Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Patent
1991-12-30
1995-08-29
Weisstuch, Aaron
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
136248, 126565, 126567, 126568, 126698, H01L 31052, F24J 200
Patent
active
054451779
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a platform for the utilization of solar energy which concentrates the sun's rays by means of linear concentrators, so that the energy output can be used in thermal, chemical, or photovoltaic conversion systems.
PRIOR ART
Current technology involves mechanical tracking systems which tilt the concentrators in two planes, so that the normal on the converter plane with respect to the azimuth and the sun's elevation always points exactly to the sun. By reason of their complexity such technical solutions are only competitive with other electricity-producing systems in exceptional cases. In addition, the aperture surfaces of all tracking systems need large relative distances from each other to avoid mutual shading which results in lower area utilization. The costs are much lower if two-dimensional concentrating systems are installed on the north-south axis and are moved once per day around this axis. Also costs are lower if concentrators which are installed parallel to the diameter of a platform follow the azimuth of the sun by revolving the platform around its vertical axis. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the daily yield is low because the radiation will irradiate almost perpendicular only twice per day.
The aim of the invention is to ensure an approximately uniform solar conversion which is largely independent of the sun elevation. This is accomplished by avoiding two-axis tracking systems and the use of a given surface almost totally as the aperture surface to capture the radiation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention solves the problem of utilization of solar energy by use of a platform which is revolved around its vertical axis by mechanical means at a velocity coinciding with the azimuthal movement of the sun. An annular tube forms a frame for a planar support extending horizontally and which is held by buoyant bodies floating on a liquid.
It is advantageous that the metal strips which form the planar support are pointing directly to the sun.
The planar support carries optically-transparent, radiation-refracting roof elements.
The radiation-refracting roof elements are echelon lenses which can be cylindrical fresnel lenses, the axis of which lies in a vertical plane pointing to the sun. Thus the sun's rays are directed to an energy converter arranged parallel to and close to the focal line of the echelon lenses. These lenses have flanks which face the sun such that the sun's rays are refracted towards the vertical plane onto the solar energy converting devices.
The radiation-refracting roof elements can be designed as a panel containing echelon lenses on one side and fresnel lenses on the other side, whereby the flanks of the echelon lenses face the sun and run perpendicular to the focal line of the fresnel lens.
The radiation-refracting roof panels can also have a smooth upper surface and a lower surface facing the solar energy converting device which is broken down into rectangular facets. The rectangular facets have flanks facing the sun as well as flanks running perpendicular to the first set of flanks and fulfilling the fresnel lens requirement. Thus the facets are inclined relative to the upper surface in two planes running perpendicular to each other. The angles of inclination are such that on the one hand the sun's rays are directed onto a focal line lying in a vertical plane pointing to the sun and at the same time the sun's rays are refracted toward the normal on the focal line.
The cross-section of the roof element is convex, facilitating drainage of rain water. These elements can have a hydrophilic surface coating.
Between the roof elements and the energy converting device is an optical system which twice per day refracts the sun's rays onto a vertical plane running perpendicular to the focal line. Solar rays impinging at a low angle will be bent to the vertical plane at an angle which is equal to the angle which the refracted solar rays near the zenith form with the vertical plane.
The optical system can also contain a translucent
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patent: 4214572 (1980-07-01), Gonder
patent: 4235221 (1980-11-01), Murphy
patent: 4249516 (1981-02-01), Stark
patent: 4289112 (1981-09-01), Roseen
patent: 4350143 (1982-09-01), Laing et al.
patent: 4771764 (1988-09-01), Cluff
patent: 4786795 (1988-11-01), Kurashima et al.
Japanese Patent Abstracts, vol. 8, No. 200 (E-266)(1637) Sep. 13, 1984, Kokai No. 59-89471 (May. 1984) Kikui.
Laing Inge
Laing Johanes L. N.
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