Solar compound concentrator of electric power generation system for residential homes

• US 6,384,320 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LC Solar Inc.
• Original Assignee: Leon Lung-Chen Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Leon Lung-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Diamond, Alan
• Application Number:
  US09/687,960
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/259, 126/683, 126/643, 359/742, 359/727, 606/411.5
• US Class Current: 136/259
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/31 having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/80 having discontinuous faces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 70/20 characterised by absorbing coatings; characterised by surface treatment for increasing absorption
• 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: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

The invention relates to a solar compound concentrator of an electric power generation system. A compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) is mounted under an acrylic concentrating fresnel lens that concentrates the intensity of sunlight to five to ten times above normal level. Then the focused sunlight is further concentrated twenty to fifty times by the CPC collector. The intensified sunlight is focused on the bottom of the CPC. The high mirror quality of CPC allows 98% of the reflected rays to be incident on the bottom of the CPC. A cermet coating is spattered onto the top of a stainless steel heat pipe (heat exchanger) allowing for an absorptivity of 96%.

Claims

1. A solar thermal electric power generation system for residential home comprising:

a plurality of fresnel lenses for focusing sun rays such that the rays are concentrated five to ten times their normal intensity;

a plurality of compound parabolic concentrators having a bottom side and being under said plurality of fresnel lenses for further concentration of said focused sun rays twenty to fifty times; and

a plurality of heat pipe heat exchangers for heating heat transfer fluid therein, wherein said plurality of heat pipes are disposed on said bottom side of said plurality of compound parabolic concentrators; and

a housing that contains said plurality of fresnel lenses, compound parabolic concentrators, and heat pipes wherein each fresnel lens, compound parabolic concentrator and heat pipe are integrated as individual solar compound concentrators disposed with a plurality of additional solar compound concentrators;

wherein heat transfer fluid increases in temperature and pressure when passing said plurality of heat pipes, and said heat transfer fluid is delivered to a thermal engine to produce electric power.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of compound parabolic concentrator are made of glass mirror.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of compound parabolic concentrators are made of ceramic.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of compound parabolic concentrators comprise a reflective coating surface and protective coatings.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said reflective coating surface is aluminum.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said reflective coating surface is chrome plated on metal plates.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of heat pipe heat exchangers comprise a cermet coating.

8. A solar compound concentrator in a solar thermal electric power generation system for residential homes comprising:

a fresnel lens for focusing sun rays such that the rays are concentrated five to ten times their normal intensity;

a compound parabolic concentrator having a bottom side and being disposed under said fresnel lens for further concentration of said focused sun rays twenty to fifty times; and

a honeycomb mesh-wired cross flow solar receiver for heating heat transfer fluid therein, wherein said honeycomb mesh-wired cross flow solar receiver is disposed on said bottom side of said compound parabolic concentrator;

wherein said fresnel lens, said compound parabolic concentrator and said honeycomb mesh-wired cross flow solar receiver are integrated as the solar compound concentrator, wherein said heat transfer fluid increases in temperature and pressure when passing a plurality of said honeycomb mesh-wired cross flow solar receivers, and said heat transfer fluid is delivered to a thermal engine to produce electric power.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said compound parabolic concentrator is made of glass mirror.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said compound parabolic concentrator is made of ceramic.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said compound parabolic concentrator comprises a reflective coating surface and protective coatings.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said reflective coating surface is aluminum.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said reflective coating surface is chrome plated on metal plates.

14. A solar thermal electric power generation system for residential homes comprising:

a plurality of fresnel lenses for focusing sun rays such that the rays are concentrated five to ten times their normal intensity;

a plurality of compound parabolic concentrators having a bottom side and being disposed under said plurality of fresnel lenses for further concentration of said focused sun rays twenty to fifty times;

a plurality of heat exchangers for heating heat transfer fluid therein, wherein said plurality of heat exchangers are disposed on said bottom side of said plurality of compound parabolic concentrators; and

a housing that contains said plurality of fresnel lenses, compound parabolic concentrators, and heat exchangers, wherein each fresnel lens, compound parabolic concentrator and heat exchanger are integrated as individual solar compound concentrators and arranged in a pattern;

wherein the diameter of each compound parabolic concentrator at the top of the aperture, is wider than the range of movement of the focal points of each fresnel lens, so that said solar compound concentrators are arranged in a flat plate panel to collect direct solar irradiation for a longer period of time without tracking the movement of the sun; and

wherein said heat transfer fluid increases in temperature and pressure as it passes a plurality of said heat exchangers, and said heat transfer fluid is delivered to a thermal engine to produce electric power.