Adaptive, full-spectrum solar energy system

• US 6,603,069 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Muhs, Jeffrey D., Earl, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/953,848
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/253, 136/291, 136/248, 435/292.1, 250/227.11, 126/683, 126/685, 126/690, 385/900, 606/418
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/08 by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/00 Non-electric lighting devices or systems using daylight roofs with sky-light opening E04D13/03; sun blinds for windows with means for redirecting light onto ceiling of a room E06B9/00; hybrid lighting devices combining artificial and natural light F21S19/00; solar heat collectors F24S; solar cells or solar cell modules H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 19/005 Combining sunlight and electric light sources for indoor illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/12 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/79 with spaced and opposed interacting reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/90 Solar collector or transmitter

Abstract

An adaptive full spectrum solar energy system having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one hybrid luminaire, at least one hybrid photobioreactor, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator, each hybrid luminaire, and each hybrid photobioreactor. A lighting control system operates each component.

Claims

1. An adaptive full spectrum solar energy system comprising:

at least one hybrid solar concentrator, said solar concentrator further comprising;

a fixed base,

a rotating assembly,

a rotational tracking mechanism operably connecting said fixed base to said rotating assembly, said rotating assembly further comprising;

a primary mirror for producing reflected full spectrum solar radiation,

a secondary optical element supported in position for receiving said reflected full spectrum solar radiation,

a concentric fiber mount assembly operably mounted to said rotating assembly, and

at least one optical fiber extending from said concentric fiber mount assembly to a light distribution system;

at least one hybrid luminaire,

at least one hybrid photobioreactor,

said light distribution system operably connected to each of said hybrid solar concentrator, said hybrid luminaire, and said hybrid photobioreactor, and

a means for controlling at least one of said hybrid solar concentrator, said hybrid luminaire, said hybrid photobioreactor, and said light distribution system.

2. The solar energy system of claim 1 wherein said hybrid luminaire comprises;

at least one electric lamp,

at least one large-core optical fiber operably connected to said light distribution system, and

at least one light dispersing element fixably mounted in a lens diffuser.

3. The solar energy system of claim 2 wherein said hybrid luminaire further comprises;

at least one cylindrical diffusing rod fixably aligned with said electric lamp.

4. The solar energy system of claim 1 wherein said secondary optical element further comprises;

at least one secondary mirror for receiving said reflected full spectrum solar radiation and further reflecting only infrared filtered solar radiation,

at least one nonimaging optic concentrator positioned for accepting infrared solar radiation transmitted through said secondary mirror, and

at least one thermophotovoltaic cell positioned for accepting infrared solar radiation from said nonimaging optic concentrator.

5. The solar energy system of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber is large-core polymer construction.

6. The solar energy system of claim 4 wherein said secondary mirror further comprises a high temperature glass substrate with a sputtered ultraviolet cold coating on a first reflective surface.

7. The solar energy system of claim 4 wherein said secondary mirror further comprises segmented planar sections that precisely focus light into eight of the optical fibers.

8. The solar energy system of claim 4 wherein said secondary optical element further comprises an elliptical secondary element that extends the focus of said primary mirror and couples light into a packed array of nine of the optical fibers.

9. The solar energy system of claim 8 wherein the primary mirror is a low quality coated 1.5 m diameter hydroformed satellite dish.