Liquid inserted lens and solar panel focusing system
The present invention discloses a liquid inserted lens and solar panel focus system. Liquid such as water is inserted into a transparent solid casing with the shape of a convex lens to form a convex lens. A solar panel is placed between the convex lens and the focus point of the convex lens, such that the sunlight can be focus on the solar cells to increase light intensity and produce more electric energy. This structure reduces the weight of the lens and its cost, and can be used in the focusing of solar panel system or other shape of lens for different application such as a photo-telescope, optical microscope or triangular prism to reduce the weight of the lens.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid inserted lens. In particular, to a liquid inserted lens and solar panel focus system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solar panel is an important power source in the future. In order to increase the efficiency of the solar cell, the structure and material used are improving continuously. The efficiency of the solar cell has reached above 20% or more. Focusing and heat dissipation are the targets of development for increasing the output current of the solar cell.
The technology used in R.O.C.(Taiwan) PAT. NO. 00544945 to Tanaka et al. “A solar energy transformer by using focus light through liquid” is a solar cell to be inserted into a liquid, Thus wetting the solar cell and improving the focusing of light by refraction and reflection in the liquid to increase the output current.
The technology used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,289 to Campbell, 111 et al. is a system for extracting energy from the sun's rays including a bank of solar energy cells is immersed in a bath of liquid formed to serve as a lens, concentrating the sun rays on the cells, and transmitting heat away from the cells.
The technology used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,740 to Campbell, 111 et al. is also immerses the solar cells in a bath of liquid formed to serve as a lens, but additionally includes a method for preheating the interior thereof. The converting unit is preferably equipped with light gathering and focusing means thereby providing coherent optically output.
Kirpich et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,681, teaches a separate structures for electrical insulation and thermal conduction are established within a liquid cooled, linear focus solar cell receiver for use with parabolic or Fresnel optical concentrators. The receiver includes a V-shaped aluminum extrusion having a pair of outer faces each formed with a channel receiving a string of solar cells in thermal contact with the extrusion.
Olah et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,874, “Solar energy module and fresnel lens for use in same” teaches a solar concentrator having a housing that supports at least one photovoltaic cell therein, a primary optical concentrator is provided in the form of a Fresnel lens. The Fresnel lens has a central facet and a plurality of adjacent facets of varying widths, the width of each successive adjacent facet decreasing in the direction away from the central facet.
The prior arts make use of glass to focus the light. As shown in
There is a need to provide a lens to increase the focusing effect, cost down by using less glass and decrease the weight of the lens such that it is easy to install. The present invention thus provides a solar panel focus system to satisfy the focusing necessary.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the invention to provide a structure of liquid inserted lens. By inserting liquid inside a hollow transparent solid housing, such as water, to form a lens to cost down by using less glass and decrease the weight of the lens such that it is easy to install.
It is another object of the invention to provide a solar panel focus system. A solar panel is placed between a liquid inserted convex lens and the focus point thereof, to transform the concentrated sun light into electric energy.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONA first aspect of the present invention teaches a structure of liquid inserted lens, including a hollow transparent solid housing, with the shape of a lens for inserting liquid inside thereof to decrease the weight of the lens. The hollow transparent solid housing is glass, transparent plastic, quartz or acrylic fiber. The thickness of the hollow transparent solid housing is between 0.3 mm to 8 mm, to support the gravity force and violence damage. The lens is a convex lens, concave lens or a triangular prism. A liquid is inserted inside the hollow transparent solid housing to form a lens. The liquid is water, ethanol, benzene, ceder oil or carbon disulfide.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches a solar panel focus system, including a liquid inserted convex lens, concentrating the sun light on a solar panel; a solar panel, constituted by solar cell arrays, is placing between said liquid inserted convex lens and the focus point of said liquid inserted convex lens to transform the concentrated sun light into electric energy.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will be more fully understood with reference to the description of the best embodiment and the drawing wherein:
Refer to
From Table 1, The inserted liquid with index of refraction close to optical glass is benzene, ceder oil or carbon disulfide, but the cost is too height, and has environment protection problem, thus it is prefer to use water.
Refer to
Refer to
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be understood by those having skill in the art that minor changes can be made to the form and details of the specific embodiments disclosed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention. The embodiments presented above are for purposes of example only and are not to be taken to limit the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A structure of liquid inserted lens, comprising:
- a hollow transparent solid housing, with the shape of a lens for 5 inserting liquid inside thereof to decrease the weight of the lens;
- a liquid, inserting inside said hollow transparent solid housing.
2. A structure as recited in claim 1, the material of said hollow transparent solid housing is glass.
3. A structure as recited in claim 1, the material of said hollow transparent solid housing is transparent plastic.
4. A structure as recited in claim 1, the material of said hollow transparent solid housing is quartz.
5. A structure as recited in claim 1, the material of said hollow transparent solid housing is acrylic fiber.
6. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said hollow transparent solid housing is between 0.3 mm to 8 mm.
7. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens is a convex lens.
8. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens is a concave lens.
9. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens is a triangular prism.
10. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid is water.
11. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid is ethanol.
12. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid is benzene.
13. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid is ceder oil.
14. A structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid is carbon disulfide.
15. A solar panel focus system, comprising:
- a liquid inserted convex lens, concentrating the sun light on a solar panel;
- a solar panel, constituted by solar cell arrays, is placing between said liquid inserted convex lens and the focus point of said liquid inserted convex lens to transform the concentrated sun light into electric energy.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 9, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2008
Inventor: Paul Pei (Tao-Yuan)
Application Number: 11/704,719
International Classification: F24J 2/08 (20060101);