said stack having at least one side at which edges of said light-distributing members receive solar energy for distribution to said photovoiltaic members, said stack being collapsible into a compact configuration and expandable into an extended configuration.

2. A power-generating assembly comprising a stack of alternating photovoltaic members and light-distributing members positioned to distribute light over surface areas of said photovoltaic members, means for delivering light to said light distributing members, and means for tapping electricity from said photovoltaic members, said light-distributing members tapering from one side of said stack toward an opposite side thereof and said photovoltaic members tapering from said opposite side toward said one side complementarily to said light-distributing members, said means for delivering light including a source of light directed onto said light-distributing members at said one side.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said means for delivering light includes a lens focussed on said light-distributing members.

4. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said means for delivering light includes at least one light conductor coupled to said light-distributing members.

5. A power-generating assembly comprising a stack of alternating photovoltaic members and light-distributing members positioned to distribute light over surface areas of said photovoltaic members, means for delivering light to said light-distributing members, and means for tapping electricity from said photovoltaic members, said means for delivering light including at least one prism-shaped multifaceted light-conducting member diverging toward a side of said stack.

6. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said means for delivering light comprises a multiplicity of prism-shaped multifaceted light-conducting members distributed over said side of said stack and diverging toward said side of said stack, and a respective light conductor optically coupled to each of said prism-shaped multifaceted light-conducting members.

7. A power-generating assembly comprising a stack of alternating photovoltaic members and light-distributing members positioned to distribute light over surface areas of said photovoltaic members, means for delivering light to said light-distributing members, and means for tapping electricity from said photovoltaic members, said light-distributing members being flat light-conductive plates formed at least along one broad surface of each plate with a succession of triangular-section ridges separated by triangular-section grooves interfitting with an adjacent surface of a respective photovoltaic member, said means for delivering light to said light-distributing members including light conductor means coupled to edges of said plates along at least one side of said stack.

8. A power-generating assembly comprising a stack of alternating photovoltaic members and light-distributing members positioned to distribute light over surface areas of said photovoltaic members, means for delivering light to said light-distributing members, and means for tapping electricity from said photovoltaic members, at least one of said light-distributing members comprising an array of mutually parallel rods extending from one side of said stack toward an opposite side thereof in at least one layer, said means for delivering light to said light-distributing members including at least one light conductor coupled to ends of the respective rods at said one side of said stack further comprising cooling means for flowing a cooling fluid around said rods.

9. The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said rods taper from said one side to Said opposite side.

10. A power-generating assembly comprising a stack of alternating photovoltaic members and light-distributing members positioned to distribute light over surface areas of said photovoltaic members, means For delivering light to said light-distributing members, and means for tapping electricity from said photovoltaic members, at least one of said light-distributing members being a light-conductive plate having an array of prism-shaped multifaceted projections thereon tapering away from the plate.