Abstract:
An apparatus for solar tracking using minimal energy is described. A prismatic energy harvester (10) is positioned above a spring (20). The harvester has a pair of ears (14) at both side of the top portion of the harvester. The ear is moved by strings (16) from a reel (18) connected to a box of motor (12). At least two photo-resistive elements track the sun rays intensity to identify the position of the sun. Then, the motor adjust the reels to rotate the harvester using strings until the harvester and the sun is at right angle. The photo-resistive elements continuously track the sun so that the harvester can be rotated towards the sun at right angle.
Abstract:
A solar energy conversion system may include a receiver with a first heat transfer fluid channel having at least two opposite sides. Each side may present an external surface facing in a direction opposite to that of the external surface of the other opposite side. Each side may be configured to contact a heat transfer fluid carried in the first heat transfer fluid channel. A heliostat field may be configured to direct solar energy to each of the at least two opposite sides during the course of a day such that a thermal stress tending to bend the channel remains below a specified level.
Abstract:
A heating installation (10) comprises at least one solar panel (14) comprising a photovoltaic cell region (18) linked to a rechargeable battery array (22), a main heat source (13) linked to an indirect hot water storage tank (11), at least one fan convector heating unit (29) linked to the battery array (22) and the indirect hot water storage tank (11), and pump means (17, 28) linked to the battery array (22). The pump means (17, 28) is adapted to pump water between the main heat source (13), the indirect hot water storage tank (11) and the fan convector heating unit(s) (29).
Abstract:
This invention concerns a solar collector module for the formation of a thermic or photovoltaic roof, comprising a collector/thermal exchanger (11 ) between a supporting structure (12, 20, 26) and a possible sheet of transparent covering (35). The collector/exchanger is made up of an aluminium or similar solar picking up plate (14) forming one or more longitudinal ducts (16) for the circulation of a thermovector fluid. The supporting structure comprises at least two parallel supporting wood beams (12), each one fitted with a rigid metal profile (20) extending along the top side of the beam and anti-flexion lateral tie rods (26). The plate (14) rests and is fixed above the metal profiles (20) along the beams (12) and on at least a layer of thermo isolating and transparent material (13', 13') positioned between and to the sides of said beams.
Abstract:
A concentrator for a solar radiation collector is provided. The concentrator comprising a prismatic portion having a cross-section with a right-triangular shape, the portion comprising an entrance aperture coincident with a hypotenuse of the triangle, a receiving plane coincident with a short cathetus of the triangle and in optical communication with a photovoltaic cell, and a reflection wall extending along a long cathetus of the triangle and having an inner, prism-facing, side and an outer side opposite thereto. The portion is designed to utilize total internal reflection at least from the inner side of the reflection wall to concentrate radiation impinging upon the entrance aperture toward the photovoltaic cell. The concentrator further comprises a mirror separate from the prismatic portion and disposed opposite the outer side of the reflection wall, being held in fixed disposition and being free of optical bonding thereto.
Abstract:
This invention concerns a solar collector module for the formation of a thermic or photovoltaic roof, comprising a collector/thermal exchanger (11 ) between a supporting structure (12, 20, 26) and a possible sheet of transparent covering (35). The collector/exchanger is made up of an aluminium or similar solar picking up plate (14) forming one or more longitudinal ducts (16) for the circulation of a thermovector fluid. The supporting structure comprises at least two parallel supporting wood beams (12), each one fitted with a rigid metal profile (20) extending along the top side of the beam and anti-flexion lateral tie rods (26). The plate (14) rests and is fixed above the metal profiles (20) along the beams (12) and on at least a layer of thermo isolating and transparent material (13', 13') positioned between and to the sides of said beams.
Abstract:
A solar panel (302) for heating a target fluid using incident solar radiation is described, the solar panel (302) includes: three major edges (306) arranged so that the solar panel (302) can be inscribed in a triangle with each major edge (308) of the panel (302) lying along at least a portion of a side of the triangle; a cavity for retaining the target fluid; and an inlet and an outlet for the target fluid, for exchanging the target fluid with adjacent solar panels (302).
Abstract:
A receiver pipe (1) for a solar trough collector, which bundles the solar radiation striking it toward a focal line, comprises an absorber pipe (2), which in the mounted state extends on the focal line of the trough collector and is designed as part of a flow path for a heat transfer medium, and a cladding pipe closed in a gas-tight manner, on the inside (8) of which the absorber tube runs, wherein the flow path for the heat transfer medium is guided to the outside in the end regions of the cladding pipe through the wall thereof. It is provided that the cladding pipe comprises at least two casing parts (4, 5), which in the mounted state extend in the direction of the focal line and are connected to each other in a gas-tight manner along casing lines, that the first casing part (4) is made of a material pervious to the solar radiation, that the second casing part (5) is made of a break-proof material, and that the flow path for the heat transfer medium is guided to the outside through a part of the wall of the cladding pipe that is not formed by the first casing part.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a reflector for uniaxially concentrating thermal solar collectors, comprising an elastic panel and a means that introduces the oppositely directed bending moments from two opposite sides into the panel. The invention further relates to a receiver for highly concentrating thermal solar collectors, said receiver being arranged inside a protective casing, wherein the protective casing is radiopaque and has an opening that is sealed air-tight, through which opening the radiation can penetrate into the interior of the protective casing. One aspect of the invention relates to a sensor for uniaxially and biaxially concentrating thermal solar collectors, said sensor having a hollow body, in which a photoelectric cell is arranged and which has an opening, in which a transparent scattering element is arranged, wherein the outside of the hollow body is reflective to radiation.
Abstract:
The present invention is primarily directed to cost-effective systems for using large reflective elements that track the sun on two axes to concentrate solar energy onto a receiver that can convert the sun's optical energy to a form usable for extensive displacement of combustion of fossil fuels. The structures of the tracker frame, tracking mechanism and tracker supports are co-optimized with the optical elements and the receiver for high efficiency, low cost, and ease of assembly, making moderate and large-scale implementations cost-competitive with fossil fuels for peak power, and. with suitable storage, for base-load power and dispatchable peaking power in sunny locations. Improvement to small-tracker two-axis systems and one-axis tracking systems that focus in two dimensions are also included, as are improvements in systems for space-based solar power.