APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A SECONDARY REFLECTOR ON A SOLAR COLLECTOR SYSTEM
A solar collector system is provided that comprises an absorber tube, a primary reflector, and a secondary reflector. In certain embodiments, the primary and secondary reflectors are positioned on opposing sides of the absorber tube, such that their respective focal points converge upon a longitudinal axis of the absorber tube. The secondary reflector may be configured with a substantially transparent surface facing away from the absorber tube, so as to permit passage of light beams there-through. Opposing surfaces of the secondary and primary reflectors, namely those facing substantially toward the absorber tube contain a reflective coating thereon to facilitate redirection of light beams toward the absorber tube. The solar collector system includes in certain embodiments a frame assembly, whereby the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube are all configured to unitarily rotate about a common pivot axis defined by at least a portion of the frame assembly.
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This application claims priority to and the benefit of both U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/548,536, entitled “Apparatuses and Methods for Providing a Secondary Reflector on a Solar Collector System” and filed Oct. 18, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/560,590, entitled “Solar Thermal Energy Collector” and filed Nov. 16, 2011, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to solar concentrators and solar collector systems. More particularly, the various embodiments provide a solar concentrator that uses a secondary parabolic reflector assembly in conjunction with an absorber tube and a primary parabolic trough assembly to minimize the number of reflected solar rays that are never collected by the absorber tube.
2. Description of Related Art
Solar concentrators and solar collector systems work by collecting solar thermal energy (e.g., sunlight) from a large area and concentrating it into a smaller area. Various types of solar concentrators and solar collector systems exist and include at least parabolic solar concentrators. Parabolic solar concentrators use mirrored surfaces curved in a parabolic shape to focus sunlight onto the mathematical focal point of their inherent parabola. When the parabolic solar concentrator is dish shaped, the focal point is a discrete location; however, when the parabolic solar concentrator is trough shaped, the focal point is a line (e.g., focal region). Trough-shaped parabolic solar concentrators (e.g., parabolic troughs) typically include an elongated receiver tube, or heat collection element (HCE), which runs the length of the trough. A longitudinal axis of the receiver tube generally corresponds to the focal region. In this manner, the parabolic trough focuses sunlight directly onto the receiver tube.
Parabolic trough solar concentrators are generally positioned in solar collector system fields, often containing hundreds, if not thousands, of adjacently positioned parabolic trough solar concentrators. Together, the multiple adjacently positioned parabolic trough solar concentrators may form a parabolic trough power plant. In such parabolic trough power plants, a fluid, typically oil, runs through each of the receiver tubes positioned in the focal region of each of the parabolic troughs. The focused sunlight upon each of the elongated receiver tubes heats the fluid to high temperatures before the fluid passes through a heat exchanger, which generates steam. The steam may then be used to run a conventional power plant.
Most parabolic trough concentrators use a single axis parabolic mirror that must be accurately aligned with not only the sun, but also the elongated receiver tube so as to collect sunlight. Precision mirror alignment maximizes the reflected sunlight intercepting the elongated receiver tube, thereby improving overall collector efficiencies. However, focusing errors and thus geometrically dependent optical losses occur in parabolic trough collectors due to a variety of factors. For example, the mirror has a certain total shape tolerance, which may involve some degree of waviness, both of which lead to focusing errors. Further, the positioning of the mirror during assembly is only possible to within certain tolerances, likewise causing at least a portion of the reflected sunlight to miss (e.g., not intercept) the elongated receiver tube. Self-deformation (e.g., warping), manufacturing, and assembly tolerances of the steel structure, on which the parabolic trough collector is built, may also lead to inefficiencies. External factors such as the non-limiting examples of wind and dirt occurring in the vicinity of the parabolic trough and/or the elongated receiver tube may also cause deformations of portions of the structure sufficient to impact sunlight collection efficiency.
Still further, as should be appreciated, the sun moves across the sky during the day and is positioned at different locations in the sky depending upon the time of year thus presenting challenges in the collection of solar light. Various parabolic trough concentrators and solar collectors employ tracking device systems to facilitate pivoting the primary reflectors some amount due to movement or positioning of the sun in order to collect solar light that would otherwise be lost. A readjustment of the position of the concentrators and collectors may be made, for example, every time the sun moves 3° across the sky. Although capable of capturing some solar light, misalignment may occur since the tracking may not be completely accurate and small losses of solar light for each primary reflector add up to a large amount of loss for the system overall taking into account the large number of primary reflectors that may be employed.
Although efforts have been made to minimize impacts of these various factors upon sunlight collection efficiency, not all factors may be entirely eliminated and/or avoided. As such, and because maximum energy efficiency remains desirable for at least cost and environmental concerns, a need exists for a parabolic trough collector that captures and collects reflected at least an improved portion of sunlight that would otherwise be lost in various conventional systems. Such a parabolic trough collector having these and still other advantages is provided by the various embodiments of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to solar concentrators and solar collector systems comprising secondary parabolic reflector assemblies for use in conjunction with an absorber tube and a primary parabolic trough assembly so as to minimize the number of reflected solar rays that are not initially collected by the absorber tube.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention as described herein, a solar collector system is provided. The system generally comprises: an absorber tube; a primary reflector having a first side surface and an opposing second side surface, at least the first side surface being configured to substantially reflect one or more light beams making contact therewith substantially toward the absorber tube; and a secondary reflector having a first side surface and an opposing second side surface, at least the first side surface being configured to reflect the one or more light beams reflected from the primary reflector further toward the absorber tube, wherein the absorber tube is positioned intermediate the primary reflector and the secondary reflector, such that the absorber tube is configured to collect one or more of the light beams reflected from the primary reflector and one or more of the light beams reflected from the secondary reflector.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention as described herein, an additional solar collector system is provided. The system generally comprises: a frame assembly comprising a first support member, a second support member, and a third support member, the first, second, and third support members being operatively mounted relative to one another so as to define a unitary pivot axis; a primary reflector, the primary reflector being operatively attached to the first support member; a secondary reflector, the secondary reflector being operatively attached to the second support member; and an absorber tube, the absorber tube being operatively attached to the third support member such that the absorber tube is positioned intermediate the primary reflector and the secondary reflector, wherein the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube are each configured, via the frame assembly, to rotate substantially about the unitary pivot axis although the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube each remain stationary relative to one another so as to minimize misalignment there-between.
In accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention as described herein, a method of using a solar collector system to maximize collection of light beams directed thereon by an external light source is also provided. The method comprises the steps of: (A) providing a system comprising: (1) a frame assembly comprising a first support member, a second support member, and a third support member, the first, second, and third support members being operatively mounted relative to one another so as to define a unitary pivot axis; (2) a primary reflector, the primary reflector being operatively attached to the first support member; (3) a secondary reflector, the secondary reflector being operatively attached to the second support member; and (4) an absorber tube, the absorber tube being operatively attached to the third support member such that the absorber tube is positioned intermediate the primary reflector and the secondary reflector; (B) positioning said solar collector system in a first orientation, said first orientation corresponding to a position at which, during a first period of time, a volume of light beams directed onto said primary reflector is maximized; and (C) rotating said solar collector system to a second orientation, said second orientation corresponding to a position at which, during a second period of time different from said first period of time, said volume of light beams directed onto said primary reflector is maximized, wherein said rotating occurs about said unitary pivot point such that the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube each remain stationary relative to one another so as to minimize misalignment there-between.
The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the disclosure illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale:
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, embodiments of the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates. The term “or” is used herein in both the alternative and conjunctive sense, unless otherwise indicated. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Overview
As commonly known and understood in the art, parabolic solar concentrators use mirrored surfaces curved in a parabolic shape to focus sunlight onto the mathematical focal point of their inherent parabola.
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- 100 solar concentrator
- 110 base assembly
- 112 foundation member
- 114 upright support member
- 115 cross member
- 110 base assembly
- 120 parabolic trough assembly
- 122 mirror
- 123 first reflective surface
- 124 second surface
- 125 first edge
- 126 second edge
- 127 first side
- 128 second side
- 129 elongate structural frame member
- 130 first end
- 131 second end
- 132 structural support members
- 133 first end
- 134 second end
- 122 mirror
- 140 absorber tube
- 142 first end
- 143 second end
- 146 medial portion
- 140A alternative absorber tube #1
- 140B alternative absorber tube #2
- 160 secondary reflector assembly
- 162 mirror
- 163 first reflective surface
- 164 second surface
- 165 first edge
- 166 second edge
- 167 first side
- 168 second side
- 169 elongate structural frame member
- 170 first end
- 171 second end
- 172 structural support members
- 162 mirror
- 160A alternative secondary reflector assembly #1
- 160B alternative secondary reflector assembly #2
- 180 mounting assembly
- 181 drive bracket
- 183 exemplary drive mechanism
- 184 central bracket
- 186 trough support bracket
- 188 absorber tube support bracket
- 189 elongate tube support members
- 190 secondary reflector support bracket
- 192 elongate reflector support members
- 100 solar concentrator
Structure of Various Embodiments
Various embodiments utilize the traditional generic parabolic shape 10, as previously described with reference to
Base Frame Assembly 110
Turning now to
The base member 112 may in certain embodiments be constructed from a steel material, although any of a variety of materials may be used, provided such materials exhibit properties sufficient to support the remaining assemblies, as will be described in further detail below. The base member 112 may also, in certain embodiments, be further positioned atop a concrete foundation (see, for example,
The elongate upright support members 114 may, according to various embodiments, be operatively attached at one end to a surface of the base member 112, generally positioning the two relative to one another, as shown in at least
With continued reference to
In any of these and still other embodiments, it should be understood that although the base frame assembly 110 has been described as above, according to exemplary embodiments illustrated in at least
Parabolic Trough Assembly 120
As with the base frame assembly 110, as previously described herein, various configurations of parabolic trough assemblies are commonly known and used in the art in conjunction with solar concentrators and/or solar collector systems. Generally speaking, as may be understood from
The mirror 122 of the parabolic trough assembly 120 according to various embodiments is parabolic shaped (as has been described previously herein with regard to at least
As mentioned, the glass substrate layer may generally comprise a reflective layer, typically formed from a thin metal film, as is commonly known in the art. In at least certain embodiments, the metal film (not shown) may be constructed from a polished silver material, while in other embodiments the film may be constructed from a polished aluminum material or may be deposited onto a substrate by any of a variety of well-known vapor deposition processes. In still other embodiments, the thin metal film may be constructed from any of a variety of materials, as may be desirable for a particular application. However, it should be understood that in any of these and other envisioned embodiments, the reflective layer and/or metal film is shielded by the exterior glass substrate layer from abrasion and corrosion.
Turning in particular now to
The plurality of structural support members 132, as may be seen in at least
In various embodiments, the mirror 122 defines a parabolic arc having a diameter of approximately fix (5) meters. Of course, in certain embodiments, the diameter of the mirror 122 may be less than or greater than five meters, as may be desirable for a particular application. In certain embodiments, the diameter may range from three to seven meters. In other embodiments, the diameter may even be less than three or more than seven meters, as may be suitable for a particular application. In still other embodiments, the mirror 122 may define a shape other than a parabolic arc, but with any of the above-described comparable diameters, or even further alternative diameters, also as may be desirable for a particular application. It should be understood that in any of these various embodiments, relative size characteristics of the mirror 122 are typically limited at least in part by the structural strength characteristics of the base assembly 110, as previously described.
In various embodiments in which the mirror 122 defines a parabolic arc, it should be understood that the mirror 122 further defines a focal point, at which at least the absorber tube 140, as will be described in further detail below, should be positioned. Such is at least in part due to the focal point's mathematical definition as the point at which light rays reflected from parabolic arcs converge. In certain embodiments, the focal point (see, e.g.,
With particular reference to
The various structural members 129, 132 may be formed from any of a variety of structural materials as commonly known and used in the art for such applications, provided such materials exhibit properties sufficient to support at least the mirror 122 and the remaining assemblies, each as will be described in further detail below. It should be understood, again, that although the parabolic trough assembly 120 has been described above as including a mirror 122 and one or more of such structural members 129, 132, various alternatively configured parabolic trough assemblies are commonly known and used in the art in conjunction with solar concentrators and/or solar collector systems. As such, any of these, or still other envisioned parabolic trough assemblies may, in still other embodiments, be substituted for the assembly 120 described herein, as may be desirable for a particular application.
Absorber Tube 140
As with the base frame assembly 110 and the parabolic trough assembly 120, each as previously described herein, various configurations of absorber tubes are commonly known and used in the art in conjunction with solar concentrators and/or solar collector systems. Generally speaking, as may be understood from
The medial portion 146 of the absorber tube 140, as is commonly known and understood in the art, is configured to absorb the reflected sunlight 14 (see, e.g.,
As has been previously described herein, the absorber tube 140 should generally be configured with respect to at least the parabolic trough assembly 120, such that a central longitudinal axis of the tube 140 corresponds to an axis passing through the focal point (e.g., see
In various embodiments, the absorber tube 140 has a length of approximately six (6) meters. Of course, in certain embodiments, the length may be less than or greater than six meters, as may be desirable for a particular application. Further, in various embodiments, the inner tube of the absorber tube 140 has a diameter of approximately 70 millimeters while the outer tube has a diameter of approximately 115 millimeters. In certain embodiments, the inner and outer tube diameters may be less than or greater than 70 and 115 millimeters, respectively, as may be desirable for a particular application. However, such diameters should be considered exemplary and further, generally representative of diameters of conventional absorber tubes, as commonly known and used in the art.
In various embodiments, the diameter of the inner tube of the absorber tube 140 is related to the diameter of the mirror 122 of the parabolic trough assembly 120 by a ratio of approximately 1 to 100. For example, in those embodiments in which the mirror 122 has a diameter of seven (7) meters, the inner tube has a diameter of approximately 70 millimeters. In other embodiments, in which the mirror 122 has a diameter of five or three meters, the inner tube may have a diameter of approximately 50 or 30 millimeters, respectively. Of course, it should be understood that any of a variety of relative ratios between the diameter of the absorber tube 140 and that of the mirror 122 may be selected, as may be desirable for a particular application, in which case the examples provided herein should be considered non-limiting.
With reference to at least
Still further, it should be understood that any of a variety of configured absorber tubes, as commonly known and used in the art in conjunction with parabolic and other configured solar collector systems, may be used in certain embodiments of the present invention, in place of the exemplary absorber tube 140, as has been described herein. Indeed, consider, for example, the absorber tube of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0126499 to Wei David Lu, which describes a particular absorber tube that further includes an expansion element configured to expand or contract in response to differences in thermal temperatures between the inner tube and outer tube. This application, amongst other things, further describes a variety of getters, located radially between the inner and outer tube, so as to capture excess hydrogen that leaks from the heated inner tube into the vacuum sealed outer tube. Any variety of such absorber tubes, amongst others further known and used in the art may be incorporated into the present solar concentrator 101, as may be desirable for a particular application.
Secondary Reflector Assembly 160
As may be understood from
Turning now to
Turning in particular now to
The plurality of structural support members 172, as may be seen in at least
In various embodiments, the mirror 162 defines a parabolic arc having a diameter of approximately two (2) meters. Of course, in certain embodiments, the diameter of the mirror 162 may be less than or greater than two meters, as may be desirable for a particular application. In certain embodiments, the diameter may range from one to three meters. In other embodiments, the diameter may even be less than one or more than three meters, as may be suitable for a particular application. In still other embodiments, the mirror 162 may define a shape other than a parabolic arc, but with any of the above-described comparable diameters, or even further alternative diameters, also as may be desirable for a particular application. It should be understood that in any of these various embodiments, relative size characteristics of the mirror 162 are typically limited at least in part not only by the structural strength characteristics of the base assembly 110, but also by a desire to minimize the obstruction of any sunlight rays from reaching the mirror 122 of the parabolic trough assembly 120.
In various embodiments in which the mirror 162 defines a parabolic arc, it should be understood that the mirror 162 further defines a focal point, at which at least the absorber tube 140, as will be described in further detail below, should be positioned. Such is at least in part due to the focal point's mathematical definition as the point at which light rays reflected from parabolic arcs converge. In certain embodiments, the focal point (see, e.g.,
In various embodiments, the mirror 162 has an arc length of approximately three (3) meters. Of course, in certain embodiments, the length of the mirror 162 may be less than or greater than three meters, as may be desirable for a particular application. However, it should be understood that the length of the mirror 162 in any of these and still other embodiments should be substantially less than to the arc length of the mirror 122, so as to minimize the risk of the mirror 162 in blocking a significant degree of incident light rays from reaching the mirror 122 of the parabolic trough assembly 120. Of course, a competing consideration according to various embodiments is that the greater the arc length of the mirror 162, the more efficient the system, as a whole may be, as the larger sized mirror 162 will more effectively capture a broader scope of re-reflected light rays, that for whatever reason, do not converge upon the absorber tube 140.
In certain embodiments, wherein a maximal size of mirror 162 is desirable with minimal blockage of incident sunlight rays, the mirror 162 may be constructed from a glass substrate having a very thin and sparsely applied reflective layer, such that a desired portion of the incident light rays may pass unimpeded through the mirror 162 from atop (e.g., the side facing the sun), but the same light rays, once reflected from the mirror 122 and having missed the absorber tube 140, are not permitted to pass back through unimpeded, instead being re-reflected toward the absorber tube. Such mirrors, commonly referred to as “one-way mirrors” are commonly known and used in the art, and still further in other applications, such as the one-way mirrors employed by police officers when interrogating suspects.
As with mirror 122 (previously described herein), the mirror 162 according to various embodiments may be formed from two adjacently positioned mirror panels (best illustrated in
The various structural members 169, 172 may be formed from any of a variety of structural materials as commonly known and used in the art for such applications, provided such materials exhibit properties sufficient to support at least the mirror 162. As a non-limiting example, in certain embodiments, the structural members 169, 172 may be formed from substantially the same materials as analogous members 129, 132, as previously described herein. In other embodiments, the material strength requirements for the structural members 169, 172 may be lesser than that for members 129, 132, in which case alternatively configured materials may be substituted, as may be suitable for particular applications. Still further, although the structural members 129, 132, 169, and 172 have been described herein as substantially the same in shape and size configuration, certain embodiments may contain various combinations of configurations, provided the length of each of the structural members remains substantially equivalent to that of the others, as will be described in further detail below with regard to the mounting assembly 180.
As described previously with regard to
With reference now to
With continued reference to
Turning now to
Mounting Assembly 180
As may be understood from
With particular reference to
According to various embodiments, as may be seen perhaps best from
Remaining with
Although not particularly illustrated in
Turning now to
Remaining with
While in at least the embodiment illustrated in
Looking further at
In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the absorber tube 140 is fixedly attached to an upper portion of the bracket 188 (or one or more support members 189, as described above), while a lower portion of the bracket is fixedly attached to the central bracket 184. However, in other embodiments, at least a portion of the absorber tube 140 may be instead fixedly attached directly to the central bracket 184, without the need for an intermediate absorber tube bracket 188 and/or one or more support members 189, as described herein. However, for various reasons, generally including the non-limiting examples of a desire to simplify maintenance, minimize structural impedance of sunlight rays, and/or avoid repeated realignment of a particular assembly (e.g., assembly 120, to for example correct sunlight incident angles) separate brackets like bracket 188 are often incorporated within assembly 180.
Returning specifically to
From
Based upon the preceding description, it should be understood that the configuration of the mounting assembly 180, as described, although variable in certain embodiments, should at least fixedly position each of the trough assembly 120, the absorber tube 140, and the secondary reflector assembly 160 relative to one another, so as to minimize the need for refocusing and/or realignment, both in the short term (e.g., for example, when the concentrator 101 is adjusted to track the sun) and in the long term (e.g., for example, when external fluctuations over time vary mounting tolerances, warp one or more of the mirrors, or shift the foundational base assembly 110). All of these elements, via the mounting assembly 180, are coupled to an exemplary drive mechanism (as has been previously described herein) via a single interface, namely the drive bracket 181 of the assembly 180, thereby enabling concurrent and corresponding rotation of the aforementioned assemblies (e.g., 120, 140, 160) without altering the alignment there-between. In this manner, various embodiments of the solar concentrator 101 provide a simplistic and efficient mechanism that not only remains aligned with a greater degree of consistency, but also recaptures stray reflected light rays that initially miss the absorber tube 140 by reflecting them thereto via the mirror 162 of the secondary reflector assembly 160.
Operation and Exemplary Configurations of Various Embodiments
In operation, one of the exemplary drive mechanisms of the solar concentrator 101 may be activated, whether via a standard gear box assembly (not shown) or a hydraulic drive assembly (also not shown), each as commonly known and understood in the art. However, in contrast with conventional solar concentrators and solar collection systems, activation of the exemplary drive mechanism will rotate the solar concentrator 101 in its entirety as a single unitary structure, due at least in part to the orientation of the mounting assembly 180, as previously described herein, about the center of gravity of the solar concentrator. In this manner, not only does rotation of the solar concentrator 101 cause a corresponding rotation of the parabolic trough assembly 120, but it also causes a corresponding and comparable rotation of the absorber tube 140, the secondary reflector assembly 160, and the mounting assembly 180, as all previously described herein. It should be understood that this unitarily linked rotation of the solar concentrator 101 is facilitated at least in part in various embodiments by the simplicity of the mounting assembly 180 and in particular, the configuration of the central bracket 184 about the center of gravity of the solar concentrator, as previously described herein.
Consider for example the solar concentrator 101 of
Referring now to
Turning now to
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. A solar collector system, said system comprising:
- an absorber tube;
- a primary reflector having a primary reflective surface portion configured to substantially reflect one or more light beams making contact therewith substantially toward the absorber tube; and
- a secondary reflector having a secondary reflector surface portion configured to reflect the one or more light beams reflected from the primary reflector further toward the absorber tube,
- wherein the absorber tube is positioned intermediate the primary reflector and the secondary reflector, such that the absorber tube is configured to collect one or more of the light beams reflected from the primary reflector surface portion and one or more of the light beams reflected from the secondary reflector surface portion.
2. The solar collector system of claim 1, said system further comprising a frame assembly configured to define a unitary pivot axis, wherein the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube are operatively attached to at least a portion of the frame assembly the first support member such that the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube rotate as a single unit, said single unit being configured to rotate substantially about said unitary pivot axis whereas the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube each remain stationary relative to one another so as to minimize misalignment there-between.
3. The solar collector system of claim 2, wherein said unitary pivot axis substantially corresponds with a center of gravity of said single unit formed by the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube.
4. The solar collector system of claim 3, wherein longitudinal axes of the secondary reflector and the absorber tube are offset relative to said unitary pivot axis.
5. The solar collector system of claim 2, wherein:
- the frame assembly comprises a first support member and a second support member;
- the first support member comprises at least one elongate member having a distal end, adjacent to which said secondary reflector is operatively mounted, so as to offset a longitudinal axis of the secondary reflector from said unitary pivot axis a distance corresponding generally to a length of said at least one elongate member; and
- the second support member comprises at least one elongate member having a distal end, adjacent to which said absorber tube is operatively mounted, so as to offset a longitudinal axis of the absorber tube from said unitary pivot axis a distance corresponding generally to a length of said at least one elongate member.
6. The solar collector system of claim 5, wherein said length of said at least one elongate member of said first support member is substantially greater than said length of said at least one elongate member of said second support member, such that said absorber tube is positioned substantially intermediate said primary reflector and said secondary reflector.
7. The solar collector system of claim 2, wherein said unitary pivot axis is configured to permit concurrent rotation of said primary reflector, said secondary reflector, and said absorber tube through an angle of up to 270 degrees.
8. The solar collector system of claim 1, wherein said primary reflector comprises a substantially parabolic trough reflector, said substantially parabolic trough reflector defining a substantially parabolic arc, said substantially parabolic arc having a focal point.
9. The solar collector system of claim 8, wherein said substantially parabolic arc has a diameter lying in a range of from approximately three meters to approximately seven meters.
10. The solar collector system of claim 9, wherein said diameter is approximately five meters.
11. The solar collector system of claim 8, wherein said focal point defines a focal line, said focal line being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of said absorber tube.
12. The solar collector system of claim 11, wherein said focal line and said longitudinal axis of said absorber tube are positioned a distance relative to said parabolic trough reflector, said distance lying in a range of from approximately 1.5 meters to approximately 4.5 meters.
13. The solar collector system of claim 12, wherein said distance is between approximately 2.0 and 2.5 meters.
14. The solar collector system of claim 8, wherein said focal point is calculated by dividing a square of a diameter of the parabolic arc by the result of multiplying a depth of the parabolic arc by sixteen.
15. The solar collector system of claim 8, wherein said substantially parabolic trough reflector is formed from two distinct mirror panels, each of said mirror panels being positioned on opposing sides of a unitary pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said primary reflector.
16. The solar collector system of claim 1, wherein said secondary reflective surface portion of said secondary reflector is formed by a substantially reflective coating, said reflective coating having unidirectional reflective properties, such that light beams may pass there-through substantially unhindered in at least one direction.
17. The solar collector system of claim 1, wherein said secondary reflector comprises a substantially parabolic trough reflector, said substantially parabolic trough reflector defining a substantially parabolic arc, said substantially parabolic arc having a focal point.
18. The solar collector system of claim 17, wherein said substantially parabolic arc has a diameter lying in a range of from approximately one meters to approximately three meters.
19. The solar collector system of claim 17, wherein said focal point defines a focal line, said focal line being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of said absorber tube.
20. The solar collector system of claim 19, wherein said focal line and said longitudinal axis of said absorber tube are positioned a distance apart from said secondary reflector, said distance lying in a range of from approximately 0.25 meters to approximately 2.5 meters.
21. The solar collector system of claim 17, wherein said secondary reflector is formed from two distinct mirror panels, each of said mirror panels being positioned on opposing sides of a unitary pivot axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said primary reflector.
22. The solar collector system of claim 17, wherein said primary reflector comprises a substantially parabolic trough reflector, said substantially parabolic trough reflector defining a substantially parabolic arc, said substantially parabolic arc having a focal point.
23. The solar collector system of claim 17, wherein said secondary reflector comprises a dual parabolic trough reflector, said dual parabolic trough reflector defining at least two substantially parabolic arcs, each substantially parabolic arc having a focal point corresponding substantially with a longitudinal axis of said absorber tube.
24. A solar collector system, said system comprising:
- a frame assembly configured to define a unitary pivot axis;
- a primary reflector, the primary reflector being operatively attached to at least a portion of said frame assembly;
- a secondary reflector, the secondary reflector being operatively attached to at least a portion of said frame assembly; and
- an absorber tube, the absorber tube being operatively attached to at least a portion of said frame assembly such that the absorber tube is positioned substantially intermediate the primary reflector and the secondary reflector,
- wherein the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube form a single unit, said single unit being configured to rotate substantially about the unitary pivot axis whereas the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube each remain stationary relative to one another so as to minimize misalignment there-between.
25. A method of using a solar collector system to maximize collection of light beams directed thereon by an external light source, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing a system comprising: (1) a frame assembly configured to define a unitary pivot axis; (2) a primary reflector, the primary reflector being operatively attached to at least a portion of the frame assembly; (3) a secondary reflector, the secondary reflector being operatively attached to at least a portion of the frame assembly; and (4) an absorber tube, the absorber tube being operatively attached to at least a portion of the frame assembly such that the absorber tube is positioned intermediate the primary reflector and the secondary reflector and the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube form a single unit;
- (B) positioning said single unit in a first orientation, said first orientation corresponding to a position at which, during a first period of time, a volume of light beams directed onto said primary reflector is maximized; and
- (C) rotating said single unit to a second orientation, said second orientation corresponding to a position at which, during a second period of time different from said first period of time, said volume of light beams directed onto said primary reflector is maximized, wherein said rotating occurs about said unitary pivot point such that the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube within the single unit each remain stationary relative to one another so as to minimize misalignment there-between.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 18, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 18, 2013
Applicant: Gear Solar (Greer, SC)
Inventor: Gear Solar (Greer, SC)
Application Number: 13/655,118
International Classification: F24J 2/18 (20060101); F24J 2/54 (20060101);