Reflective surface for solar energy collector
First Claim
1. A solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that tracks movements of the sun along at least one axis, the collector comprising:
- a solar receiver; and
a reflective surface that is spatially and angularly continuous, the reflective surface including a first edge, an opposing second edge and a plurality of curved reflective sections, each of the reflective sections including a longitudinally extended parabolic curve with a directrix distinct from the directrix of an adjacent one of the reflective sections, wherein the directrices of the reflective sections are substantially parallel, and wherein the reflective surface is configured to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Concentrating solar collector systems that utilize a concentrating reflector to direct incident solar radiation to a solar receiver are described. In one aspect, the reflective surface is arranged to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner in which the solar rays reflected from the opposing edges of the reflective surface are generally directed towards a central portion of the solar receiver. Rays reflected from selected central portions of the reflective surface are directed closer to the edges of the receiver than the solar rays reflected from the edges of the reflective surface. The described reflectors are generally intended for use in solar collector systems that track movements of the sun along at least one axis.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that tracks movements of the sun along at least one axis, the collector comprising:
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a solar receiver; and a reflective surface that is spatially and angularly continuous, the reflective surface including a first edge, an opposing second edge and a plurality of curved reflective sections, each of the reflective sections including a longitudinally extended parabolic curve with a directrix distinct from the directrix of an adjacent one of the reflective sections, wherein the directrices of the reflective sections are substantially parallel, and wherein the reflective surface is configured to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A photovoltaic solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that includes the collector, a stand that supports the collector and a tracking system that causes the collector to track movements of the sun along at least one axis, the collector comprising:
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a solar receiver including at least one photovoltaic solar cell; and a reflective surface that is spatially and angularly continuous, the reflective surface including a plurality of reflective sections, a first edge and an opposing second edge, each of the reflective sections including a longitudinally extended parabolic curve with a directrix distinct from the directrix of an adjacent one of the reflective sections, wherein the directrices of the reflective sections are substantially parallel, and wherein the reflective surface is configured to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner; and the tracking system is configured such that the incident sunlight is substantially normal to the directrices. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification