Concentrating type solar collection and daylighting system within glazed building envelopes

• US 7,190,531 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Jensen, Michael K., Borton, David N., Dyson, Anna H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrington; Alicia M
• Application Number:
  US10/816,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 359742-743, 359/811, 359/850, 359/851, 126/569, 126571-573, 126698-700, 126/622
• US Class Current: 359/742
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/31 having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/452 Vertical primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/22 Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/054
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A Fresnel lens including a substantially polygonal focusing portion adapted to focus solar radiation to a area having the same geometry as the focusing portion of the lens. Also a solar module including the Fresnel collecting lens and a substantially polygonal photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is mounted at distance from the Fresnel collecting lens so that the size of the area substantially matches the size of the photovoltaic cell. Also a solar panel having multiple modules within a glazed building envelope system. The solar panel also includes an actuating mechanism within the glazed window envelope system. The actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the plurality of solar modules and is adapted to move the solar modules to track the sun.

Claims

1. A kit for forming a solar module, comprising:

a Fresnel lens; and

a first means for supporting a photovoltaic cell inside a window in a building facade envelope at a predetermined distance from the Fresnel lens such that the solar radiation is focused onto the photovoltaic cell.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first means comprises a back support structure which has a first cross sectional area at a first portion adapted to be connected to the Fresnel lens and a second cross sectional area smaller than the first cross sectional area at a second portion adapted to support the photovoltaic cell.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the back support structure comprises a substantially pyramidal or a substantially conical support structure comprising a translucent, a diffusing or a Fresnel diverging material.

4. The kit of claim 2, wherein the back support structure comprises a diffusing material which is shaped to block the focused solar radiation from being visible from a back side of the back support structure, and wherein the back side of the back support structure faces away from the Fresnel lens.

5. The kit of claim 2, wherein the back support structure comprises a substantially pyramidal or a substantially conical arrangement of wires or rods that are adapted to be interlocked or snap fitted onto the Fresnel lens and which contains connecting members adapted to support the photovoltaic cell.

6. The kit of claim 2, wherein the Fresnel lens has an area of 0.2 m² or less, the second area of the support structure comprises an area of 2 cm² or less and a length of the support structure from the first area to the second area is 30 cm or less.