Solar concentrator for heat and electricity
First Claim
1. A solar concentrator for generating electricity and heat and having at least one concentrator unit, said at least one concentrator unit having:
- an absorbing surface for converting incident solar radiation into energy having a long axis and a short axis;
concentration means including a plurality of planar reflective surfaces having a long axis and a short axis, andsupport means for supporting said absorbing surface and said planar reflective surfaces with their long axes aligned in a horizontal direction, and mounting means allowing the absorbing means and planar reflective surfaces to move in unison;
said support means supporting said planar reflective surfaces so that they approximate a curved surface;
wherein said absorbing surface is supported at or near a focus of said curved surface whereby said plurality of reflective surfaces reflect solar radiation towards said absorbing surface, said plurality of reflective surfaces being so dimensioned and supported on said support means that solar radiation reflected thereby is reflected towards the whole absorbing surface.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A solar concentrator for producing usable power as heat and/or electricity uses a self-steering heliostat 1502 to concentrate solar radiation 1509 onto an absorbing surface such as, or including, a solar cell array 1511 capable of absorbing power from the radiation, meanwhile removing heat (such as from long-wave infra-red radiation or resistive losses) from the surface with fluid heat transfer means 1503, 1504, then making effective use of that low-grade heat. Thus the solar cell array is kept relatively cool and a larger proportion of the solar energy incident on the reflector unit is used. The invention uses electricity 1506 from the solar cells to move a transporting fluid through a heat exchanger 1504. Excess electricity may be available for local storage or use 1510, or feeding 1512 to the power distribution grid. Applications include warming swimming pools 1501, heating hot-water supplies using excess electricity, or warming, lighting and ventilating open spaces.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A solar concentrator for generating electricity and heat and having at least one concentrator unit, said at least one concentrator unit having:
-
an absorbing surface for converting incident solar radiation into energy having a long axis and a short axis; concentration means including a plurality of planar reflective surfaces having a long axis and a short axis, and support means for supporting said absorbing surface and said planar reflective surfaces with their long axes aligned in a horizontal direction, and mounting means allowing the absorbing means and planar reflective surfaces to move in unison; said support means supporting said planar reflective surfaces so that they approximate a curved surface; wherein said absorbing surface is supported at or near a focus of said curved surface whereby said plurality of reflective surfaces reflect solar radiation towards said absorbing surface, said plurality of reflective surfaces being so dimensioned and supported on said support means that solar radiation reflected thereby is reflected towards the whole absorbing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification