CA1140824A - Solar energy collection system - Google Patents
Solar energy collection systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1140824A CA1140824A CA000378319A CA378319A CA1140824A CA 1140824 A CA1140824 A CA 1140824A CA 000378319 A CA000378319 A CA 000378319A CA 378319 A CA378319 A CA 378319A CA 1140824 A CA1140824 A CA 1140824A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- concentrator
- solar
- light
- solar radiation
- planar
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
A system is provided for the collection of electromagnetic radiation and the transmission of that radiation to a point of utilization in the form of light. Basically, the system employs a first solar concentrator for the collection and concentration of solar radiation. Optically coupled to the first solar concentrator is at least one additional solar concentrator for further concentrating the collected solar radiation for efficient coupling with a light pipe. Thus, the light pipe directs the collected and concentrated light to a point of utilization. Preferably, the solar concentrators are planar fluorescent solar concentrators having different fluorescent materials in each concentrator.
Description
`` 114~824 1 This invention relates to a system for col-
2 lecting solar energy, concentrating it and transmitting
3 it to a point of use in the form of light.
4 Commercially available solar collectors typical-ly convert solar radiation incident on a generally wide 6 area to electrical or thermal energy which is subsequently 7 transported in the converted form to a point of use.
8 Because of some of the inherent practical and technical 9 limitations of large area solar conversion devices, attempts have been made to concentrate the solar radiation 11 impinging over a wider area and focusing it onto a smaller 12 area conversion device. Among the typical solar energy 13 concentrators employed are mirrors, lenses and fluorescent 14 devices.
In U.S. Patent 668,404, use of a mirror for 16 focusing solar ra~iation onto a point of use is disclosed.
17 A more recent solar concentrator based on the use of re-18 flecting solar radiation with mirrors and focusing it at 19 a collection ~oint is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,130,109.
Since the relative position of the sun and earth changes 21 with time, there are certain practical limitations with 22 respect to using mirrored surfaces for focusing solar 23 radiation at a point of use.
24 In U.S. Patent 4,148,300 and U.S. Patent 4,114,592, lens type devices are disclosed for focusing 26 solar radiation on a point of use. As undoubtedly will 27 be appreciated, high quality lenses for such applications 28 are expensive and consequently are not suitable to ex-29 tremely widespread use.
In U.S. Patent 4,175,980 and U.S. Patent 31 4,149,902, there are described different types of fluo-32 rescent concentrators in which solar radiation is col-33 lected over large flat areas and focused onto a smaller 34 area for the photovoltaic conversion of the focused radi-ant energy means of a photovoltaic device. Indeed, in 36 U.S. Patent 4,149,902, the photovoltaic device is contigu-37 ous with the fluorescent collector. In one embodiment . '`~' ~
:
.
.
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1 of U.S. Patent 4,175,980, however, the photovoltaic 2 device is not contiguous with the fluorescent concentrator 3 but is separated from the concentrator by means of a fiber 4 optic mechanism. In the former patent, however, the amount of light utilized is limited by the cross-sectional area 6 of the solar cell and, in the latter patent, the amount 7 of light utilized is limited by the cross-sectional area 8 of the fiber optic mechanism.
9 According to this invention, there is provided a system for the collection of electromagnetic radiation 11 and the transmission of that radiation to a point of 12 utilization in the form of light. Basically, the system 13 employs a first solar concentrator for the collection and 14 concentration of solar radiation. Optically coupled to the first solar concentrator is at least one additional 16 solar concentrator for further concentrating the collected 17 solar radiation for efficient coupling with a light pipe.
18 Thus, the light pipe directs the collected and concentrated 19 light to a point of utilization. Preferably, the solar concentrators are planar fluorescent solar concentrators 21 having different fluorescent materials in each concentra-22 tor.
23 The precise characteristics and features of the 24 invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in light of the 26 accompanying drawings.
27 Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric drawing of one 28 embodiment of the present invention.
29 Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a fluo-rescent planar concentrator useful in the solar system 31 of the present invention.
32 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-33 3 of Fig. 2.
34 Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of one con-nector device used in the system of the present invention.
36 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-
8 Because of some of the inherent practical and technical 9 limitations of large area solar conversion devices, attempts have been made to concentrate the solar radiation 11 impinging over a wider area and focusing it onto a smaller 12 area conversion device. Among the typical solar energy 13 concentrators employed are mirrors, lenses and fluorescent 14 devices.
In U.S. Patent 668,404, use of a mirror for 16 focusing solar ra~iation onto a point of use is disclosed.
17 A more recent solar concentrator based on the use of re-18 flecting solar radiation with mirrors and focusing it at 19 a collection ~oint is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,130,109.
Since the relative position of the sun and earth changes 21 with time, there are certain practical limitations with 22 respect to using mirrored surfaces for focusing solar 23 radiation at a point of use.
24 In U.S. Patent 4,148,300 and U.S. Patent 4,114,592, lens type devices are disclosed for focusing 26 solar radiation on a point of use. As undoubtedly will 27 be appreciated, high quality lenses for such applications 28 are expensive and consequently are not suitable to ex-29 tremely widespread use.
In U.S. Patent 4,175,980 and U.S. Patent 31 4,149,902, there are described different types of fluo-32 rescent concentrators in which solar radiation is col-33 lected over large flat areas and focused onto a smaller 34 area for the photovoltaic conversion of the focused radi-ant energy means of a photovoltaic device. Indeed, in 36 U.S. Patent 4,149,902, the photovoltaic device is contigu-37 ous with the fluorescent collector. In one embodiment . '`~' ~
:
.
.
:114~82~
1 of U.S. Patent 4,175,980, however, the photovoltaic 2 device is not contiguous with the fluorescent concentrator 3 but is separated from the concentrator by means of a fiber 4 optic mechanism. In the former patent, however, the amount of light utilized is limited by the cross-sectional area 6 of the solar cell and, in the latter patent, the amount 7 of light utilized is limited by the cross-sectional area 8 of the fiber optic mechanism.
9 According to this invention, there is provided a system for the collection of electromagnetic radiation 11 and the transmission of that radiation to a point of 12 utilization in the form of light. Basically, the system 13 employs a first solar concentrator for the collection and 14 concentration of solar radiation. Optically coupled to the first solar concentrator is at least one additional 16 solar concentrator for further concentrating the collected 17 solar radiation for efficient coupling with a light pipe.
18 Thus, the light pipe directs the collected and concentrated 19 light to a point of utilization. Preferably, the solar concentrators are planar fluorescent solar concentrators 21 having different fluorescent materials in each concentra-22 tor.
23 The precise characteristics and features of the 24 invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in light of the 26 accompanying drawings.
27 Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric drawing of one 28 embodiment of the present invention.
29 Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a fluo-rescent planar concentrator useful in the solar system 31 of the present invention.
32 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-33 3 of Fig. 2.
34 Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of one con-nector device used in the system of the present invention.
36 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-
5 of Fig. 4.
` ~14~8Z~
1 Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of yet 2 another connector device used in the practice of the 3 present invention.
4 Turning now to Fig. 1, the system for the col-lection of solar radiation and its transmission to a point
` ~14~8Z~
1 Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of yet 2 another connector device used in the practice of the 3 present invention.
4 Turning now to Fig. 1, the system for the col-lection of solar radiation and its transmission to a point
6 of utilization according to the present invention includes
7 a solar energy receiver 10 op~ically coupled to means 11
8 for further concentrating the collected solar radiation
9 and transmitting it to a light transmission pipe 12 for transmission to a point of use designated generally as 14.
11 In operation, incident solar radiation desig-12 nated by line 16 is received in the collector 10 and con-13 centrated and transmitted as shown by line 17 to the 14 second stage concentrator 11 where the light is further concentrated and transmitted as shown by line 18 to light 16 pipe 12. The light emanating from light pipe 12 and shown 17 generally as line 19 is delivered to a point of utiliza-18 tion 14.
19 Basically, the solar energy receiver 10 can be any one of the known devices for the reception of incident 21 solar radiation and its concentration such as planar con-22 centrators, mirrored reflectors, parabolic troughs, and 23 the like. In the practice of the present invention, 24 however, it is particularly preferred that the solar col-lector 10 be a fluorescent planar concentrator. These 26 fluorescent planar concentrators are known in the art.
27 They consist, for example, of layers of dyes on light 28 transparent slabs of material or consist of glass contain-29 ing fluorescent chelates, certain inorganic ions and the like. Thus, as is shown in Fig. 3, for exa~ple, solar 31 collector 10 consists of a layer of fluorescent material 32 20 which is optically coupled to a sheet of highly light 33 transparent material 21 such as glass or plastic. Thus, 34 the collector 10 has a major surface 22 for the reception of incident solar radiation. The side walls 23 and end 36 wall 24 are preferably coated with a light reflecting .
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.
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.
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1 material, such as aluminum, silver and the like. Also, 2 bottom surface 25 is coated with a light diffusive materi-3 al such as white paint and, preferably, a light reflective 4 material. Thus, as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the incident solar radiation 16 is internally reflected by 6 means of the mirrors on light reflective surfaces and the 7 fluorescent material 20 and is redirected so as to exit 8 the collector at unmirrored end wall 26.
9 As can be seen in Fig. 1, optically connected to end wall 26 of solar collector 10 is connector means 11 11 ~for optically connecting the first stage concentrator to 12 a light pipe. The connector 11 also further concentrates 13 the solar radiation as well as serves to transmit it to 14 the light pipe 12. Basically, the connector means 11 for further concentrating the solar radiation is a second 16 stage concentrator which may be based upon reflectors, 17 parabolic troughs and the like, but preferably the second 18 stage solar concentrator is a fluorescent planar concen-19 trator (see Figs. 4 and 5) consisting largely of a fluo-rescent material 27 having light reflective surfaces on 21 the top and bottom 28 and 29 of the concentrator, respec-22 tively, as well as end wall 30 and side wall 31. The 23 fluorescent material of the second stage concentrator, of 24 course, must be a different fluorescent material from the fluorescent material in the first fluorescent concentrator, 26 i.e., it must absorb solar radiation in a different region 27 of the spectrum. Both concentrators may employ dyes, 28 chelates or inorganic ions, however.
29 Returning to Figs. 1 and 4, connector means 11 has a side wall 32 which is adapted to be optically coupled 31 to the edge of collector concentrator 10 for the reception 32 of solar radiation from collector 10 for further concen-33 tration in connector 11. The connector or second stage 34 concentrator additionally has an unmirrored side wall 33 for optical coupling to a light transmission pipe 12.
36 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the second 37 stage concentrator has a geometry designed to enhance the : ~ ;
11~0~3Z~
1 concentration being achieved via the fluorescent mecha-2 nism thereby further reducing the area for light to be 3 emitted-from for coupling to the light pipe 12.
4 As will be appreciated, the light transmission pipe 12 or optical waveguide is one which is normally 6 employed in conventional fiber optic techniques and, 7 indeed, would typically be a plurality of such fibers.
8 However, a single conventional light pipe may be used in 9 the practice of the present invention.
As is indicated in Fig. 1, 14 represents a 11 point of utilization. As will be readily appreciated, 12 the light emanating from light pipe 12 and shown as line 13 19 can be projected onto a photoresponsive device such 14 as a photovoltaic cell for direct conversion of the light incident on the cell to electrical energy. Optionally 16 and preferably, the point of utilization will include a 17 heat exchanger having a selective surface thereon for 18 converting fluid in heat exchange relationship with the 19 heat exchanger to thermal energy.
As will be readily appreciated, control means 21 (not shown) can be employed to switch the light at the 22 point of use so as to limit the amount of thermal energy 23 generated in the thermal conversion device or the tempera-24 ture reached when power is not required.
The invention has been described in detail with 26 particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, 27 but it will be understood that reasonable variations and 28 modifications are possible without departing from the 29 spirit and scope of the invention.
,~ .
11 In operation, incident solar radiation desig-12 nated by line 16 is received in the collector 10 and con-13 centrated and transmitted as shown by line 17 to the 14 second stage concentrator 11 where the light is further concentrated and transmitted as shown by line 18 to light 16 pipe 12. The light emanating from light pipe 12 and shown 17 generally as line 19 is delivered to a point of utiliza-18 tion 14.
19 Basically, the solar energy receiver 10 can be any one of the known devices for the reception of incident 21 solar radiation and its concentration such as planar con-22 centrators, mirrored reflectors, parabolic troughs, and 23 the like. In the practice of the present invention, 24 however, it is particularly preferred that the solar col-lector 10 be a fluorescent planar concentrator. These 26 fluorescent planar concentrators are known in the art.
27 They consist, for example, of layers of dyes on light 28 transparent slabs of material or consist of glass contain-29 ing fluorescent chelates, certain inorganic ions and the like. Thus, as is shown in Fig. 3, for exa~ple, solar 31 collector 10 consists of a layer of fluorescent material 32 20 which is optically coupled to a sheet of highly light 33 transparent material 21 such as glass or plastic. Thus, 34 the collector 10 has a major surface 22 for the reception of incident solar radiation. The side walls 23 and end 36 wall 24 are preferably coated with a light reflecting .
~' .
.
:
.
14082~
1 material, such as aluminum, silver and the like. Also, 2 bottom surface 25 is coated with a light diffusive materi-3 al such as white paint and, preferably, a light reflective 4 material. Thus, as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the incident solar radiation 16 is internally reflected by 6 means of the mirrors on light reflective surfaces and the 7 fluorescent material 20 and is redirected so as to exit 8 the collector at unmirrored end wall 26.
9 As can be seen in Fig. 1, optically connected to end wall 26 of solar collector 10 is connector means 11 11 ~for optically connecting the first stage concentrator to 12 a light pipe. The connector 11 also further concentrates 13 the solar radiation as well as serves to transmit it to 14 the light pipe 12. Basically, the connector means 11 for further concentrating the solar radiation is a second 16 stage concentrator which may be based upon reflectors, 17 parabolic troughs and the like, but preferably the second 18 stage solar concentrator is a fluorescent planar concen-19 trator (see Figs. 4 and 5) consisting largely of a fluo-rescent material 27 having light reflective surfaces on 21 the top and bottom 28 and 29 of the concentrator, respec-22 tively, as well as end wall 30 and side wall 31. The 23 fluorescent material of the second stage concentrator, of 24 course, must be a different fluorescent material from the fluorescent material in the first fluorescent concentrator, 26 i.e., it must absorb solar radiation in a different region 27 of the spectrum. Both concentrators may employ dyes, 28 chelates or inorganic ions, however.
29 Returning to Figs. 1 and 4, connector means 11 has a side wall 32 which is adapted to be optically coupled 31 to the edge of collector concentrator 10 for the reception 32 of solar radiation from collector 10 for further concen-33 tration in connector 11. The connector or second stage 34 concentrator additionally has an unmirrored side wall 33 for optical coupling to a light transmission pipe 12.
36 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the second 37 stage concentrator has a geometry designed to enhance the : ~ ;
11~0~3Z~
1 concentration being achieved via the fluorescent mecha-2 nism thereby further reducing the area for light to be 3 emitted-from for coupling to the light pipe 12.
4 As will be appreciated, the light transmission pipe 12 or optical waveguide is one which is normally 6 employed in conventional fiber optic techniques and, 7 indeed, would typically be a plurality of such fibers.
8 However, a single conventional light pipe may be used in 9 the practice of the present invention.
As is indicated in Fig. 1, 14 represents a 11 point of utilization. As will be readily appreciated, 12 the light emanating from light pipe 12 and shown as line 13 19 can be projected onto a photoresponsive device such 14 as a photovoltaic cell for direct conversion of the light incident on the cell to electrical energy. Optionally 16 and preferably, the point of utilization will include a 17 heat exchanger having a selective surface thereon for 18 converting fluid in heat exchange relationship with the 19 heat exchanger to thermal energy.
As will be readily appreciated, control means 21 (not shown) can be employed to switch the light at the 22 point of use so as to limit the amount of thermal energy 23 generated in the thermal conversion device or the tempera-24 ture reached when power is not required.
The invention has been described in detail with 26 particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, 27 but it will be understood that reasonable variations and 28 modifications are possible without departing from the 29 spirit and scope of the invention.
,~ .
Claims (8)
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A system for the collection of solar radiation and the trans-mission thereof to a point of utilization in the form of light comprising:
a solar collector for the receipt and concentration of solar radiation, said solar collector being a planar fluorescent concen-trator of a first fluorescent material having a major surface for receipt of incident solar radiation and an edge for transmission of the solar radiation collected and concentrated by said collector;
second concentrator means optically coupled to said edge of said collector for receipt of concentrated solar radiation from said collector and for the further concentration of said solar radiation, and when said second concentrator is a fluorescent concentrator, said second concentrator having a fluorescent material different from said first fluorescent material;
a light transmission pipe optically connected to said second concentrator, whereby light from the collector which is concentrated in the second concentrator is introduced into said light trans-mission pipe for transmission to a point of use; and a utilization device remote from said solar collector whereby solar radiation incident on said collector is transmitted to said point of utilization in the form of light.
a solar collector for the receipt and concentration of solar radiation, said solar collector being a planar fluorescent concen-trator of a first fluorescent material having a major surface for receipt of incident solar radiation and an edge for transmission of the solar radiation collected and concentrated by said collector;
second concentrator means optically coupled to said edge of said collector for receipt of concentrated solar radiation from said collector and for the further concentration of said solar radiation, and when said second concentrator is a fluorescent concentrator, said second concentrator having a fluorescent material different from said first fluorescent material;
a light transmission pipe optically connected to said second concentrator, whereby light from the collector which is concentrated in the second concentrator is introduced into said light trans-mission pipe for transmission to a point of use; and a utilization device remote from said solar collector whereby solar radiation incident on said collector is transmitted to said point of utilization in the form of light.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the concentrator is a planar fluorescent concentrator in which the fluorescent material is different from the fluorescent material in the collector.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the light pipe comprises a plurality of optical waveguides.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the point of utilization com-prises a photovoltaic device.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the utilization device includes a heat exchange surface for conversion of the light incident on that surface to thermal energy.
6. A solar energy system comprising:
a first planar fluorescent solar concentrator having a first fluorescent material, said planar concentrator having a major sur-face for collection and concentration of incident solar radiation, said concentrator having an edge for transmission of said collected solar radiation;
a second planar fluorescent solar concentrator having a second fluorescent material different from said first fluorescent material, said second planar concentrator optically coupled to said first planar concentrator for receipt of solar radiation transmitted by said first concentrator, said second planar fluorescent concentrator having an edge for transmission of said solar radiation;
a light transmission pipe optically coupled to said second planar concentrator for receipt of solar radiation and trans-mission thereof to a point of use; and a utilization device remote from said first and second con-centrators whereby solar radiation incident on said first planar solar concentrator is transmitted to said point of utilization in the form of light.
a first planar fluorescent solar concentrator having a first fluorescent material, said planar concentrator having a major sur-face for collection and concentration of incident solar radiation, said concentrator having an edge for transmission of said collected solar radiation;
a second planar fluorescent solar concentrator having a second fluorescent material different from said first fluorescent material, said second planar concentrator optically coupled to said first planar concentrator for receipt of solar radiation transmitted by said first concentrator, said second planar fluorescent concentrator having an edge for transmission of said solar radiation;
a light transmission pipe optically coupled to said second planar concentrator for receipt of solar radiation and trans-mission thereof to a point of use; and a utilization device remote from said first and second con-centrators whereby solar radiation incident on said first planar solar concentrator is transmitted to said point of utilization in the form of light.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the utilization device includes a heat exchange surface for conversion of light on that surface to thermal energy.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein the utilization device includes a photoresponsive surface for the conversion of light to electrical energy.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000378319A CA1140824A (en) | 1981-05-26 | 1981-05-26 | Solar energy collection system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000378319A CA1140824A (en) | 1981-05-26 | 1981-05-26 | Solar energy collection system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1140824A true CA1140824A (en) | 1983-02-08 |
Family
ID=4120057
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000378319A Expired CA1140824A (en) | 1981-05-26 | 1981-05-26 | Solar energy collection system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1140824A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-05-26 CA CA000378319A patent/CA1140824A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |