Parabolic trough or dish reflector for use in concentrating solar power apparatus and method of making same
First Claim
1. A concentrating solar power apparatus including at least one mirror, the concentrating solar power apparatus comprising:
- a bent laminate mirror comprising a thick glass substrate having a thickness of at least 2.0 mm, a thin glass substrate having a thickness of from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm, and a mirror coating formed on the thin glass substrate, the thick glass substrate being thicker than the thin glass substrate,the thin glass substrate being laminated to the thick glass substrate with at least one adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer and the mirror coating are both located between the thin and thick glass substrates;
wherein the mirror coating is removed from at least one peripheral edge of the thin glass substrate, andwherein the adhesive layer directly contacts both the thin and thick glass substrates in areas proximate the at least one peripheral edge from which the mirror coating is removed;
wherein the bent laminate mirror is substantially parabolic in shape and has a solar reflectance of at least 90%;
wherein the adhesive layer is a polymer inclusive adhesive layer; and
wherein the mirror coating comprises a nucleation layer comprising at least one of tin and palladium adjacent the thin glass substrate, a reflective layer comprising silver, and a passivation layer, wherein the passivation layer is in direct contact with the polymer inclusive adhesive layer of the laminate mirror, and wherein the passivation layer comprises one or more of copper, tin oxide, and/or silane(s).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reflector (e.g., mirror) for use in a solar collector or the like is provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, a reflector is made by (a) forming a reflective coating on a thin substantially flat glass substrate (the thin glass substrate may or may not be pre-bent prior to the coating being applied thereto), (b) optionally, if the glass substrate in (a) was not prebent, then cold-bending the glass substrate with the reflective coating thereon; and (c) applying a plate or frame member to the thin bent glass substrate with the coating thereon from (a) and/or (b), the plate or frame member (which may be another thicker pre-bent glass sheet, for example) for maintaining the thin glass substrate and coating thereon in a desired bent orientation in a final product which may be used as parabolic trough or dish type reflector in a concentrating solar power apparatus or the like.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A concentrating solar power apparatus including at least one mirror, the concentrating solar power apparatus comprising:
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a bent laminate mirror comprising a thick glass substrate having a thickness of at least 2.0 mm, a thin glass substrate having a thickness of from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm, and a mirror coating formed on the thin glass substrate, the thick glass substrate being thicker than the thin glass substrate, the thin glass substrate being laminated to the thick glass substrate with at least one adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer and the mirror coating are both located between the thin and thick glass substrates; wherein the mirror coating is removed from at least one peripheral edge of the thin glass substrate, and wherein the adhesive layer directly contacts both the thin and thick glass substrates in areas proximate the at least one peripheral edge from which the mirror coating is removed; wherein the bent laminate mirror is substantially parabolic in shape and has a solar reflectance of at least 90%; wherein the adhesive layer is a polymer inclusive adhesive layer; and wherein the mirror coating comprises a nucleation layer comprising at least one of tin and palladium adjacent the thin glass substrate, a reflective layer comprising silver, and a passivation layer, wherein the passivation layer is in direct contact with the polymer inclusive adhesive layer of the laminate mirror, and wherein the passivation layer comprises one or more of copper, tin oxide, and/or silane(s). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A concentrating solar power apparatus including at least one mirror, the concentrating solar power apparatus comprising:
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a bent laminate mirror comprising a thick glass substrate having a thickness of at least 2.0 mm, a thin glass substrate having a thickness of from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm, and a mirror coating formed on the thin glass substrate, the thick glass substrate being thicker than the thin glass substrate, wherein the thin glass substrate has a lower total iron content and a higher visible light transmission than does the thick glass substrate; the thin glass substrate being laminated to the thick glass substrate with at least one adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer and the mirror coating are both located between the thin and thick glass substrates; and wherein the bent laminate mirror is substantially parabolic in shape and has a solar reflectance of at least 90%; wherein the adhesive layer is a polymer inclusive adhesive layer; and wherein the mirror coating comprises a nucleation layer comprising at least one of tin and palladium adjacent the thin glass substrate, a reflective layer comprising silver, and a passivation layer, wherein the passivation layer is in direct contact with the polymer inclusive adhesive layer of the laminate mirror, and wherein the passivation layer comprises one or more of copper, tin oxide, and/or silane(s). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification