GB2560695A - Thermal solar ray concentration system for a power generation system - Google Patents

Thermal solar ray concentration system for a power generation system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2560695A
GB2560695A GB1702758.2A GB201702758A GB2560695A GB 2560695 A GB2560695 A GB 2560695A GB 201702758 A GB201702758 A GB 201702758A GB 2560695 A GB2560695 A GB 2560695A
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Prior art keywords
mirror
mast structure
mirrors
concave
pipe
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GB201702758D0 (en
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Otegui Van Leeuw Jon
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
    • F03G6/06—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
    • F03G6/063—Tower concentrators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
    • F03G6/06—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/71—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with parabolic reflective surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/74—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/77—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with flat reflective plates
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/79—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with spaced and opposed interacting reflective surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
    • F03G6/06—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
    • F03G6/065—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means having a Rankine cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
    • F24S10/10—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids forming pools or ponds
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
    • F24S20/70—Waterborne solar heat collector modules
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
    • F24S30/45—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with two rotation axes
    • F24S30/452—Vertical primary axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S50/00—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
    • F24S50/20—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors for tracking
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/46—Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Abstract

A vertical solar array has a tower or mast 1.1 having a series of members 1.2, 1.3 that extend horizontally outwards and support a plurality of sub-arrays thereon. Incoming solar rays 1.8 contact and are reflected by a plurality of flat mirrors 1.13, each which may be selectively and individually rotated about a pivot point 1.14 using computer control to maximise solar input during the day. Light is then directed downward from array to array using movable angled flat mirrors 1.4, 45 degree fixed mirrors 1.5, plano-convex mirrors 1.6 and plano-concave mirrors 1,7. A pipe containing a liquid may be located below the mast and the light collected by the array may be focused by a lens to shine onto and raise the temperature of the pipe and hence the liquid therein. Vapour or steam thus created may be used to power a turbine. The solar array may be land based or may be located in a ship.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):
Jon Otegui Van Leeuw
Neubibergerstrasse 57, Munich 81737, Bavaria, Germany (72) Inventor(s):
Jon Otegui Van Leeuw (56) Documents Cited:
GB 2541198 A EP 3168466 A1 WO 2015/161921 A (58) Field of Search:
Other: WPI, EPODOC
EP 3176518 A1 EP 3163214 A1 (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
Jon Otegui Van Leeuw
Neubibergerstrasse 57, Munich 81737, Bavaria, Germany (54) Title of the Invention: Thermal solar ray concentration system for a power generation system Abstract Title: Vertical solar array, having plano-convex, concave and flat mirrors (57) A vertical solar array has a tower or mast 1.1 having a series of members 1.2, 1.3 that extend horizontally outwards and support a plurality of sub-arrays thereon. Incoming solar rays 1.8 contact and are reflected by a plurality of flat mirrors 1.13, each which may be selectively and individually rotated about a pivot point 1.14 using computer control to maximise solar input during the day. Light is then directed downward from array to array using movable angled flat mirrors 1.4, 45 degree fixed mirrors 1.5, plano-convex mirrors 1.6 and plano-concave mirrors 1,7. A pipe containing a liquid may be located below the mast and the light collected by the array may be focused by a lens to shine onto and raise the temperature of the pipe and hence the liquid therein. Vapour or steam thus created may be used to power a turbine. The solar array may be land based or may be located in a ship.
Figure GB2560695A_D0001
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Drawings:
Figure 1:
Figure GB2560695A_D0002
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Figure GB2560695A_D0005
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Figure GB2560695A_D0006
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Figure GB2560695A_D0007
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Figure GB2560695A_D0008
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Figure GB2560695A_D0009
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Figure 9:
Figure GB2560695A_D0010
Figure GB2560695A_D0011
Figure GB2560695A_D0012
Figure GB2560695A_D0013
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Figure GB2560695A_D0014
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Figure GB2560695A_D0016
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Figure GB2560695A_D0017
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Figure GB2560695A_D0018
Figure GB2560695A_D0019
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Figure GB2560695A_D0020
Figure 17:
17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9
Figure GB2560695A_D0021
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Figure GB2560695A_D0022
Figure GB2560695A_D0023
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Figure GB2560695A_D0024
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Figure GB2560695A_D0025
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Figure GB2560695A_D0026
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Figure GB2560695A_D0028
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Figure 25:
Figure GB2560695A_D0029
Figure 26:
Figure GB2560695A_D0030
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Figure 27:
Figure GB2560695A_D0031
Figure 28:
Figure GB2560695A_D0032
28.10
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Figure GB2560695A_D0033
Figure 30:
30.4 30.6
30.7 30.8
Figure GB2560695A_D0034
30.15
30.23
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30.25 30.24
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Figure 31:
Figure GB2560695A_D0035
Figure 32:
32.9
Figure GB2560695A_D0036
32.18 32.17
32.16
32.15
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Figure GB2560695A_D0037
Figure 34:
Figure GB2560695A_D0038
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Figure 35:
Figure GB2560695A_D0039
Figure GB2560695A_D0040
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36.3
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Figure GB2560695A_D0041
Figure GB2560695A_D0042
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Figure GB2560695A_D0043
Figure 40:
40.3
Figure GB2560695A_D0044
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40.7
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Figure 41:
Figure GB2560695A_D0045
Figure 42:
Figure GB2560695A_D0046
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Figure 43:
Figure GB2560695A_D0047
Title:
Solar ray concentration system for a power generation system
Technical field:
Power plant engineering
Description:
The present invention comprises a solar thermal power generation system which comprises the use of mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.10, 1.13, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) which are positioned one over the other along a tower4ike mast structure (1.1) which all deflect the incoming solar rays (1.8) to a concentrated point down a channel (3.7, 3.15) which projects down towards the ground, hence bringing the solar ray concentration system’s surface area to a minimum.
The present invention comprises a vertical mast structure (1.1) which comprises a plurality of systems positioned one on top of the other, with each system comprising a Plano concave mirror (1.7) which is positioned under a flat collection mirror (1.4), and which is positioned in front and slightly below a Plano convex mirror (1.6), such that said Plano convex mirror (1.6) is positioned closer to said vertical mast structure (1.1) than said Plano concave mirror (1.7) .
The present invention comprises a vertical tower mast structure (1.1) which sustains a set of Plano concave mirrors (1.7) which are orientated such that the solar rays (1.8) deflected by the flat mirror (1.4) positioned above said concave mirrors (1.7), are directed and concentrated towards a Plano convex mirror (1.6), on which the solar rays (1.8) are concentrated and then deflected vertically downwards due to said Plano convex mirror’s shape (1.6). The concentrated light rays are then deflected towards a horizontal projection away from said vertical mast (1.1) by a 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5, 2.2) which is positioned under said Plano convex mirror (1.6), and then reflected again vertically downwards by another flat 45 degree inclined mirror (1.10, 2.3).
After said system procedure, said solar rays are directed by a Plano concave mirror (1.7, 2.4) positioned under the lower positioned flat collection mirror (1.4) and directed again towards a Plano convex mirror (1.6) positioned at the same positon in accordance to the below mentioned components (1.7, 1.4, 2.4), such that the whole process starts again during a plurality of times, each time strengthening the intensity of the light rays concerned. When said light rays reach the bottom of said vertical mast structure (1.1), said solar rays are hence driven down towards flow of water (3.13) through a vertically projecting pipe (3.7, 3.15), where said concentrated light beam heat said water (3.9) instantaneously and convert it into steam in order to drive turbines, and hence drive generators to generate electricity.
A flat collection mirror (1.13) is positioned in front of said inner flat collection mirror (1.4) at each system level along said tower mast (1.1) in order to reflect solar light rays (1.8) which project at angels greater than 45 degrees from the ground level, hence reflecting said solar rays (1.8) to said inner flat collection mirror (1.4) which will in turn reflect these along the same previously mentioned solar ray concentration process.
Figure 1 comprises a side view of the tower mast (1.1), along with a side view of the Plano concave mirrors (1.7), Plano convex mirrors (1.6) and flat mirrors (1.5, 1.10) which are positioned above each other and all attached to said tower mast structure (1.1).
Figure 2 comprises a side view of solar ray concentration system, but with the inner 45 degree inclined flat mirrors (2.2) being positioned just in front of said outer 45 degree flat mirrors (2.3) which reflect said concentrated light rays towards the inner area of said Plano concave mirrors (1.7, 2.4).
Figure 3 comprises a side cross-sectional view of the lower system architecture of said solar ray concentration system, including basement, water collection and evaporation circuit, and bottom light concentration system.
Figure 4 comprises a top view of the water pipe (4.4, 4.5, 4.9) distribution system which is comprised under said vertical tower masts (4.6), including steam turbine (4.11) and intake piping (4.1, 4.2), along with the energy storage fluid circuit (4.17, 4.18, 4.19), comprising a storage tank(4.14), a distribution pipe(4.17), a set of pipes (4.18), each for a tower mast structure (4.6), and a collection pipe (4.19), with said energy storage fluid being driven by a pump (4.16) around said circuit (4.17, 4.18, 4.19).
Figure 5 comprises a side view of the bottom area of a tower mast (5.1), comprising a light concentration system in which a pair of 45 degree inclined flat reflation mirrors (5.3, 5.4) reflects the light rays (5.2) to a parallel path to said tower mast structure (5.1), but at a greater distance from said tower mast structure (5.1) in order for a concave mirror (5.7) positioned under said outer 45 degree inclined mirror (5.4), to have space to concentrate the light rays (5.2) towards a tower mast (5.1) embedded convex mirror (5.6), such that said concave (5.7) and outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection (5.4) mirrors are positioned further from said mast structure (5.1) than said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3).
Figure 6 comprises a side view of the bottom area of a tower mast (6.1), comprising a light concentration system in which the lowest positioned inner Plano convex mirror (6.2) is positioned in front of the outer positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3), which is in turn sustained by a horizontal member (6.4) which is sustained by said mast structure (6.1), such that a concave mirror (6.7) is positioned under said upper positioned outer Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that the light rays (6.5) reflected by said Plano convex mirror (6.2) are projected between said tower mast structure (6.1) and said outer Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that said concave mirror (6.7) reflects said light rays (6.5) towards a convex mirror (6.6) embedded inside said lower mast structure (6.1), and that said lowest positioned Plano concave (6.3) and concave (6.7) mirrors (6.3) are positioned further from said tower mast structure (6.1) than said lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (6.2).
Figure 7 comprises a side view of a tower mast structure (7.1) which comprises a plurality of system base levels comprised one over the other, in which each of said system bases levels comprises an upper horizontal pair of members (7.4) which sustains a pair of two 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (7.7, 7.9) on the top surface, with the outer flat collection mirror (7.6) being positioned at the upper end of said members (7.4), such that said pair of members (7.4) sustains an outer positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10) at the lower surface of the end of said members (7.4), as well as sustaining the upper edge of a Plano concave mirror (7.11) at the lower surface of said members (7.4), under which a lower horizontal pair of members (7.5) sustains the lower edge of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) at upper surface of the end of said set of members (7.5), while sustaining said lower positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14) under the lower surface of the end of said set of horizontal members (7.5).
Figure 8 comprises a side view of the same design as what is comprised on Figure 7, but with said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7) being positioned closer to said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.9), and hence under the end of said upper positioned lower horizontal pairs of members (8.5), such that said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7) are positioned further away from said tower mast structure (8.1) than said inner flat collection mirrors (8.14).
Figure 9 comprises a side view of a set of solar ray concentration systems to be positioned at the bottom of said tower mast structure (9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19), in which an inner (9.4, 9.16) or outer (9.9, 9.22) positioned concave (9.16, 9.22) or Plano concave (9.4, 9.9) mirror reflects the light rays towards an inner (9.10, 9.21) or outer (9.3, 9.15) positioned concave (9.21,
9.15) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.15) mirror, such that said light rays are driven through the focal point of said concave (9.16, 9.22) or Plano concave (9.4, 9.9) mirrors prior of being reflected downwards into a coherent light ray (9.6, 9.12, 9.18, 9.23) by said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors.
Figure 10 comprises a side view of said design of Figure 1, but with convex mirrors (10.5) in the positions and orientations of said Plano convex mirrors (1.6), and concave mirrors (10.3) in the positons and orientations of said Plano concave mirrors (1.7).
Figure 11 comprises a side view of said design of Figure 2, but with convex mirrors (11.3) in the positions and orientations of said Plano convex mirrors (1.6), and concave mirrors (11.4) in the positons and orientations of said Plano concave mirrors (2.4).
Figure 12 comprises a side view of said design of Figure 7, but with convex mirrors (12.4) in the positions and orientations of said Plano convex mirrors (7.10), and concave mirrors (12.3) in the positons and orientations of said Plano concave mirrors (7.11).
Figure 13 comprises a side view of said design of Figure 8, but with convex mirrors (13.4) in the positions and orientations of said Plano convex mirrors (8.10), and concave mirrors (13.3) in the positons and orientations of said Plano concave mirrors (8.11).
Figure 14 comprises a side view of a light reflection system at the bottom of a tower mast structure (14.1) which comprises an outer 45 degree inclined reflection mirror (14.3) which reflects the vertically downwards projecting light rays (14.2) horizontally into said lower mast structure area (14.1), and so into a cavity until said light rays (14.7) are reflected back vertically downwards again by a tower mast structure (14.1) embedded 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4), such that said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) is sustained by a vertical member (14.5) positioned at the end of a horizontal member (14.6) which attaches to said tower mast structure (14.1).
Figure 15 comprises a side view of a building which comprises said solar ray concentration system (1.1) on the roof of said building, and includes a horizontally positioned convex lens (15.28) which projects vertically and which can be lifted (15.26) vertically up and down, such that said light rays are concentrated just under the lower surface of the cooking pot (15.18).
Figure 16 comprises said side view comprised on Figure 15, but with a narrower cooking pot (16.8) and without any heat supplied to the heater (15.10).
Figure 17 comprises the same side view as Figure 16, but with the concentrated light rays supplying heat to only a wider cooking pot (17.7).
Figure 18 comprises a top view of the cooking area on which the cooking pots (15.18, 16.8,
17.7) are positioned in order to be heated up by the concentrated light rays, but to only heat the lower surface of said pots (15.18, 16.8, 17.7) in order to maximise efficiency.
Figure 19 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a floating vessel or ship, which is powered by steam which is supplied from the liquid on which said vessel floats, and which is converted into steam by said solar heat concentrators (19.6, 19.12), such that said steam can drive a set of reciprocating steam expanders (19.9), as well as a steam turbine (19.3).
Figure 20 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a floating vessel which comprises membranes which allow the passage of either pure oxygen (20.4, 20.19) or pure hydrogen (20.3, 20.20) when said water collected from the medium on which said vessel floats, is submitted to very high temperatures and pressures by the concentrated solar rays (20.6,
20.14), which can hence both be stored in tanks (20.24, 20.12) for later use in the combustion chambers of a reciprocating internal combustion engine (20.10).
Figure 21 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a system which uses the concentrated light rays of said solar ray concentrators (21.2, 21.8) to initially separate flowing water into pure hydrogen (21.14) and pure oxygen (21.10) through different membranes (21.3, 21.13), such that the pure oxygen is then instantly liquefied by passing said pure hydrogen under highly concentrated solar rays in order to liquefy said hydrogen using the laser cooling process, such that said pure hydrogen can then be stored in a tank (21.18) for any combustion, propulsion or industrial applications.
Figure 22 comprises a cross-sectional view of a spacecraft (22.16) which comprises a solar ray concentration system (22.2) which converts water into steam to drive a turbine (22.8) to generate electricity for said spacecraft (22.16) by driving a generator (22.9), as well as said concentrator (22.5) being connected to a heavy steel wheel (22.6) in order to cancel out the rotational movement when said solar ray concentrator (22.5) makes adjustments, such that said spacecraft (22.16) does not change its attitude at any given time.
Figure 23 comprises a side view of a solar light ray concentrator, comprising the adjustment movement systems of both tower mast (23.13), collection mirrors (23.2, 23.3) and the water flow control gate (23.15).
Figure 24 comprises said side view of Figure 23, but with the collection mirrors (24.1, 24.2) being moved to the neutral positions.
Figure 25 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a floating vessel (25.9) which comprises a solar ray concentrator system which converts water into steam in a primary circuit (25.13), which is condensed by an open secondary circuit (25.8) which condenses said water after driving a steam turbine (25.5).
Figure 26 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a floating vessel (26.5) which comprises a single opened circuit (26.14) in which water is collected and heated by the solar rays through a heated structure (26.13), which drives a steam turbine (26.12) before being driven out of the system by a pump (26.7).
Figure 27 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a power generation system which comprises a primary circuit (27.2) which collects the heat of the concentrated light rays (27.6) when flowing through a heated structure (27.12), thus driving a steam tribune (27.11) which in turn drives a generator (27.10), such that the water of said primary circuit (27.2) is condensed by a secondary open circuit (27.9), which collects the heat of the primary circuit (27.2) through a heat exchanger (27.7).
Figure 28 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a single circuit power generation system (28.11) in which water is collected from a nearby basin, and collects the heat from the solar rays (28.5) through a heated structure (28.10) and drives a steam turbine (28.8), which is then driven out of the system by a pump (28.6).
Figure 29 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a power generation system which comprises a primary circuit system (29.2) which collects solar ray heat (29.5) to drive a steam turbine (29.14), such that said primary circuit (29.2) fluid is then cooled by a secondary circuit (29.4) which comprises a refrigerant, thus taking said excess heat through a heat exchanger (29.3) and transferring it to an outer space (29.9) by the means of a compressor (29.10), such that an air fan (29.8) finally drives said excessive heat out of the system.
Figure 30 comprises a side cross-sectional view of said system of Figure 29, but comprised on a floating vessel or ship (30.4), which uses the steam to drive a steam turbine (30.18), as well as a set of reciprocating expanders (30.21).
Figure 31 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a power generation system comprised on a floating vessel (31.7), which comprises a primary circuit (31.17) which collects the heat from the solar rays (31.8) when the circuit’s fluid passes through a heated element (31.15), and transfers said heat to a secondary circuit (31.6) by the means of a heat exchanger (31.18), such that the fluid of said secondary circuit (31.6) converts into steam to power a steam turbine (31.14), with said excessive heat being transferred to an open tertiary circuit (31.10) which collects and drives out said excessive heat by the means of a second heat exchanger (31.9).
Figure 32 comprises a side cross-sectional view of said system of Figure 31, but which is comprised on hard or artificial land which is positioned beside a fluid or water basin (32.1).
Figure 33 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a power generation system which comprises a primary circuit (33.18) which collects the heat from the solar rays (33.6) when the fluid is driven through a heated element (33.16), which then transfers said heat to a secondary circuit (33.3) via a heat exchanger (33.19), such that said steam in said secondary circuit (33.3) drives a steam turbine (33.15), such that the excess heat is transferred to a tertiary circuit (33.5) by the means of a heat exchanger (33.4), such that said refrigerant of said tertiary circuit (33.5) drives said excess heat to an outer space (33.11) by the means of a compressor (33.10), such that said heat is finally driven out by an air fan (33.9).
Figure 34 comprises a side cross-sectional view of said system of Figure 33, but comprised on a floating vessel or ship (34.4), and with both mast structures acting as tower mast structures (34.1, 34.13), which transfers solar ray heat to the fluid of the primary circuit (34.15) by driving said fluid through heat exchangers or steam generators (34.29, 34.14).
Figure 35 comprises a side cross-sectional view of a floating vessel or ship (35.5), which comprises the two mast structures acting as tower mast structures (35.4, 35.11), and thus both (35.4, 35.11) transferring heat to the primary circuit (35.14), which is then transferred to the secondary circuit (35.21) by the means of a heat exchanger (35.19), such that the steam generated in said secondary circuit (35.21) drives a steam turbine (35.16) and a set of reciprocating expanders (35.20), such that after, the excess heat is finally supplied to a tertiary circuit (35.10) which pumps water from outside said floating vessel (35.5) and drives it through a heat exchanger (35.6) to collect said excess heat before driving it out of the vessel.
Figure 36 comprises a side view of a power generation system, comprising a storage tank (36.1) of a storage material, such as molten salt, which connects to a closed circuit, which drives said storage material through a heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2), simultaneously along with the fluid of the primary circuit (36.3), in order to collect heat from said solar rays.
Figure 37 comprises a side view of a power generation system, comprising a storage tank (37.1) of a storage material, such as molten salt, which connects to a closed circuit, which drives said storage material through an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (37.2) , simultaneously along with the fluid of the primary circuit (37.3) in order to collect heat from said solar rays.
Figure 38 comprises a side view of a power generation system, comprising a storage tank (38.1) of a storage material, such as molten salt, which connects to a closed circuit, which drives said storage material through a heat exchanger (38.3) in order to collect heat from said primary circuit’s (38.4) fluid, which transfers it from said heat exchanger or steam generator (38.2) .
Figure 39 comprises a side view of a power generation system, comprising a storage tank (39.1) of a storage material, such as molten salt, which connects to a closed circuit, which drives said storage material through an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (39.3) in order to collect heat from said primary circuit’s (39.4) fluid, which transfers it from a heat exchanger or steam generator (38.2).
Figure 40 comprises a side view of a power generation system, comprising a storage tank (40.1) of a storage material, such as molten salt, which collects the heat of the solar rays from a set of heat exchanger rods (40.2), which transfer the heat from a heat exchanger or steam generator (40.3) positioned under the solar ray driving pipe (40.4), such that the primary circuit (40.6) collects heat by flowing through said energy storage tank (40.1) by passing through a heat exchanger or steam generator (40.7) at the bottom of said storage tank (40.1).
Figure 41 comprises a side view of a power generation system, comprising a storage tank (41.1) of a storage material, such as molten salt, which collects the heat of the solar rays from a set of heat exchanger rods (41.2), which transfer the heat from an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (41.3) positioned under the solar ray driving pipe (41.4), such that the primary circuit (41.6) collects heat by flowing through said energy storage tank (41.1) by passing through a heat exchanger or steam generator (41.7) at the bottom of said storage tank (41.1).
Figure 42 comprises a side view of the power generation system, comprising a pipe (42.1) which drives water at high speed by gravity through a hydroelectric turbine (42.2), which in turn drives a generator (42.3) to generate electricity, before which said water (42.4) is being driven through said heat exchanger or steam generator (42.5) to collect heat.
Figure 43 comprises a side view of the power generation system, comprising a pipe (43.1) which drives water at high speed by gravity through a hydroelectric turbine (43.2), which in turn drives a generator (43.3) to generate electricity, before which said water (43.4) is being driven through said upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (42.5) to collect heat.
The present invention comprises a vertical mast structure (1.1) which comprises a plurality of systems positioned one on top of the other, with each system comprising a Plano concave mirror (1.7) which is positioned under a flat collection mirror (1.4), and which is positioned in front of and slightly below a Plano convex mirror (1.6), such that said Plano convex mirror (1.6) is positioned closer to said vertical mast structure (1.1) than said Plano concave mirror (1.7) . Each system below the upper system also comprises two oppositely positioned 45 degree inclined mirrors (1.5, 1.10), which drive the concentrated light rays (1.12) away from said tower mast structure (1.1), such that these are reflected vertically downwards, but further away to said tower structure (1.1). The first 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) faces partly upwards and partly away from the tower mast (1.1) and towards the other 45 degree flat mirror (1.10). The other 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10) faces partly horizontally towards said mast (1.1) and hence towards the other mirror (1.15), and partly vertically downwards towards the lower Plano concave mirror (1.7) of the lower light concentration system.
So, the present invention comprises a vertical tower mast structure (1.1) which sustains a set of Plano concave mirrors (1.7) which are orientated such that the solar rays (1.8) deflected by the flat mirror (1.4) positioned above said Plano concave mirror (1.7), are directed towards a
Plano convex mirror (1.6), on which the solar rays are concentrated and then deflected vertically downwards due to said Plano convex mirror’s shape (1.6). The solar rays are then deflected horizontally away from said vertical mast by a 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5), and then reflected again vertically downwards by another flat 45 degree inclined mirror (1.10). After said system procedure, said solar rays are directed by a Plano concave mirror (1.7) positioned under the lower system’s flat collection mirror (1.4) and directed again towards a Plano convex mirror (1.6) positioned on an equivalent position as on the upper system, such that the whole process starts again during a plurality of times, hence passing through a plurality of systems down said tower mast (1.1), each time strengthening the intensity of the light rays (1.12) concerned. When said light rays (1.12) reach the bottom of said vertical mast structure (1.1), said solar rays are hence driven down a flow of water, where those heat said water instantaneously and convert it into steam in order to drive turbines, and hence drive generators to generate electricity.
The system is configured such that said tower structure (1.1) comprises a plurality of systems which are mounted on top of each other. On each system, the components are positioned at a specific configuration. On each of said systems, a flat collection mirror (1.4) is positioned on top of a Plano concave mirror (1.7). Said Plano concave mirror (1.7) is inclined towards the tower structure (1.1), such that it (1.7) partly faces towards the tower structure, and partly towards the above positioned flat collection mirror (1.4). The Plano concave mirror (1.7) is designed such that it will receive all the light rays (1.12) which are reflected vertically downwards by said flat collection mirrors (1.4). Said Plano concave mirrors (1.7) are also positioned such that these will not only receive the light rays (1.12) which are reflected vertically downward from said flat collection mirrors (1.4), but also the concentrated light rays (1.12) which are reflected downwards by said outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), which is positioned on top of the outer edge of said Plano concave mirror (1.7).
The inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) of the upper system, and the Plano convex mirror (1.6) of the lower system, are both sustained by a common horizontally projecting member (1.2) in each system’s case, and are hence both (1.5, 1.6) mounted on top of each other, with the inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror of the upper system (1.5) being mounted on top of the Plano convex mirror (1.6) of the lower system, such that said horizontally projecting member (1.2) sustains both elements (1.5, 1.6) and is positioned between the two (1.5, 1.6) for each system’s case.
The Plano concave mirrors (1.7) are each supported by a vertically projecting member (1.9), which sustain these (1.9) to the horizontally projecting members (1.3) on which said mirrors (1.7) are attached to. Said horizontally projecting members (1.3) also sustain the lower system’s flat collection mirror (1.4) for each system’s case.
The outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10) is sustained by a vertically projecting member (1.11) which attaches to the Plano concave mirror (1.7) positioned below it (1.10).
The resulting concentrated light rays (1.12), once arriving at the bottom of the mast structure (1.1), can be deflected by a 45 degree inclined flat mirror horizontally towards an opening inside said mast (1.1), and then reflected again by another 45 degree inclined flat mirror housed inside the bottom volume of the mast (1.1), hence driving said concentrated light rays (1.12) vertically downwards until accessing the flowing water, in order to evaporate it and generate electricity by driving turbines which in turn drive generators. The first (the outer mirror) of said 45 degree inclined flat mirrors faces partly upwards and partly towards the mast structure (1.1), and hence partly towards the other 45 degree inclined flat mirror, while the other flat mirror (the inner mirror) partly faces towards the outer 45 degree inclined mirror, and partly downwards, into the lower volume of the mast structure (1.1), and hence towards the water flowing below said mast structure (1.1).
The Plano convex mirror (1.6) is positioned in front of said Plano concave mirror (1.7) and just near to said tower structure’s mast (1.1). Said Plano convex mirror (1.6) is therefore positioned inwards near to said tower mast (1.1), and partly faces towards said Plano concave mirror (1.7), and partly vertically downwards, hence reflecting the concentrated light rays (1.12) vertically downwards into a vertical light beam (1.12). Said vertical light ray beam (1.12) is then reflected by a flat mirror (1.5) which is inclined at 45 degrees. Said flat mirror (1.5) hence faces partly upwards towards said Plano convex mirror (1.6), and partly horizontally outwards, hence facing oppositely and away from said tower mast, and towards the other 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), such that said mirror (1.5) partly faces to said degree inclined flat mirror (1.10) which reflects the concentrated light rays (1.12) to a vertical direction again. So, the second (1.10) of the two said 45 degree inclined flat mirrors (1.5, 1.10), which is the outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), partly faces towards said inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) and so towards said tower mast (1.1), and partly downwards towards the outer area of said Plano concave mirror (1.7).
The flat collection mirrors (1.4) of each system are sustained by two members (1.3), which are hence each positioned at the extreme side of said collection mirror (1.4). Said members house the actuators to orientate said collection mirror (1.4), and leave a space behind said collection mirror (1.4) in order for the concentrated light rays (1.12) coming from the upper system to be driven vertically downwards behind it (1.4).
As a result, in a system positioned on top, the light rays (1.8) are collected by said flat solar ray collection mirrors (1.4) and are concentrated by said Plano concave mirror (1.7) into said Plano convex mirror (1.6), from which these are reflected vertically downwards and driven to the next lower system, such that said light rays (1.12) are driven behind the lower system’s flat solar collection mirror (1.4). After that operation, said light rays (1.12) are reflected horizontally away from said tower mast (1.1) by said inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5), and then again vertically downwards by said outer 45 degree incline flat mirror (1.10), such that in the lower system, the concentrated light rays (1.12) are then concentrated along with the light rays (1.8) reflected by the flat collection mirror (1.4) of said lower system. And so, said process is repeated during a plurality of times until said concentrated light rays (1.12) reach the bottom of said tower mast structure (1.1). Each process hence strengthens the intensity of the light rays (1.12).
After arriving to the bottom of the mast structure (1.1), said light rays (1.12) are reflected towards a horizontal direction towards an opening through said mast structure (1.1) by a 45 degree inclined flat mirror, into the lower volume of said tower mast (1.1), and then finally vertically downwards by another 45 degree inclined flat mirror which is positioned inside the lower volume of said mast structure (1.1), such that said light rays (1.12) are driven downwards into the lower volume of said tower mast (1.1), and so towards a flowing water channel, such that said concentrated light rays (1.12) heat the water while flowing under said concentrated light beam (1.12), which converts the water into steam instantaneously. The steam then drives turbines, which in turn drive generators in order to generate electricity.
The mirrors (1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10) comprised on this system are aimed at offering a similar solar ray concentration effect than in the case of lenses, but by avoiding the transparency problem of the lenses, as well as the weight of the lenses, and so by avoiding the use of lenses to concentrate the solar rays into a concentrated solar ray beam.
Said previously stated elements are made of a composite material, preferably carbon fibre reinforced plastics or glass fibre reinforced plastics, or a transparent material, preferably glass, transparent PVC or UPVC, or Plexiglas, or a plastic material, preferably UPVC, PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene, or a metallic material, preferably steel or an aluminium alloy, or cement, or concrete, or a combination of at least two of said materials.
Said solar ray concentration system can hence be used to supply power and/or supply heat and/or supply water and/or comprised in mountainous areas, high altitude places, low altitude places, lake shores, sea shores, lakes, rivers, river sides, seas, canals, channels, canal shores, channel shores, ships, boats, submarines, trains, trucks, lorries, trailers, aircraft, air cushion ground effect vehicles, ground effect vehicles, maritime vehicles, naval vehicles, helicopters, airplanes, space planes, satellites, spacecraft, space stations, buildings, houses, factories, factory buildings, telecommunication towers, communication towers, airports, airport control towers, hospitals, tower blocks, towers, skyscrapers, quarries, mines, harbours, cranes, power stations, cooling towers, antennas, oceanographic vessels, icebreakers, offshore vessels, wind turbine offshore vessels, oil tankers, container vessels, solar thermal power generation offshore vessels, thermal power generation offshore vessels, offshore vessels, workboats, work vessels, tugs, marine vessels, oil rigs, oil rig towers, oil drilling towers, oil drilling vessels, industrial vessels, crane masts, cranes, wind turbines, wind turbine masts, signalling masts, signalling towers, railway signalling towers, railway signalling masts, traffic light masts, jack-up cranes, jack-up vessels, jack-up ships, jack-up rigs, rigs, barges, floating barges, sea barges, river barges, canal barges, railway catenary pillars, railway catenary masts, road traffic masts, road lighting masts, street lighting masts, pontoons, submersible pontoons, submersible barges, submersible vessels, submersible offshore vessels, bridges, bridge masts, dams, submersible wind turbine vessels, submersible solar thermal power generation vessels, desalination plants, offshore desalination plants, submersible desalination plants, semi-submersible desalination plants, semi-submersible barges, semi-submersible pontoons, semi-submersible vessels, semi-submersible offshore vessels, semi-submersible wind turbine vessels, semi-submersible solar thermal power generation vessels, icebreakers, shipyards, shipyard docks, dry docks, floating docks, semi-submersible docks, docks, harbours, ports, and dockyards.
The solar ray concentration system comprised in this invention can either be positioned onshore, or offshore on a floating object such as a raft, barrage, ship, or pontoon. However, said system should preferably be positioned on the ground and near to the sae, a river, or a lake. These water sources will supply the necessary water for steam generation, and hence for electricity production.
To summarise, the present invention comprises a vertically projecting mast structure (1.1) which comprises a plurality of systems which are mounted on top of the other down said mast (1.1) from top to bottom, and in which each of said systems comprises a flat collection mirror (1.4) which is sustained by two parallel horizontally projecting members (1.3) which sustain the Plano concave mirror (1.7) of the system positioned on top of the system concerned, such that said system comprises a Plano concave mirror (1.7) which faces towards the mast structure (1.1) and which is positioned below said flat collection mirror (1.4), which concentrates the solar rays (1.8) deflected by the flat collection mirror (1.4) towards a Plano convex mirror (1.6) which faces opposite to said mast structure (1.1), and which hence faces towards said Plano concave mirror (1.7), hence being positioned in front of and slightly above of said Plano concave mirror (1.7), and which is (1.6) nearer to said vertical mast structure (1.1) than said Plano concave mirror (1.7), so that said Plano convex mirror (1.6) deflects the solar rays (1.12) vertically downwards after being concentrated, into a vertical concentrated light ray (1.12) by said oppositely positioned Plano concave mirror (1.7), which is driven behind the flat collection mirror (1.4) of the system positioned below said system, and is then reflected towards a horizontal direction and away from said mast structure (1.1) by a 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) which is positioned below the upper system’s Plano convex mirror (1.6) and which partly faces upwards towards said Plano convex mirror (1.6) and partly horizontally away from said mast structure (1.1) and so towards another 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), which is positioned horizontally in front of said inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) in turn reflects said light rays (1.12) vertically downwards by partly facing towards the mast structure (1.1) and so towards the inner 45 degree inclined mirror (1.5), and partly downwards towards the Plano concave mirror (1.7) of said lower system, which is positioned below said outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), as well as below the whole surface of the lower system’s solar collection mirror (1.4), which hence concentrates the light rays deflected by both the outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10) and the said flat solar ray collection mirror (1.4) of said lower system, hence repeating said process in a plurality of times from the top to the bottom of said mast structure (1.1), and therefore concentrating and increasing the intensity of the light rays (1.12) at each system until obtaining a very high intensity light ray (1.12).
Said solar ray concentration system (1.1) is comprised of a plurality of systems which are mounted on top of the other down said mast (1.1) from top to bottom, and in which a flat collection mirror (1.13) is positioned outwards and sustained by an electric motor actuated rotational system (1.14) which connects to the bottom of said flat mirror (1.13), which is in turn connects to a vertical member (1.11) which connects these to the lower member’s structure (1.3), such that said collection mirror (1.13) is positioned in front of each of said systems comprises a flat mirror (1.4) which is sustained by an electric motor actuated rotary system at the top end of said flat mirror (1.4) and which is sustained by two top positioned horizontal members (1.3) positioned at each side.
Said solar ray concentration system is comprised such that said outer flat collection mirror (1.13) is constantly oriented to reflect the solar rays (1.8) towards a horizontal direction towards the vertical mast (1.1) which sustains said structure, such that if the solar rays (1.8) project at angles high than 45 degrees to the ground, said mirror (1.13) reflects said solar rays (1.8) to the inner solar collection mirror (1.4), which is inclined at 45 degrees in order to reflect these (1.8) at 45 degrees vertically downwards.
Said solar ray concentration system is comprised such that said outer flat collection mirror (1.13) is positioned at the same angle as the angle of projection of the solar rays (1.8) to the ground, such that said rays are projected to the inner flat collection mirrors (1.4) which reflect said solar rays (1.8) directly vertically downwards, all this being programmed to the computer control unit which controls the rotational actuators (1.14) when the solar rays (1.8) project at an angle of 45 degrees or lower to the ground.
Said solar ray concentration system is comprised such that said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) and its connecting members (1.11, 1.9) and rotational systems (1.14) are positioned on top of each other, each (1.13) at the same distance from each other and from the mast structure (1.1) which sustains the set solar ray concentration systems.
Said solar ray concentration system is comprised such that said inner flat collection mirror (1.4) is constantly inclined at an angle of 45 degrees, facing partly horizontally away from the mast structure (1.1) and partly vertically downwards when said outer flat collection mirror (1.13) initially reflects the incoming solar rays (1.8) towards said inner flat collection mirror (1.4) .
Said solar ray concentration system is comprised such that said outer collection mirrors (1.13) are positioned at a greater horizontal distance from the main structural mast (1.1) than the inner collection mirror (1.4), such that said outer collection mirror (1.13) comprises a length which spans to the upper positioned horizontal members (1.3) when said mirror (1.13) is tilted at its highest inclination angle compared to the ground level.
The outer collection mirror (1.13) is inclined such that it will always reflect the solar rays towards a horizontal direction and towards the inner flat mirror (1.4). This however will occur only when the solar rays (1.8) shine at angles greater than 45 degrees to the ground. All the actuators (1.14) of both inner (1.4) and outer (1.13) collection mirrors are controlled by a centralised computerised control unit. The outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) are sustained form the lower ends. The length of the outer flat mirror (1.13) is such that the solar rays (1.8) which are reflected by it (1.13) will always be fully directed to the inner mirror (1.4) when being inclined at 45 degrees, such that said mirror (1.13) will be as vertically high as the inner mirror (1.4) when said inner mirror (1.4) is inclined at 45 degrees. The inner mirror’s (1.4) length is such that all rays which are reflected by it (1.4) will always be directed vertically downwards towards the concave mirror (1.7) positioned under it (1.4).
The rotary actuators (1.14) of the outer mirrors (1.13) constantly rotate said outer mirrors (1.13) in order to reflect and drive the solar rays horizontally towards the inner mirror (1.4). The orientation which is actuated by the actuators (1.14) is fully computer controlled for the actuation (1.14) of each outer mirror (1.13).
The outer mirror (1.13) offers the advantage that a higher surface area will be available for solar ray collection and reflection when the solar rays project at angles greater than 45 degrees to the ground. This system will therefore increase the intensity of the solar rays reflected when the sun shines at high angles during the peak solar periods of the day, hence increasing significantly the intensity of the light rays, and hence maximising the system’s power generation and energy generation efficiency.
When the solar rays (1.8) project at angles which are lower than 45 degrees to the ground, the computerised control unit is programmed to ensure that the surface of said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) are inclined at exactly 90 degrees to the direction of projection of the solar rays (1.8), hence positioning aid outer mirrors (1.13) exactly perpendicular to the direction of projection of the solar rays. The purpose of this system feature is that this will avoid the outer mirrors (1.13) to generate any shading on the lower inner mirror (1.4) when the solar rays (1.8) project at shallow angles, hence maximising solar ray caption and reflection, and therefore maximising the system’s energy generation efficiency.
Any shading produced by the outer mirrors (1.13) would impede part of the solar rays (1.8) to project on the inner mirrors (1.4) when the solar rays project at shallow angles, hence reducing the solar ray reflection efficiency, and hence reducing the system’s power generation efficiency.
When said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) are not in operation due to the angle of the incoming light rays (1.8) being 45 degrees or less in comparison with the ground level, said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) are inclined to exactly the same inclination as said incoming solar light rays (1.8), such that the shade generated by said mirrors (1.13) is minimal on the lower inner flat collection mirrors (1.4), hence maximising light (1.8) collection from said mirrors (1.4), and so maximising the system’s light concentration efficiency.
Said tower mast structure (1.1) is oriented about an axis (1.15) which is located along the centre of the crops-sectional view of said mast structure (1.1), which is circular, such that said mast is rotated along the ground or basement plane and about said axis (1.15) at the centre of said mast’s (1.1) cross-sectional view, hence orienting said flat collection mirrors (1.4, 1.13), such that these (1.4, 1.13) are exactly frontally positioned to said incoming solar rays (1.8).
With said rotational mast (1.1) system, said mirrors (1.4, 1.13) can maximise solar ray collection by constantly comprising the surfaces of said mirrors (1.4, 1.13) positioned at 90 degrees perpendicular to the direction of projection of said incoming solar rays (1.8).
Said mirrors (1.4, 1.13) are hence constantly positioned in front of said incoming solar rays (1.8), but are not each oriented individually. The tower mast structure (1.1) is oriented individually about said axis (1.15) according to the sun’s positon along the horizon by an electric motor actuated system which is positioned under the basement (3.4) of said mast (1.1). Said motor rotates the tower mast structure (1.1) to the required orientation. The electric motor actuation system is connected to a computerised controller which sends data to the electric rotary system according to the date and time of the year concerned. All of this data is programmed into the computerised data controller, which feeds data to the electric rotational system.
Each of said flat solar light collection mirrors (1.4, 1.13) is however oriented according to the angle of the incoming solar rays (1.8) in comparison to the ground or basement (3.4) plane. Said mirrors (1.4, 1.13) are oriented by an electric actuated system (1.14, 1.16) which is positioned at the point of contact between said mirrors (1.4, 1.13) and the corresponding supporting members (1.3, 1.11).
Said systems (1.14, 1.16) comprise electric actuators (1.14, 1.16) being positioned at each of said flat mirrors (1.4, 1.13), which actuate the rotational movements by the means of electric motors. The orientation data is supplied by a computerised data controller, into which all the solar ray (1.8) income angles and the sun’s position along the horizon is programmed for the whole years’ time. Said computerised controller feeds the actuators (1.14, 1.16) with the required data in accordance to the date and solar orientation according to the position of the sun along the horizon for the date concerned. The transmission and supply of data form the computerised controller to the actuators (1.14, 1.16) can be wireless or by the means of wired communication.
The horizontal supports (1.2, 2.1) which sustain said Plano convex mirrors (1.6) and said inner 45 degree inclined mirrors (1.5, 2.2) can also be comprised as a longer projecting geometry in order to sustain the outer 45 degree inclined flat mirrors (2.3) being positioned over the inner area of said Plano concave mirrors (2.4) being positioned under said outer 45 degree flat mirrors (2.3). This design will offer the advantage that the concentrated solar rays which are reflected by said Plano concave mirrors (2.4) after being deflected by said inner flat collection mirrors (1.4), will not cross the concentrated solar rays perpendicularly, as these will be concentrated towards said Plano convex mirror (1.6) simultaneously with the outer reflected solar rays (1.8) being concentrated. In the case of this design (2.1, 2.3, 2.4), said concentrated solar rays are projected vertically upwards and towards said mast structure (1.1) from the surface of said Plano concave mirrors (2.4) to that of said Plano convex mirrors (1.6).
This design (2.1, 2.3, 2.4) will not really make a difference in efficiency, but is a slightly alternative design to that shown on Figure 1. In the design concerned (2.1, 2.3, 2.4), the Plano concave mirrors (2.4) will hence be positioned slightly more inward than those (1.7) comprised on Figure 1, hence offering a wider vertical spacing of exposure for solar ray (1.8) collection to the outer flat collection mirrors (1.13), hence increasing the efficiency of solar ray (1.8) collection by said system when said solar rays (1.8) project at angels which are higher than 45 degrees to the ground level. This is because the solar rays will now be reflected by the inner area of said Plano concave mirrors (2.4).
The power generation system comprised in this invention, comprises a lower concentration system, which simultaneously concentrates and drives the high intensity light rays into a hollow pipe (3.7) positioned inside the lower area of said mast structure (3.1). The system concerned comprises a concave mirror (3.3) which is positioned just under the lowest Plano convex mirror (1.6) which is attached to said mast structure (1.1, 3.3). Said concave mirror is positioned in front of a convex mirror (3.2) which is positioned inside the lower structure of said mast structure (3.1), and which faces said concave mirror (3.3) by the means of an opening which is positioned just between the two mirrors (3.2, 3.3).
Said concave mirror (3.3) is positioned such that it (3.3) partly faces vertically upwards towards the lowest Plano convex mirror (1.6), and partly horizontally towards said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), and hence towards said inner convex mirror (3.2). Said convex mirror (3.2) is positioned on the top volume of a hollow cylindrical pipe (3.7) which is comprised inside said lower mast structure (3.1), such that it (3.2) projects partly horizontally towards said concave mirror (3.3), and hence away from said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), and partly vertically downwards towards said pipe (3.7) which is embedded inside said lower mast structure (3.1).
So, said system concentrates the concentrated light rays even further into a square or rectangular cross-sectioned light beam. The concentrated light rays are projected downwards from the lowest Plano convex mirror (1.6) as a linear cross-sectioned light beam towards said concave mirror (3.3). Said concave mirror (3.3) then reflects said concentrated solar rays, and concentrates these from all angles of said concave mirror (3.3) towards a focal point, and so towards said lower mast structure (3.1).
Said rays are hence driven into said opening, and therefore into the lower mast structure (3.1), hence being entirely driven towards said inner convex mirror (3.2). Said inner convex mirror (3.2) finally reflects said concentrated light rays into a vertically downwards projecting square or hexagonal cross-sectioned light beam, such that said light rays are driven down said pipe (3.7). Said pipe is embedded inside said lower mast structure (3.1), but connects directly to a vertical pipe (3.15) which is positioned into the basement. Said lower vertical pipe (3.15) drives said light rays vertically downwards towards a horizontally projecting water pipe (3.13), such that said light rays evaporate the flowing water (3.9) under said light beam in the evaporation area (3.13) due to the high temperatures of said light rays.
The evaporated water is driven by natural circulation upwards and away from said evaporation area (3.13) as steam through a steam collection pipe (3.14). Said steam then drives at least one steam turbine, which then in turn drives generators to generate electricity.
The concentrated light rays are concentrated before or after reaching the focal point of said concave mirror (3.3), by said convex mirror (3.2), depending on design convenience. The outer surface of said convex mirror (3.2) can also be positioned just at the focal point of said concave mirror (3.3) if the design concerned requires extremely high intensity light rays.
Very intensely concentrated light rays can be used for applications which require very high temperatures. Said applications can vary from steam generation for power generation, to the separation of the flowing water into hydrogen and oxygen due to the very high temperatures and pressures that would be present in the evaporation area (3.13).
In that case, two separate pipes will connect said evaporation area (3.13), one being to collect oxygen, and the other one to collect hydrogen. The intakes of each of said pipes would comprise nanofabricated membranes in order to collect only oxygen in one pipe, while collecting only hydrogen into the other pipe. This system can be used to supply industry with pure oxygen, while supplying industry with hydrogen. Hydrogen should however be mostly supplied to petrol stations, train stations, harbours, ports and airports as fuel for aerospace, train, road, ship and vessel propulsion applications. This will result in a free of charge fuel supply, with which aircraft, trains, ships, and road vehicles would be able to use a totally emission-free and CO2 free fuel source, which will be supplied from fully free of charge solar energy.
The basement structure comprises a rotational base (3.4) onto which said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1) is stabilised, hence providing stability to said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1) while being part of the rotational orientation system (3.4) of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1). Said rotational system rotates about said axis (3.16), which is exactly on the middle of the crosssection of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), hence offering maximum stability to said system sustaining mast (1.1, 3.1), while maximising ease of rotation of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), and hence maximising ease of solar collection by said inner (1.4) and outer (1.13) flat solar ray collection mirrors.
The horizontal member (3.8) which separates the opening of the lower mast structure (3.1) from the top area of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), projects such that the end of said horizontal member (3.8) does not interfere with the downward projecting concentrated light rays, but is long enough to protect said opening from falling dirt and rain, hence impeding these of entering into said opening, and hence into the vertical pipes which are embedded inside the lower mast structure (3.7) and inside the basement (3.15), as well as under (3.15) said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1), hence maximising the system’s functionality.
Said concave mirror (3.3) is supported by a vertically projecting member (3.5) which attaches to its (3.3) rear central area. Said vertically projecting member (3.5) is in turn supported by a horizontally projecting member (3.6) which attached the entire structure (3.3, 3.5) to the lower mast structure (3.1), as said horizontally projecting member (3.6) connects to said mast structure (1.1, 3.1).
Said water flow pipe (3.12, 3.13, 3.14) comprises an intake pipe (3.12) which drives said collected water (3.9) by gravity to an evaporation area (3.13), where said water (3.9) is evaporated into steam, which is then driven by said pipe (3.14) towards at least one steam turbine, which drives generators to generate electrify with said steam. The water (3.9) is collected from a water basin. Said basin can be a sea, lake, river or any type of aquifer available. The water flows as a thin water (3.9) flow along the evaporation area (3.13) such that the concentrated solar rays can instantly convert said flowing water (3.9) into steam. This means that the cross-section of the pipe (3.12, 3.13, 3.14) at the evaporation area (3.13) is wider than that at the intake pipe (3.12). Said cross-section of the pipe (3.12, 3.13, 3.14) is wider at the evaporation area (3.13) than that at the intake pipe (3.12) when said pipe is viewed from a top or bottom view.
The water (3.9) flow is regulated by a water flow control gate (3.10) which is positioned along the upper wall of the intake pipe (3.12), and near to the water intake. Said water flow control gate (3.10) is positioned inside a hollow housing (3.11). If said water (3.9) flow is high, said gate (3.10) will be widely open, whereas if it is required to be less or zero such as at night fall, said gate (3.10) will be closed, hence impeding any water (3.9) from flowing into the system.
Said water flow control gate (3.10) is controlled by a light intensity sensor, which feeds light intensity data to a computerised controller, which in turn sends commands to an actuator which actuates said water flow control gate (3.10). Saud light intensity sensor should be positioned on an outside place, preferably at the top of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1).
The vertical pipe (3.7, 3.15) which supplies the vertically driven concentrated light rays towards the water (3.9) flow in the evaporation area (3.13), is positioned precisely on top of said evaporation area (3.13), such that said vertical pipe (3.7, 3.15) projects perpendicularly to said water driving pipe (3.12, 3.13, 3.14) at the evaporation area (3.13).
The power generation system comprised inn this invention can be comprised on any type of offshore structure, such as ships, boats, pontoons, barges, or any other type of floating vessel. The system can work in exactly the same manner as previously explained when being comprised on an offshore vessel. In that case, the water (3.9) will be collected into said system by gravity from the water basin, aquifer, sae, lake or river on which said vessel is floating, and be driven by gravity to the evaporation area (3.13), where it will be converted into steam by the highly concentrated light rays which are driven down said vertical pipe (3.7, 3.15) from said lower mast structure (3.1), hence being driven into the lower mast structure (3.7), followed by being driven into said evaporation area (3.13) by the lower positioned following vertical pipe (3.15).
Said vessels can be either anchored to the bed of the sea, lake, aquifer, basing or river concerned, or can comprise rigid members which attach said vessel to the sea bed. Another option is for said vessels to comprise steel cables, which anchor and keep said vessel rigidly in its required position while floating on the sea, lake, river, basin or aquifer concerned.
So, said system can be comprised on any floating vessel. The power supply to operate the data sensors and controlling computers, electric motors and actuators is taken form the power generated by the generators, which are driven by the steam turbines, which are driven by said steam, which is supplied by the steam supply pipe (3.14), which is part of the water flow driving pipe (3.12, 3.13, 3.14).
The power generation system comprised in this invention can be comprised such that the tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) are comprised one beside the other (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) in a linear pattern. In this case, each mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) comprises water driving pipe (4.50 which projects under each of said mast structures (4.6), and perpendicularly to the ground surface, as well as the light driving pipes (3.7, 3.15) and the mast structure itself (1.1, 3.1, 4.6). Said water driving pipes (4.5) hence drive water (3.9) under each of said mast structures (4.6), hence driving liquid water into said pipes (4.5) towards the evaporation area (3.13), and then driving the generated steam to at least one steam turbine (4.11). Said steam turbine (4.11) in turn drives generators to generate electricity.
The rotational system’s base (4.8) is comprised at the lowest position of the mast structure (4.6), but exactly all around it. Its (4.8) horizontal area supplies stability to the mast structures (4.6), as said mast structures (4.6) are loaded with all the mirrors (4.7) which are required to collect and concentrate said solar rays (1.8).
In the case of a plurality of mast structures (4.6) being positioned one beside the other (4.6) along a linear pattern, said mast structures (4.6) comprise water driving pipes (4.5) which project in parallel to each other (4.5), hence distributing the water flow into the plurality of driving pipes (4.5) comprised in said system, such that said light rays can convert simultaneously said water (3.9) into steam under all of the mast structures (4.6) which make part of said circuit. The water (3.9) is taken by gravity from a sea, river, lake, aquifer or basin into the intake pipe (4.1), and so driven downwards through the intake pipe (4.2) into a water distribution pipe (4.4). Prior of delivering said water (3.9) to said water distribution pipe (4.4), said water (3.9) drives a water turbine (4.3) with the power provided by the water’s (3.9) kinetic energy while falling down said intake pipe (4.1, 4.2) due to gravity. Said generated power by said water turbine (4.3), can add power to the whole power generation output, hence maximising the power generation output and efficiency of said system.
Said water distribution pipe drives water (3.9) from said water supply pipe (4.1, 4.2) into the plurality of parallel projecting water driving pipes (4.5), which drive water under each said mast structures (4.6). After being evaporated, said steam is delivered by each of said parallel pipes (4.5) to a steam collection pipe (4.9). Said steam collection pipe (4.9) drives the steam to a steam driving pipe (4.10), which drives said steam to at least one steam turbine (4.11).
After driving said steam turbine(s) (4.11), said steam is driven out of said system by a steam driving pipe (4.12). Said steam driving pipe (4.12) can condense said steam back into water by projecting through either a secondary cooling circuit (4.13), or through a water basin (4.13). Said water basin (4.13) will condense said steam by taking a large amount of heat energy into it from said pipe (4.12) due to the difference in temperature between the water situated in each of the two mentioned mediums (4.12, 4.13). Said water basin (4.13) can be the same as that from which said systems collects the water (3.9), and/or that (3.9) on which said system is floating if said power generation system is comprised on a floating vessel.
Said power generation system can also be used for water desalinisation applications. In that case, water (3.9) is taken from the sea, and driven by gravity to the evaporation area (3.13), where it (3.9) is evaporated. The salt which remains from said evaporated sea water (3.9), will be deposited on the bottom surface of said evaporation area (3.13) due to its higher density in comparison to that of water (3.9). In that case, said evaporation area (3.13) comprises a pipe which connects to the bottom surface of said evaporation area (3.13). Said pipe will collect said deposited salt by gravity and either drive it back to the sea through a salt delivering pipe, or storing it in an appropriate storage area for industry and/or consumer applications.
The power generation system comprised in this invention, comprises flat collection mirrors (1.4) , which are each sustained by a horizontally projecting member (1.3). Said collection mirrors (1.4) are each positioned over a Plano concave mirror (1.7) which is positioned such that it (1.7) projects inwardly and so partly upwards towards said flat collection mirror (1.4), and partly horizontally inwards towards said tower mast structure (1.1), and so towards a Plano convex mirror (1.6), which is sustained to said mast structure (1.1) by another shorter horizontally projecting member (1.2), and which is positioned in front of the upper area of said Plano concave mirror (1.7).
Said horizontal projecting member (1.3) sustains both said Plano concave mirror (1.7), as well as said flat solar ray collection mirror (1.4). Said Plano convex mirror (1.6) is positioned under said shorter horizontally projecting member (1.2), and is sustained by the end part of said horizontal member (1.2). Said Plano convex mirror (1.6) comprises a Plano convex surface which faces partly horizontally towards said Plano concave mirror (1.7), and partly downwards towards a 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5). Said flat 45 degree inclined mirror (1.5) is positioned just under said Plano convex mirror (1.6).
A vertical projecting member (1.9) supports said Plano concave mirror (1.7). On top of said member (1.9), a vertically upward projecting member (1.11) sustains an outer 45 degree inclined mirror (1.10) which faces partly towards said inner 45 degree inclined mirror (1.5), and partly downwards towards the outer upper area of said Plano concave mirror (1.7). Said vertical member (1.11) also sustains said actuators (1.14) of said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13), along with said flat collection mirrors (1.13).
Said inner 45 degree flat mirrors (1.5) partly face upwards towards said Plano convex mirrors (1.6), and partly horizontally outwards towards said outer 45 degree inclined mirror (1.10), which in turn faces partly towards said inner 45 degree inclined mirror (1.5), and partly downwards towards said Plano concave mirror (1.7).
Each of the mentioned components, including Plano concave mirrors (1.7), Plano convex mirrors (1.6), inner flat solar ray collection mirrors (1.4), outer flat solar ray collection mirrors (1.13), horizontally sustaining members (1.2, 1.3), inner 45 degree inclined mirrors (1.5), and outer 45 degree inclined mirrors (1.10), are each comprised as a plurality of components, preferably a large plurality of components, such that each of said components is comprised as a large plurality. Each of said components (1.7, 1.6, 1.4, 1.13, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5,
1.10) is mounted exactly on top of each other in an orderly manner, such that one is exactly on top of the lower same type of component.
Said plurality of components should preferably be in the region of 50 to 100, 200 or 300 systems. Each of said long horizontally projecting member (1.3) comprises one of said shortest horizontally projecting members (1.2) positioned under it (1.3). So, between two long horizontal members (1.3), always one shorter sustaining horizontal member (1.2) is comprised.
This allows said design to comprise a set of a plurality of systems being mounted one on top of each other along a tower mast structure (1.1), such that all of said systems are distributed along said tower mast’s height (1.1). This allows said power generation system to comprise an entire solar ray concentration architecture, which hence concentrates the solar rays (1.8) as required into a highly concentrated light beam.
In that case, the solar rays (1.8) are collected by either the outer collection mirrors (1.13) which reflect said rays on said inner collection mirrors (1.4), or said inner collection mirrors (1.4) directly collecting the solar rays (1.8) if these (1.8) project at angles of 45 degrees or less in comparison to the ground or basement plane’s level. The light rays (1.8) are reflected by said inner collection mirrors (1.4) vertically downwards onto the Plano concave surfaces of said Plano concave mirrors (1.7). Said Plano concave mirrors (1.7) then concentrate said solar rays (1.8) into a concentrated light ray, and so towards said inner Plano convex mirrors (1.6). Said Plano convex mirrors reflect said light rays vertically downwards to said inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5), which reflect said rays to said outer 45 degree inclined flat mirrors (1.10), which reflect said concentred light rays vertically downwards to the surface of the lower position Plano concave mirrors (1.7). Said concentrated light rays are reflected back to the lower positioned Plano convex mirrors (1.6), along with the collected light rays (1.8) which were collected by said lower positioned collection mirrors (1.4, 1.13). And so, said process is repeated in a plurality of times, preferably a large plurality of times until said super concentrated light rays reach the bottom of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1).
After that, said light rays are concentrated into said lower mast structure (3.1) by a lower concave mirror (3.3), and then reflected vertically downwards again by a convex mirror (3.2). So, said light rays are vertically driven downwards into a hollow pipe (3.7) which is embedded inside said lower mats structure (3.1). Said light rays follow the same direction of projection into a vertical pipe (3.15) which is positioned under said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), straight into said evaporation area (3.13) of said water flow driving pipe (3.12, 3.13, 3.14). Said water flow (3.9) which passes through said evaporation area (3.13), is instantly evaporated, and so converted into steam. Said steam drives steam turbines (4.11), which in turn drive generators to generate electricity.
Each of said horizontal supporting members (1.2, 1.3) comprises a double member geometry, such that these (1.2, 1.3) project along the two lateral side of said mirrors (1.5, 1.6, 1.4, 1.7). This design is comprised in order for the light rays to be driven between said mirrors (1.5,
1.6, 1.4, 1.7), and downwards towards the bottom structure (3.1) of said tower mast structure (1.1,3.1).
The surfaces of said 45 degree inclined mirrors (1.5, 1.10) are exactly parallel to each other, such that said light rays can be reflected accurately. The surfaces of all mirrors (1.5, 1.6, 1.4, 1.7) are positioned perpendicularly to the side view comprised on Figures 1 and 2.
The power generation system comprised in this invention can also be comprised on space vehicles, including satellites, space stations, and spacecraft. The tower mast structure (1.1) can be attached to one of said space vehicle structures, such that it (1.1) can be oriented such that the collection mirrors (1.4, 1.13) are positioned such that these (1.4, 1.13) will collect and reflect the incoming solar rays (1.8) to the concave mirror structures (1.7). The orientation will be performed such that the surfaces of said collection mirrors (1.4, 1.13) are always positioned constantly perpendicularly to the incoming solar rays (1.8). Said orientation will be performed according to said space structure’s attitude and orientation to said solar rays (1.8). In this way, said power generation system can supply a large amount of power to a space structure, while using a cheaper system than ultra-sensitive photovoltaic cells, and which is not easily damaged by moving cosmic objects, in addition of not losing the accuracy of the solar collection efficiency over the years of usage while said system is in operation.
The power generation system design comprised in this invention can be comprised on vessels such as boats, barrages, pontoons or ships which are positioned offshore on rivers, lakes, seas, canals or water basins as previously mentioned. However, said system can not only generate power for supply to offshore applications, but can also supply power to other offshore vessels, or to the same vessel on which said system is positioned. This means that said power generation system, when being positioned or installed on board any type of vessel, can be used to supply power to the same vessel. Said power can be used for industrial applications, fishing, lighting, and propulsion applications, as well as to power the navigational instruments of said vessels. This means that comprising said power generation system on board a vessel can offer loads of advantages, not only for the offshore vessels or onshore buildings or installation nearby, but also to offer its own naturally fuelled propulsion system, which will be completely fuel less and emission less. Said vessel would therefore comprise its own energy to supply its entire propulsion and electricity utilisation needs.
Said power generation system can use synthetic oils, molten salt, or pressurised steam, which would flowthrough a pipe (3.13, 4.5) under the concentrated light rays (1.12) at the lower part of said tower mast structure (3.1). Said design can be comprised on said power generation system comprised in this invention, whether comprised onshore, or offshore on a vessel, such as a ship, a barge, a boat, or a pontoon. In the case of the power generation system concerned using synthetic oil, molten salt or pressurised steam as a heat collection source from said concentrated light rays (1.12), a storage area for said synthetic oil, molten salt or pressurised steam is comprised, where said fluid can be stored, hence storing the heat transferred from said light rays (1.12) at a very high efficiency. Said storage tank connects to a steam generator, where a pump can drive said synthetic oil, molten salt or compressed steam to a steam generator, where it will generate steam, which will in turn drive a steam turbine, which will in turn drive a generator for the generation of electricity. If said steam turbine is not used, said storage tank can store the heat for a time period of a plurality of hours. With this design, offshore vessels could comprise the required energy to meet its electricity demand during both day and night periods.
Said storage system comprises a storage tank, which connects via a circuit to a pipe (3.13,
4.5) which projects perpendicularly to said tower mast structure’s (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) vertical direction of projection, and projects as a pipe (3.13, 4.5) under said vertically projecting concentrated solar rays (1.12) under said mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6). A pump situated into said pipe drives a fluid such as synthetic oil, molten salt or pressurised steam, through said pipe and under said concentrated light rays (1.12) prior of being driven back to said storage tank via a separate pipe, hence forming a circuit. Said storage tank stores the superheated fluid, and hence stores the heat transferred by said solar light rays (1.12) inside said tank. Another circuit comprises a pump which is used to drive said superheated synthetic oil, molten salt or compressed steam through a steam generator, where said heat is transferred to liquid water, which is instantly converted into steam. Said liquid water flows through a separate tertiary circuit.
Said molten salt, synthetic oil or pressurised steam circuit, drives said fluid back to said storage tank by the means of a pump after being driven through said steam generator. Said cooled fluid is then driven back again under said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), and hence under said concentrated light rays (1.12) in order to collect heat again. Said fluid flows as a superheated fluid back to said storage tank again. Said process is repeated over and over again during the operation of said system.
Said tertiary circuit drives liquid water by the means of a pump which is positioned along said tertiary circuit’s pipe. Said tertiary circuit’s pipe drives liquid water by the means of a pump which is comprised through said pipe. Said pipe therefore drives said water through said steam generator, where it collects the heat supplied by the superheated synthetic oil, molten salt or compressed steam. Said water is therefore instantly converted to steam when flowing through said steam generator. Said steam is then driven through the follow up section of said pipe to a steam turbine, where said steam converts its heat energy into kinetic energy.
Said steam turbine drives a generator, which generates electricity with the kinetic energy of the steam, hence shaping a fully renewable and emissions free system, which relies solely on solar power for the entire generation of electricity.
Said steam generator functions as a heat exchanger, where said synesthetic oil, compressed steam or molten salt, transfers the heat to a flow of liquid water, which is converted into steam when collecting said heat from said other fluid. Both fluids are driven through separate pipes, which make two entirely separate circuits.
The storage tank can be used to supply heat energy to the water pipe during the night, where no solar rays are present, hence offering a continuous time period of supply of steam to the steam turbine, whether it is at night or during daytime. This design will therefore guarantee a constant electricity supply during both day and night, hence meeting the demand of said onshore or offshore vessel, or of said industrial installations, towns, or railways. Said steam turbine will therefore constantly drive said generators to constantly generate electricity during both daytime and night-time periods.
The water (3.9) flowing through said tertiary circuit can be collected from the sea, lake, river, canal, or water basin on which said vessel floats on if said power generation system is comprised offshore on an offshore vessel. Said water (3.9) can be the same as that on which said vessel is comprised, or that on which said vessel floats. If said vessel is comprised floating on salty water, such as sea water, said slat con be collected via a septate pipe situated in the evaporation area (3.13) under said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), or at the bottom of said steam generator’s vessel. Said salt can then be driven to a storage area, where it can be collected for use in industry, food, or any other convenient applications.
Said water can flow via gravity down said tertiary circuit’s pipe, into which a water flow control gate can also be comprised. A condenser can be comprised to convert said steam back into water again after the heat transferring process and the driving of the steam turbine, a process which occurs prior of driving said water back to said steam generator. When said water transfers the heat from said fluid such as synthetic oil, compressed steam or molten salt and then drives said steam turbine, said steam can be condensed into said condenser, and be driven back to said steam generator, hence fully completing said tertiary circuit’s loop.
Said primary circuit is used to drive synesthetic oil, compressed steam or molten salt, and can be comprised in a circuit comprising a plurality of pipes (4.5) which are each positioned in parallel to each other (4.5), such that each of said pipes (4.5) projects under one tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), hence collecting the heat from said concentrated solar rays (1.12). Said circuit would comprise a fluid distribution pipe (4.4) and a fluid collection pipe (4.9), such that said fluid is distributed between all tower mast structures (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), but also in which the number of pipes is minimised, hence minimising construction and maintenance costs.
The tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) of said power generation system rotates on a plane which is parallel to the ground level on which the mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) of said power generation system is standing, and about an axis (1.15, 3.16) which is comprised along the centre of the cross-sectional area of said mast beam structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6). This system is electronically actuated by an electric motor, and is controlled by a computer, in which the position of the sun in the horizon is programmed for each minute and each day for a length of at least one year. A solar clock which supplies solar position data at all times, can also be comprised in said computer. The advantage of said design is that only one actuator is required to orientate said solar ray mirrors (1.4, 1.13) opposite to the incoming solar rays (1.8). The rotational system also comprises a circular base (3.4, 4.8) at the bottom are of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6). Said base (3.4, 4.8) offers stability to said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1,4.6).
The vertical pipe (3.7) which is embedded in the lower mast structure (3.1), drives the concentrated light rays vertically downwards and towards another connecting pipe (3.15), which in turn drives said concentrated light rays vertically downwards towards the pipe (3.13) where the flow of fluid or water is comprised (3.13). Along the upper surface of said pipe (3.13), and so at the bottom of said vertical pipe (3.15), a fully transparent lens (3.17) is comprised, which is designed to ensure that no steam leaves the fluid driving pipe (3.13) after the water (3.9) is converted into water vapour, and/or flows upwards towards the pipe (3.15) which drives said concentrated light rays. Said lens (3.17) therefore maximises the efficiency of the system’s design, as it ensures that no water vapour would be driven into any undesired ways from the fluid driving pipe (3.13), apart from the steam pipe (3.14), which connects to said fluid driving pipe (3.12, 3.13) and drives said steam towards the steam turbine(s).
Said lens (3.17) hence seals the fluid driving pipe (3.13) from the vertical pipes (3.7, 3.15), and has to be as transparent as possible in order to minimise any energy losses from the concentrated light rays.
The power generation system design comprised in this invention can also comprise some novel design features in order to minimise structural stresses and material usage. At the bottom mast structure (5.1), a set of two parallel projecting horizontally projecting members (5.5) can be comprised, such that said members (5.5) attach to the lower mast structure (5.1). Said members (5.5) are positioned just under the sides of the sets of mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) which are positioned along said tower mast structure (5.1). So, said members (5.5) support two flat mirrors (5.3, 5.4). Said flat mirrors (5.3, 5.4) are used to drive the light rays (5.2) further away from said tower mast structure (5.1) after being concentrated when reaching the bottom of said mast structure (5.1). This design should be comprised in order to allow space for said concave mirror (5.7) to easily and fully concentrate the light rays towards said convex mirror (5.6). Said convex mirror (5.6) then drives said light rays vertically downwards towards the fluid driving pipe (3.13). The surfaces of the mirrors (5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7) guide the light rays towards said directions and paths. The concave mirror (5.7) is comprised under the outer positioned flat mirror (5.4), and is supported by a horizontally projecting member (5.8). Said inner positioned flat mirror (5.3) is positioned closest to the mast structure (5.1) than said outward positioned flat mirror (5.4). Said inward positioned flat mirror (5.3) reflects said concentrated light rays (5.2) towards a horizontal direction, and hence towards said outward positioned flat mirror (5.4). Said outward positioned flat mirror (5.4) then reflects said light rays (5.2) back towards a downward vertical direction of projection, and hence towards said concave mirror (5.7), which is positioned just under said outer positioned flat mirror (5.4).
Said inner positioned flat mirror (5.3) is inclined at 45 degrees, and faces partly vertically upwards towards the lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (1.6), and partly horizontally away from said tower mast structure (5.1) and towards said outer positioned flat mirror (5.4).
Said outer positioned flat mirror is 45 degree inclined, and so faces partly horizontally towards said inner positioned flat mirror (5.3), and so towards said tower mast structure (5.1), and partly vertically downwards towards said concave mirror (5.7). So, said inner positioned flat mirror (5.3) reflects said concentrated light rays (5.2) towards a horizontal direction of projection, and so towards said outer positioned flat mirror (5.4) after reaching said inner mirror (5.3) from a downward vertical direction of projection. Then, said outer positioned mirror (5.4) reflects the concentrated light rays (5.2) to a vertically downward direction of projection, and so towards said concave mirror (5.7) after reaching said outer mirror (5.4) from a horizontal direction of projection which drives said light rays (5.2) away from said mast structure (5.1). The design of this system will hence allow all the components along the tower mast structure to be positioned as close to the mast structure (5.1) as possible, thus minimising stresses on said mast structure (5.1), and hence minimising bending of said tower mast structure (5.1). This will result in less material needed for the tower mast structure (5.1), and thus will result in cheaper construction costs.
The two flat mirrors (5.3, 5.4) are sustained form the sides by a horizontally projecting member (5.5) at each side, such that said members (5.5) sustain both of said flat inclined mirrors (5.3, 5.4). Both mirrors (5.3, 5.4) are inclined at 45 degrees to the horizontal ground plane level.
The lens (5.9) is positioned at the bottom of the lower vertical pipe (3.15) in order to seal said fluid driving pipe (3.13), such that the steam produced will all be driven into the steam driving pipe (3.14) towards the steam turbine(s).
The power generation system concerned in this invention can also comprise a concentrated light reflection system which can allow for space to fully concentrate these onto a convex mirror, and which does not use said above mentioned set of alt mirror (5.3, 5.4). Said design can comprise the lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (1.6, 6.2) at the same position as previously described, but comprising a surface which is more horizontally projecting, such that said Plano convex mirror (1.6, 6.2) will project further horizontally, such that the concentrated light rays will be concentrated by the lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3) onto said Plano convex mirror (6.2). Said Plano convex mirror (6.2) then reflects the concentrated light rays (6.5) onto a downward projecting path, which projects partly vertically downwards and partly horizontally away from said mast structure (6.1). So, said concentrated light rays are directed towards said lower positioned concave mirror (6.7) by said Plano convex mirror (1.6, 6.2). This design offers the advantage that the number of components is minimised. The concentrated light rays (6.5) are driven just behind the lowest edge of the lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that said light rays (6.5) are driven between the two horizontally projecting members (6.4) which sustain said Plano concave mirror (6.3).
The concentrated light rays are reflected by said concave mirror (6.7) onto a convex mirror (6.6), which in turn drives said concentred light rays vertically downwards towards the fluid driving pipe (3.13). The concave mirror (6.7) is positioned under said lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3), as well as under said lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (6.2). The concave mirror (6.7) is sustained by a horizontally projecting member (6.8) which attaches to said lower mast structure (6.1), such that said mirror (6.7) is sustained by said mast structure (6.1) . The lens (6.9) seals off the fluid driving pipe (3.13) from the vertical pipe (3.15) which drives the concentrated light rays (6.5) downwards towards said fluid driving pipe (3.13).
Said lens (6.9) should be as transparent as possible in order for it to minimise the energy losses of the concentrated light rays when being driven through said lens (6.9). The more a lens (6.9) absorbs energy form light, the greater are the energy losses, as the lower is the energy transferred to the fluid in the fluid driving pipe (3.13) by said concentrated light rays (6.5). The concave mirror (6.7) is positioned under the lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3), while the convex mirror (6.6) is embedded inside said lower mast structure (6.1) , and partly faces said concave mirror (6.7) through an opening comprised on the wall of said lower mast structure (6.1).
The lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3) is positioned further away from the mast structure (6.1) than said lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (6.2), while said concave mirror (6.7) is positioned as far apart or further from said mast structure (6.1) as said lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3). Said concave mirror (6.7) positioned just under said lowest positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3). This design offers maximum space for maximum light (6.5) concentration efficiency, and also offers the lowest number of components to be used for said power generation system’s design and construction, hence minimising construction and manufacturing costs.
Saud horizontally projecting members (6.4) are comprised as one at each side of said Plano concave mirror (6.3), and are positioned just along the sides of said mirror (6.3) in order for the concentrated light rays (6.5) to be driven with all the necessary required space, and without encountering any obstacles on the path of said light rays (6.5).
Saud system design drives the concentred light rays (6.5) along the above mentioned directions and paths thanks to the external profdes, shapes and geometries of the lowest Plano convex mirror (6.2), as well as the outer profiles, shapes and geometries of the concave (6.7) and convex (6.6) mirrors.
The design of the setup and positioning of the components of the power generation system comprised in this invention can vary, and can be rearranged in order to avoid the use of said features comprised on Figures 5 and 6.
In this design, the solar rays (7.2) are collected by the flat collection mirrors (7.6, 7.14). Said flat collection mirrors (7.6, 7.14) comprise one outer flat collection mirror (7.6) which is sustained by a vertically projecting member (7.3), which in turn connects to a horizontally projecting member (7.4) which connects said structures to the tower mast structure (7.1). The other flat collection mirror (7.14) is comprised as an inner flat collection mirror (7.14) which is sustained by a separate horizontally projecting member (7.5), which attaches to said tower mast structure (7.1). Said outer flat collection mirror (7.6) reflects the solar rays (7.2) towards said inner flat collection mirror (7.14), which then reflects these (7.2) vertically downwards, when said solar rays (7.2) project at angles of 45 degrees or higher compared to the ground base level’s plane. In that case, said inner flat collection mirror (7.14) is inclined at 45 degrees constantly. However, when the solar rays project at angles of 45 degrees or lower compared to the ground level’s plane, said inner flat collection mirror (7.14) collects the solar rays (7.2) directly and reflects these (7.2) to a vertical downward direction of projection. In that case, said outer flat collection mirror (7.6) is inclined at the same inclination to that of the projecting solar rays (7.2), such that the surface of said outer flat collection mirror (7.6) is constantly facing at 90 degrees perpendicularly to the direction of projection of the solar rays (7.2) . The design is configured in this way in order for said outer flat collection mirror (7.6) to never obstruct the path of the incoming solar rays (7.2). This will hence maximise solar ray (7.2) collection, and hence will maximise the energy output of the power generation system concerned, therefore maximising its functional efficiency.
At the first level, said solar rays (7.2) are diverted vertically downwards until reaching the surface of a Plano concave mirror (7.11), which reflects these (7.2) and concentrates said rays (7.2) towards a Plano convex mirror (7.10), which is positioned further away from said tower mast structure than said Plano concave mirror (7.11). So, the solar rays (7.2) are reflected towards an outward direction of projection, and hence outwards of said tower mast structure (7.1). After reaching said Plano convex mirror (7.10), said mirror reflects said rays (7.2) to a vertical downward direction of projection. The solar rays (7.2) are hence driven downwards but further away from said tower mast structure (7.1) compared with the previously described designs. This design allows the system to avoid the use of the systems comprised on Figures and 6.
The outer flat collection mirror (7.6) is always comprised being sustained on top of said vertically projecting member (7.3), and by said vertically projecting member (7.3), such that said outer flat collection mirror (7.6) is sustained by the uppermost end of said vertically projecting member (7.3). However, the inner flat collection mirror (7.14) is always sustained hanging from the outer end of said horizontally projecting member (7.5) which is (7.5) present to sustain said inner flat collection mirror (7.14). Saud member (7.5) in turn attaches to the tower mast structure (7.1).
The Plano convex mirror (7.10) is always positioned under the horizontal member (7.4) which sustains said outer flat collection mirror (7.6). Said horizontally projecting member (7.4) hence also sustains said Plano convex mirror (7.10) at the end of said member (7.4). Said Plano convex mirror (7.10) is sustained under said horizontally projecting member (7.4) by said horizontally projecting member (7.4). However, said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is sustained by both the horizontal member (7.4) which sustains said outer collection mirror (7.6), and said horizontal member (7.5) which sustains said inner flat collection mirror (7.14).
Said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is sustained by both of said horizontally projecting members (7.4, 7.5), such that said horizontally projecting members (7.4) which sustains said outer flat collection mirror (7.6), sustain said Plano concave mirror (7.11) from upwards, such that said Plano concave mirror (7.11) hangs from said horizontally projecting member (7.4) . The Plano concave mirror (7.11) is positioned under said horizontally projecting member (7.4) which sustains said outer flat collection mirror (7.6).
The Plano concave mirror (7.11) is positioned on said horizontally projecting member (7.5) which sustains said inner flat collection mirror (7.14). So, said horizontally projecting member (7.5) sustains said Plano concave mirror (7.11) in its required position. As a result, said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is always positioned between both of said horizontally projecting members (7.4, 7.5), and is hence sustained in its required position by said two horizontally projecting members (7.4, 7.5).
The upper part of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is sustained by the horizontally projecting member (7.4) which sustains said outer flat collection mirror (7.6). Said uppermost part of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is hence the part of said mirror (7.11) which is positioned closest to said tower mast structure (74). However, the lowest part of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is positioned just over the upper part of the horizontally projecting member which sustains said inner flat collection mirror (7.14). The inner flat collection mirror concerned (7.14) is the one which collects the solar rays (7.2) for the next system part, which is positioned under the system in question. Said lower part of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is positioned just over the end of said lower positioned horizontally projecting member (7.5), which in turn sustains said lower positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14). This design allows said lower positioned horizontally projecting member (7.5) to minimise the material used for its (7.5) construction, as well as to maximise the space in front of said horizontal member (7.5). This allows the concentrated light rays (7.13) to be driven downwards without any obstacles present on the path.
The surface of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) therefore faces partly vertically upwards towards the inner flat collection mirror (7.14), and partly horizontally towards said Plano convex mirror (7.10), which is positioned further away from said tower mast structure (7.1) than said Plano concave mirror (7.11). So, the surface of said Plano convex mirror (7.10) faces partly horizontally towards said Plano concave mirror (7.11), and hence towards said tower mast structure (7.1), and partly vertically downwards towards the next light collection system, which is towards which said Plano convex mirror (7.10) reflects said concentrated light rays (7.13).
The focal point of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is comprised behind the surface of said Plano convex mirror (7.10), or along its surface (7.10). So, the surface of said Plano convex mirror (7.10) is comprised behind the focal point of said Plano concave mirror (7.11), such that the distance between the surface of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) and the surface of said Plano convex mirror (7.10) is lower or equal to the distance between the surface of said Plano concave mirror (7.11) and said Plano concave mirror’s (7.11) focal point. Tis design is required in order for the Plano convex mirror (7.10) to cleanly reflect the concentrated solar rays (7.13) into a vertical downward direction of projection.
Said outer flat collection mirror (7.6) is always positioned beside, and hence in front of, said inner flat collection mirror (7.14). Said inner flat collection mirror (7.14) is not only used as a collection mirror, but also as a solar ray light (7.2) reflection mirror (7.14) when said solar rays (7.2) project at angles of 45 degrees or higher to the ground level’s plane.
Said Plano convex mirror (7.10) hence receives the solar rays (7.13) which were concentrated by said Plano concave mirror (7.11), onto a downward vertically projecting direction. So, said concentrated solar rays (7.13) are driven vertically downwards by said Plano convex mirror (7.10). Said concentrated solar rays (7.13) are hence driven in front of the end of said horizontally projecting member (7.5) which sustains said lower positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14). Hence, said concentrated light trays (7.13) are driven not only in front of said lower positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14), but also in front of said Plano concave mirror (7.11).
So, said Plano convex mirror (7.10) drives said concentrated light rays (7.13) vertically downwards, and hence towards a 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9). Said flat collection mirror (7.9) reflects said concentrated light trays (7.13) outwards a horizontal direction, which projects towards said tower mast stricture (7.1). Said concentrated light rays (7.13) are then reflected back towards a vertical downward direction of projection by another reflection mirror (7.7), which is also 45 degree inclined. Said concentrated light rays are then reflected back towards the lower positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10) by the lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11).
Said lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11) reflects both the solar rays (7.2) which are collected or reflected by the lower positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14), as well as the concentrated solar rays (7.13) which were concentrated by the upper positioned Plano concave (7.11) and Plano convex (7.10) mirrors. So, the result is a concentrated light ray (7.13) which grows in intensity as said light ray (7.13) is driven down said tower mast structure (7.1) as it passes through all the base systems from top to bottom of said mast structure (7.1).
So, said lower positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10) reflects the concentrated light rays (7.13) and the newly collected solar rays (7.2) by said lower positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14) towards the lower positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10). Said lower positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10) then reflects said concentrated light rays (7.13) in a light intensity grown light ray (7.13) towards the next lower positioned 45 degree inclined reflection mirror (7.9). This process therefore continues in this way, hence constantly merging all already concentrated (7.13) and newly collected (7.2) solar light rays together as said light ray passes through the base systems down said mast structure (7.1), and hence producing an intensity growing light ray (7.13) as said light ray flows down said tower mast structure (7.1) until reaching the bottom of said mast structure (7.1).
Said 45 degree inclined flat mirrors (7.7, 7.9) are both sustained by the horizontally projecting member (7.4) which sustains said outer flat collection mirror (7.6), as well as said Plano convex mirror (7.10). Said horizontally projecting member (7.4) is positioned under said 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (7.7, 7.9) for each case. So, said 45 degree inclined mirrors (7.7, 7.9) are positioned one in front of the other, and are sustained over said horizontally projecting member (7.4), which in turn connects to the tower mast structure (7.1).
Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) constantly faces said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7), and vice versa. Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) constantly faces said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7), and vice versa. Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) is hence positioned further apart from said tower mast structure (7.1) than said inner 45 degree flat reflection mirror (7.7).
Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) is flat and 45 degree inclined compared to the ground base’s plane, and faces partly vertically upwards towards said upper positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10), and partly horizontally towards said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7), and hence towards said tower mast structure (7.1). Said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7) faces party vertically downwards towards the upper and inner edge of said lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11), and partly horizontally towards said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9), and hence away from said tower mast structure (7.1).
Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) is positioned between said upper Plano convex mirror (7.10), which is positioned on top of aid mirror (7.9), and said lower positioned Plano convex mirror (7.10), which is positioned under said mirror (7.9), and hence under said horizontal member (7.4) which supports both mirrors (7.9, 7.10). Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) is hence positioned just beside the vertical member (7.3) which sustains the outer flat collection mirror (7.6) of the level concerned. The inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7) is however positioned fully behind the horizontal area where the lowest part of said upward positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14) will reach, even at an inclination of 45 degrees to the ground level’s plane. This is because said system is designed to allow the newly collected solar rays (7.2) collected by said upward positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14), to be driven vertically downwards between said two flat 45 degree inclined reflection mirrors (7.7, 7.9) without encountering any obstacles on the path. So, said light rays (7.2) are hence driven vertically down to the next lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11), which then reflects these (7.2), along with the already concentrated light rays (7.13), to the Plano convex mirror (7.10) of the level concerned.
So, said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7) is positioned between the inner and uppermost part of said lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11), and the upper positioned horizontal member (7.5) which sustains said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14). Said 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7) is hence positioned behind said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14), and hence nearer to said tower mast structure (7.1) than said inner flat collection mirror (7.14), but is (7.7) positioned at a lower horizontal level than said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14).
Said lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11) is positioned under the horizontal member (7.4) which sustains said 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (7.7, 7.9) over it (7.4). Said horizontal member (7.4) attaches to said lower positioned Plano concave mirror (7.11). Said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7) hence comprises its upper edge being positioned behind the vertical path of said newly collected solar rays (7.2) which are being reflected vertically downwards by said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14).
Said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is hence positioned under said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7), as well as under said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14) in order to collect the reflected light rays of both mirrors (7.7, 7.14), but does not need to be positioned exactly under said level’s Plano convex mirror (7.10). The mirror which is nearest to said tower mast structure (7.1) in this case is said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7).
The actuators (7.8) attach to both the supporting members (7.3, 7.5), and the flat collection mirrors (7.6, 7.14) in order to actuate the movement of said flat collection mirrors (7.6, 7.14) according to the sun’s position on the horizon, but without altering the very position of said flat collection mirrors (7.6, 7.14) on said tower mast structure (7.1), and according to said tower mast structure (7.1). Said tower mast structure (7.1) is rotated about its own mid positioned axis (7.12), which is positioned on the middle of said mast’s (7.1) cross-sectional area, such that said mast structure (7.1) is rotated easily and efficiently according to the sun’s positon on the horizon, such that said flat collection mirrors (7.6, 7.14) always face perpendicularly to the direction of the incoming solar rays. The rotational axis is positioned on the middle of said mast (7.1) in order to maximise structural stability. The rotational system is actuated by an electric motorised system.
So, the design of the system described on Figure 7, can be described in a summarised manner. Said design therefore comprises a tower mast structure (7.1), which comprises a finite plurality of system bases, each of which comprises a horizontally projecting member (7.5) which is sustained by said mast structure (7.1) and which sustains the lowest edge of a
Plano concave mirror (7.11) at its (7.5) end, such that said Plano concave mirror (7.11) is sustained at its highest edge (7.11) by another horizontal member (7.4) which is positioned over said lower horizontal member (7.5), such that the edge which is closest to said mast structure (7.1) is sustained by the upper horizontal member (7.4), and the edge which is the furthest away from said mast structure (7.1) is sustained by said lower horizontal member, such that said upper horizontal member (7.4) is also sustained by said mast structure (7.1) and sustains a Plano convex mirror (7.10), which faces partly towards said Plano concave mirror (7.11) and partly vertically downwards towards an outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (7.9) which is positioned on said upper horizontal member (7.4) of the lower system base, such that the light rays (7.13) are reflected vertically downwards by said Plano convex mirror (7.10) and pass in front of said lower horizontal member (7.5) which also sustains said inner flat collection mirror (7.14) at its (7.5) end, such that said light rays (7.13) are reflected towards said mast structure (7.1) by said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9), prior of being reflected again vertically downwards by an inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7) positioned on said lower system base’s upper horizontal member (7.4), such that said light rays (7.13) are then reflected, along with the newly collected solar rays (7.2) which were reflected vertically downwards by said inner flat collection mirror (7.14), towards the Plano convex mirror (7.10) of said lower system base, by said lower system base’s Plano concave mirror (7.11), such that said upper horizontal member’s (7.5) end supports the outer flat collection mirror (7.6) and its actuator (7.8) by the means of a vertical member (7.3), and said Plano concave mirror (7.11) faces vertically upwards towards said upper system base’s inner flat collection mirror (7.14) and horizontally away from said mast structure (7.1) towards said Plano convex mirror (7.10), which then reflects said concentrated light rays (7.13) to the outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9) of the still lower system base, hence repeating the solar ray (7.2) concentration process again and again until said light rays (7.13) reach the bottom of said mast structure (7.1).
The design can also comprise the inner 45 inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7) being positioned under the actuator’s level of the upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (8.14) . In this case, said newly collected and reflected solar rays (8.2), which are reflected vertically downwards by said inner flat collection mirrors (8.14), are being driven behind said inner 45 degrees inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7), instead of being driven in front of it (7.7) as comprised on Figure 7. In order for said design modification to be functional, the actuators and hanging positions of said inner flat collection mirrors (8.14) is being positioned closer to said tower mast structure (8.1) than the end of the horizontal members (8.5) which sustains said inner flat collection mirrors (8.14) from above. Said inner flat collection mirror (8.14) is therefore positioned closer inwards, and hence closer to said tower mast structure (8.1) in comparison with the design comprised on Figure 7. Said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (8.7) is still closer to said tower mast structure (8.1) than said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (8.9), although the two mirrors being positioned on the same horizontal member (8.4), and hence facing each other (8.7, 8.9).
The positions of the vertical member (8.3) which sustains said outer flat collection mirror (8.6), the actuators of said outer flat collection mirrors (8.8), the Plano concave (8.11) and Plano convex (8.10) mirrors, and the axis (8.12) of self-rotation and orientation of the tower mast structure (8.1), are the same as on the design comprised on Figure 7. The resulting high intensity concentrated light rays (8.13) are hence driven downwards in a similar manner as on the design comprised on Figure 7. The advantage of said design comprised on Figure 8 however, is that the solar rays (8.2) which are newly collected and reflected by said inner flat collection mirrors (8.14), will be reflected behind the high intensity solar ray which is driven between the two 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7, 8.9), hence meaning that some solar light reflection advantages can be won with this deign in comparison to that comprised on Figure 7.
The position of said upper (8.4) and lower (8.5) horizontal members is similar to the design comprised on Figure 7. Only the positions of said inner flat collection mirrors (8.14) and said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7), is being altered in comparison with the design comprised on Figure 7.
Said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7) are still closer to the tower mast structure (8.1) than said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.9). Said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirrors (8.7) should be positioned under said end of said horizontal member (8.5) which sustains said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (8.14), but not under said inner flat collection mirror (8.14), as this would result in less solar rays being concentrated by said lower positioned Plano concave mirror (8.11), which would hence mean a lower efficiency of light concentration, and hence of lower power generation for the system.
The advantage of the designs comprised on Figures 7 and 8, is that given the distance of the resulting concentrated light rays (7.13, 8.13) from said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1) in comparison with the design comprised on Figures 1 and 2, said design comprised on Figures 7 and 8 will not need any of the light reflection systems comprised on Figures 5 and 6. This is because the distance between said concentrated light rays (7.13, 8.13) and said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1) will offer enough space for a concave mirror (3.3) to concentrate said resulting light rays (7.13, 8.13) onto a convex mirror (3.2) positioned inside the lower structure (3.1) of said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1).
Said light concentration systems comprised on Figures 1, 2, 7, and 8, can comprise different designs in order to make these more efficient, or to concentrate the light rays (7.2, 8.2, 7.13, 8.13) in more than one dimension, hence eliminating the need of any light concentration systems at the bottom of the mast structure (1.1,7.1, 8.1) as comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6.
On the design comprised on Figures 7 and 8, said tower mast structure (9.1) sustains said upper (9.2) and lower (9.5) horizontal members. Said members (9.2, 9.5) sustain said Plano concave mirrors (9.4) at each system base. Said Plano concave mirror (9.4) reflects the vertically reflected light rays (7.2, 8.2) towards an outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) which is sustained from the end of said upper horizontal member (9.2). Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) is positioned below the part of the upper horizontal member (9.2) which is the furthest away from said tower mast structure (9.1). So, in other words said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) is positioned below the end of the upper horizontal member (9.2).
The surface of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) is positioned after the focal point or behind the focal point of said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4), such that the surface of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) is positioned further away from said tower mast structure (9.1) than said focal point of said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4). This design is configured in said manner, because the solar rays which are reflected by said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4) , are driven towards said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3), but are driven through the focal point of said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4) prior of hitting the surface of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3). Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) then reflects said concentrated solar rays (9.6) by said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4), towards a vertically downward projecting direction. This is due to the profile’s design of the surface of said outer
Plano concave mirror (9.3), which reflects said light rays (9.6) vertically downwards, and so drives said light rays (9.6) in front of the ends of the lower horizontal members (9.5) which are positioned under said upper horizontal member (9.2).
If said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) would be positioned closer to said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4) or the tower mast structure (9.1) than said inner Plano concave mirror’s (9.4) focal point, said light rays (9.6) would be reflected in an array of undesired directions by said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3), leaving only part of the solar rays (9.6) being reflected vertically downwards as required by said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3). So if an outer Plano concave mirror is used (9.3), it (9.3) should be positioned further away from said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4) and said tower mast structure (9.1) than the focal point of said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4), in order for said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) to reflect the concentrated solar rays (9.6) by said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4) appropriately vertically downwards as required, with the surface of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3).
Said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4) faces partly vertically upwards towards said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (7.14, 8.14), and partly horizontally towards said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3), and hence away from said tower mast structure. Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.3) however, faces vertically downwards towards the next system base’s outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9, 8.9), which is the direction towards which it (9.3) reflects the solar rays (9.6), and partly horizontally towards said inner Plano concave mirror (9.4), and hence towards said tower mast structure (9.1).
On the design comprised on Figures 1 and 2, said tower mast structure (9.7) sustains said horizontal member (9.8) which is shorter in length than said lower (9.11) horizontal member, which is also sustained by said tower mast structure (9.7), and is positioned under said shorter member (9.8). Said shorter member (9.8) can hence sustain a Plano concave mirror (9.10) at each system base, which faces partly vertically downwards and partly horizontally towards said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9). So, said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) faces partly horizontally away from said tower mast structure (9.7), and partly vertically downwards, which is the direction onto which said mirror (9.10) reflects said concentrated light rays (9.12). Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) is positioned over said lower horizontal member (9.11) at each system base, and faces partly vertically upwards towards said upper positioned inner flat collection mirror (1.4), and partly horizontally towards said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10), and hence towards said tower mast structure (9.7).
Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) is positioned at a lower horizontal level than said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) at each system base level. Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) reflects and concentrates the downwards vertically projecting solar rays (1.8) which were newly collected or reflected by said upper positioned flat collection mirror (1.4), as well as the concentrated light rays (1.12) which were concentrated by the upper positioned system levels. Said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) is positioned under the end of said shorter upper positioned horizontal member (9.8), which also supports said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10).
So, said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) reflects and concentrates said light rays (1.8, 1.12) towards said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10). Said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) then reflects said newly concentrated light rays (9.12) into a vertically downward direction, similar to that featured on Figure 1 and 2. So, said light rays are finally driven beside said tower mast structure (9.7) vertically down towards the next system base level. Said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) is positioned as far as possible from the tower mast structure (9.7), and hence over the end of said lower positioned horizontal member (9.11). This design is configured in this way to allow for the necessary distance between the two Plano concave mirrors (9.10,
9.11) at each system base level. This is because the focal pint of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) should be further away from the tower mast structure (9.7) than the inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) itself, such that the surface of said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) is positioned behind the focal point of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9), and hence closer to the tower mast structure (9.7) than said focal point of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9) .
The design is configured as mentioned above, because in order to use a Plano concave mirror (9.10) as a concentrated light reflection mirror, said surface of said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) should reflect light rays (9.12) which have passed the focal point of concentration in order to reflect the light rays (9.12) in a coherent manner. So, said light rays (9.12) are concentrated by said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9), and are reflected by said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) after these (9.12) pass through the focal point of said outer Plano concave mirror (9.9). In this way, said light rays (9.12) are reflected by said inner Plano concave mirror (9.10) coherently, and will hence be driven vertically downwards in a clean and coherent manner.
Said designs comprised on Figures 7 and 8, can comprise concave mirrors (9.15, 9.16) being positioned in the same positions and orientations as said Plano concave (7.11, 8.11) and
Plano convex (7.10, 8.10) mirrors. So, the inner concave mirror (9.16) is positioned closer to the tower mast structure (9.13) than the outer concave mirror (9.15), while said inner concave mirror (9.16) is positioned at a lower horizontal level than said outer concave mirror (9.15) for each system base level. Said outer concave mirror (9.15) is situated under the end of said upper positioned horizontal member (9.14), and is (9.15) supported by said horizontal member (9.14), which is positioned over it (9.15). Said inner concave mirror (9.16) is positioned between the upper (9.14) and the lower (9.17) horizontal members. Said lower horizontal member (9.17) sustains said inner concave mirror (9.16) on top of it (9.17), while said upper horizontal member (9.14) sustains said upper and inner edges of said inner concave mirror (9.16). Said lower and outer edge is supported by said lower horizontal member (9.17). The upper edge of said inner concave mirror (9.16) is positioned closer to said tower mast structure (9.13) than said lower edge of said inner concave mirror (9.16).
Said outer concave mirror (9.15) is positioned further away from said tower mast structure (9.13) than said inner concave mirror (9.16). Both of said upper (9.14) and lower (9.17) horizontal members are sustained by said tower mast structure (9.13). Said inner concave mirror (9.16) reflects and concentrates the vertically downwards projecting light rays, towards said outer concave mirror (9.15). Said outer concave mirror (9.15) then reflects said light rays (9.18) onto a vertically downward projecting coherent light ray, only after said light rays cross the focal point of said inner concave mirror (9.16). Said light rays are reflected by said outer concave mirror (9.15), which comprises a surface which is positioned further away from said inner concave mirror (9.16) and said tower mast structure (9.13) than the focal point of said inner concave mirror (9.16). So, said light rays are reflected vertically down in a clean and coherent manner by said outer concave mirror (9.15).
The advantage of this design is that the inner concave mirror (9.16) will concentrate the light rays (9.18) towards a focal point across all dimensions, which are then reflected back vertically downwards in a coherent manner by said outer concave mirror (9.15), hence eliminating the need of the light concentration systems comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6.
The designs comprised on Figures 1 and 2 can comprises concave mirrors (9.21, 9.22) comprised on the same positions and orientations as said Plano concave (1.7, 2.4) and Plano convex (1.6) mirrors, hence comprising an inner concave mirror (9.21) and an outer concave mirror (9.22). Said inner concave mirror (9.21) is comprised closer to said tower mast structure (9.19) than said outer concave mirror (9.22). So, said outer concave mirror (9.22) faces partly vertically upwards towards said upper positioned flat collection mirror (1.4), and partly horizontally towards said inner concave mirror (9.21), and hence towards said tower mast structure (9.19). Said inner concave mirror (9.21) faces partly horizontally towards said outer concave mirror (9.22), and hence away from said tower mast structure (9.19), and partly vertically downwards towards said lower positioned inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (1.5).
The upper shorter horizontal member (9.20) sustains said inner concave mirror (9.21) under its (9.20) end area, and also sustains it (9.21) as close to said tower mast structure (9.19) as possible. Said inner concave mirror (9.21) is positioned under said shorter horizontal member (9.20). However, said lower horizontal member (9.24) sustains said outer concave mirror (9.22) in top of it (9.24), and said outer concave mirror (9.22) is positioned as far away from said tower mast structure (9.19) as possible, such that said outer concave mirror (9.22) is positioned on the end area of said lower horizontal member (9.24). Said characteristics are present at each system level base.
Said two concave mirrors (9.21, 9.22) face each other (9.21, 9.22) at each system level base, as the vertically projecting light rays are reflected and concentrated towards said inner concave mirror (9.21) by said outer concave mirror (9.22), but said light rays (9.23) should hit the surface of said inner concave mirror (9.21) after passing through the focal point of said outer concave mirror (9.22). This is because said inner concave mirror (9.21) then reflects said light rays (9.23) in a vertically downward and coherent manner. If the light rays (9.23) would reach the surface of said inner concave mirror (9.21) prior of passing through the focal point of said outer concave mirror (9.22), said light rays (9.23) would be reflected in an array of undesired directions. So, the surface of said inner concave mirror (9.21) is positioned behind the focal point of said outer concave mirror (9.22), and so closer to the tower mast structure (9.19) than said focal point of said outer concave mirror (9.22).
For the designs comprised on Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8, a vertically projecting rigid member (10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 13.1)canbe comprised behind the tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5) and behind all the mirrors present, such that said member (10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 13.1) has got the same width as the width of the mirrors comprised on said tower mast structure (10.4,
11.5, 12.5, 13.5), and being sustained by said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5).
Said member (10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 13.1) is attached to the tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5, 12.5,
13.5) by the means ofhorizontal members (10.2, 11.2, 12.2, 13.2), and acts as a shield to the concentrated solar rays for the outer environment around the system, for the case that any solar rays are reflected by accident or by technical error towards an undesired direction around the surrounding of the tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5). Said member (10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 13.1) also acts as a counterweight member (10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 13.1) to the weight of the mirrors and systems attached to the other side of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5). So, no counterweight systems will be needed on the tower mast structure’s (10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5) construction. Said vertically projection member (10.1,
11.1, 12.1, 13.1) can be made of a strong rigid, but also heavy material, such as steel or stainless steel. Said counterweight member (10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 13.1) is therefore present to protect the surrounding environment of the system, to undesired light rays which are reflected around said mast structure (10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5) in case of an accident or in the case of a technical error. Said system can hence be applied to the designs of Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8.
For the design comprised on Figure 1, the Plano convex mirror (1.6) can be replaced by a convex mirror (10.5) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano convex mirror (1.6) for each system base level. The Plano concave mirror (1.7) can be replaced by a concave mirror (10.3) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano concave mirror (1.7) at each system base level. So, the light rays (10.6) will be reflected and concentrated by said concave mirror (10.3), and are (10.6) driven to project in all dimensions towards a focal point by said concave mirror (10.3). Said convex mirror (10.5) will then reflect said light rays (10.6) in a vertical and coherent downward direction of projection towards the next lower positioned system base level. The surface of said convex mirror (10.5) is positioned closer to said concave mirror (10.3) than said focal point of said concave mirror (10.3), such that said convex mirror (10.5) is positioned further away from said tower mast structure (10.4) than the focal point of said concave mirror (10.3). The advantage of this system design is that no lower positioned light concentration systems such as those comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6, will be required, as the light rays (10.6) are concentrated towards a concentrated light ray at each system base level by said concave mirrors (10.3), by the means of said concave (10.3) and convex (10.5) mirrors being positioned in front of each other (10.3, 10.5) at each system base level. The use of concave (10.3) and convex (10.5) mirrors instead of Plano concave (1.7) and Plano convex (1.6) mirrors is an easy modification, and eliminates the need of said bottom positioned light concentration systems comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6.
The concave mirrors (10.3) are positioned facing to the convex mirrors (10.5) at each system base level, and these (10.3) face partly vertically upwards and partly horizontally towards said convex mirrors (10.5), and hence towards said tower mast structure (10.4). The convex mirrors (10.5) are positioned facing towards the concave mirrors (10.3) at each system base level, and these (10.5) face partly horizontally towards said concave mirrors (10.3), and hence away from said tower mast structure (10.4), and partly vertically downwards, which is the direction towards which said convex mirrors (10.5) reflect the coherent and concentrated light rays (10.6). Said convex mirrors (10.5) are positioned closer to the tower mast structure (10.4) , and hence closer to said vertically projecting shielding member (10.1), than said concave mirrors (10.3).
For the design comprised on Figure 2, the Plano convex mirror (1.6) can be replaced by a convex mirror (11.3) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano convex mirror (1.6) for each system base level. The Plano concave mirror (2.4) can be replaced by a concave mirror (11.4) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano concave mirror (2.4) at each system base level. So, the light rays (11.6) will be reflected and concentrated by said concave mirror (11.4), and are (11.6) driven to project in all dimensions towards a focal point by said concave mirror (11.4). Said convex mirror (11.3) will then reflect said light rays (11.6) in a vertical and coherent downward direction of projection towards the next lower positioned system base level. The surface of said convex mirror (11.3) is positioned closer to said concave mirror (11.4) than said focal point of said concave mirror (11.4), such that said convex mirror (11.3) is positioned further away from said tower mast structure (11.5) than the focal point of said concave mirror (11.4). The advantage of this system design is that no lower positioned light concentration systems such as those comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6, will be required, as the light rays (11.6) are concentrated towards a concentrated light ray at each system base level by said concave mirrors (11.4), by the means of said concave (11.4) and convex (11.3) mirrors being positioned in front of each other (11.4, 11.3) at each system base level. The use of concave (11.4) and convex (11.3) mirrors instead of Plano concave (2.4) and Plano convex (1.6) mirrors is an easy modification, and eliminates the need of said bottom positioned light concentration systems comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6.
The concave mirrors (11.4) are positioned facing to the convex mirrors (11.3) at each system base level, and these (11.4) face partly vertically upwards and partly horizontally towards said convex mirrors (11.3), and hence towards said tower mast structure (11.5). The convex mirrors (11.3) are positioned facing towards the concave mirrors (11.4) at each system base level, and these (11.3) face partly horizontally towards said concave mirrors (11.4), and hence away from said tower mast structure (11.5), and partly vertically downwards, which is the direction towards which said convex mirrors (11.3) reflect the coherent and concentrated light rays (11.6). Said convex mirrors (11.3) are positioned closer to the tower mast structure (11.5), and hence closer to said vertically projecting shielding member (11.1), than said concave mirrors (11.4).
For the design comprised on Figure 7, the Plano convex mirror (7.10) can be replaced by a convex mirror (12.4) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano convex mirror (7.10) for each system base level. The Plano concave mirror (7.11) can be replaced by a concave mirror (12.3) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano concave mirror (7.11) at each system base level. So, the light rays (12.6) will be reflected and concentrated by said concave mirror (12.3), and are (12.6) driven to project in all dimensions towards a focal point by said concave mirror (12.3). Said convex mirror (12.4) will then reflect said light rays (12.6) in a vertical and coherent downward direction of projection towards the next lower positioned system base level. The surface of said convex mirror (12.4) is positioned closer to said concave mirror (12.3) than said focal point of said concave mirror (12.3), such that said convex mirror (12.4) is positioned closer to said tower mast structure (12.5) than the focal point of said concave mirror (12.3). The advantage of this system design is that no lower positioned light concentration systems such as those comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6, will be required, as the light rays (12.6) are concentrated towards a concentrated light ray at each system base level by said concave mirrors (12.3), by the means of said concave (12.3) and convex (12.4) mirrors being positioned in front of each other (12.3, 12.4) at each system base level. The use of concave (12.3) and convex (12.4) mirrors instead of Plano concave (7.11) and Plano convex (7.10) mirrors is an easy modification, and eliminates the need of said bottom positioned light concentration systems comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6.
The concave mirrors (12.3) are positioned facing to the convex mirrors (12.4) at each system base level, and these (12.3) face partly vertically upwards and partly horizontally towards said convex mirrors (12.4), and hence away from said tower mast structure (12.5). The convex mirrors (12.4) are positioned facing towards the concave mirrors (12.3) at each system base level, and these (12.4) face partly horizontally towards said concave mirrors (12.3), and hence towards said tower mast structure (12.5), and partly vertically downwards, which is the direction towards which said convex mirrors (12.4) reflect the coherent and concentrated light rays (12.6). Said convex mirrors (12.4) are positioned further away from the tower mast structure (12.5), and hence further from said vertically projecting shielding member (12.1), than said concave mirrors (12.3).
For the design comprised on Figure 8, the Plano convex mirror (8.10) can be replaced by a convex mirror (13.4) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano convex mirror (8.10) for each system base level. The Plano concave mirror (8.11) can be replaced by a concave mirror (13.3) which is situated at the same position and orientation as said Plano concave mirror (8.11) at each system base level. So, the light rays (13.6) will be reflected and concentrated by said concave mirror (13.3), and are (13.6) driven to project in all dimensions towards a focal point by said concave mirror (13.3). Said convex mirror (13.4) will then reflect said light rays (13.6) in a vertical and coherent downward direction of projection towards the next lower positioned system base level. The surface of said convex mirror (13.4) is positioned closer to said concave mirror (13.3) than said focal point of said concave mirror (13.3), such that said convex mirror (13.4) is positioned closer to said tower mast structure (13.5) than the focal point of said concave mirror (13.3). The advantage of this system design is that no lower positioned light concentration systems such as those comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6, will be required, as the light rays (13.6) are concentrated towards a concentrated light ray at each system base level by said concave mirrors (13.3), by the means of said concave (13.3) and convex (13.4) mirrors being positioned in front of each other (13.3, 13.4) at each system base level. The use of concave (13.3) and convex (13.4) mirrors instead of Plano concave (8.11) and Plano convex (8.10) mirrors is an easy modification, and eliminates the need of said bottom positioned light concentration systems comprised on Figures 3, 5 and 6.
The concave mirrors (13.3) are positioned facing to the convex mirrors (13.4) at each system base level, and these (13.3) face partly vertically upwards and partly horizontally towards said convex mirrors (13.4), and hence away from said tower mast structure (13.5). The convex mirrors (13.4) are positioned facing towards the concave mirrors (13.3) at each system base level, and these (13.4) face partly horizontally towards said concave mirrors (13.3), and hence towards said tower mast structure (13.5), and partly vertically downwards, which is the direction towards which said convex mirrors (13.4) reflect the coherent and concentrated light rays (13.6). Said convex mirrors (13.4) are positioned further away from the tower mast structure (13.5), and hence further from said vertically projecting shielding member (13.1), than said concave mirrors (13.3).
At the bottom part (14.1) of said tower mast structure, an outer flat 45 degree inclined reflection mirror (14.3) can be comprised, positioned in front of an inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4). So, in this case, said outer reflection mirror (14.3) is sustained by a vertically projecting member (14.5), which is in turn sustained by the end part of a horizontally projecting member (14.6), which is attached to the tower mast structure (14.1). Said outer reflection mirror (14.3) is 45 degrees inclined from the ground base level, and so inclined towards said tower mast structure (14.1), and hence towards said inner reflection mirror (14.4). Said inner reflection mirror is 45 degrees inclined from the ground base level, and so inclined towards said outer reflection mirror (14.3), and hence inclined towards the direction of projection which projects away from said tower mast structure (14.1). Said inner reflection mirror is embedded inside the lower mast structure (14.1), such that an opening is comprised between the two reflection mirrors (14.4, 14.3) in order to drive the light rays from said outer 45 degree inclined light reflection mirror (14.3) to said inner 45 degree inclined light reflection mirror (14.4).
Said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) is positioned just under the vertically projecting light rays (14.2), which were reflected vertically, and hence in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (14.1), by said upper positioned mirrors. Said 45 degree inclined reflection mirrors (14.4, 14.3) are both flat in order to only reflect the light rays (14.2) while simultaneously maintaining the coherency and high intensity of said reflected light rays (14.2, 14.7). Said vertically projecting light rays (14.2) are hence reflected by said outer reflection mirror (14.3) towards said inner reflection mirror. In this case, said light rays (14.2) are reflected into horizontal direction of projection towards said inner reflection mirror (14.4). Said inner reflection mirror (14.4) then reflects said light rays (14.7) back vertically downwards again, hence driving said concentrated light rays (14.7) in a vertically downward direction of projection in a high intensity and coherent manner. Said light rays (14.7) are driven through the lower positioned vertical pipe (3.15), which drives these (14.7) to the fluid driving pipe (3.13). In said fluid driving pipe, the energy of said light rays (14.7) is transferred to the passing fluid, hence heating it and/or evaporating it. At the bottom of said vertical pipe (3.15), a transparent lens (14.8) is comprised in order to separate the interior of said vertical pipe (3.15) from the fluid driving pipe (3.13). Said transparent lens (14.8) is designed to avoid any fluid from entering into the vertical pipe (3.15) in a liquid or vapour state, as well as impeding any dirt from entering into the fluid driving pipe (3.13). This design can be applied to the light concentration system designs comprised on Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, as well as the light concentration designs which comprise two concave mirrors (9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22) positioned in front of each other at each system base level. This is because concave mirrors (9.16, 9.22, 10.3, 11.4, 12.3, 13.3) concentrate light rays (10.6, 11.6, 12.6, 13.6) towards a point, whereas Plano concave mirrors (1.7, 2.4, 7.11, 8.11) concentrate light rays (1.12, 7.13, 8.13) into a linear cross-sectioned light ray pattern. So, if concave mirrors (9.16, 9.22, 10.3, 11.4, 12.3, 13.3) concentrate said light rays (10.6, 11.6, 12.6, 13.6) at each system base level, no light concentration system is required at the bottom part of said tower mast structure (14.1), leaving only a light reflection system (14.3, 14.4) required to be comprised at the bottom part of said tower mast structure (14.1).
Said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) can also be housed inside a transparent building which surrounds the entire tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) from top to bottom. This design would impede any side movements of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) due to high winds, hence guaranteeing the high accuracy of concentration of said solar rays at all times, even at times of strong winds or strong wind gales. The materials of said transparent housing can be transparent glass, transparent tempered glass, transparent Plexiglas, or transparent PVC plastic. Said building can house one mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) inside it, or a plurality of said mast structures (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), preferably if these (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) are positioned one beside the other (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), forming a linear pattern.
A transparent lens can be comprised along the hollow opening which is comprised through the lower mast structure area (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and hence be positioned between said inner tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) imbedded flat (14.4) or concave (3.2, 5.6, 6.6) mirrors, and said outer positioned concave (3.3, 5.7, 6.7) or flat (14.3) mirrors. This will hence separate the inner volume of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) embedded vertically projecting pipe (3.7) from the outer surrounding environment of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), hence avoiding any dirt or undesired materials from entering into said vertical tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) embedded pipe (3.7). This will therefore minimise maintenance costs, and maximise system safety, reliability and power generation efficiency through a maximised energy transmission efficiency by the means of said concentrated light rays (14.7).
The solar ray concentrators comprised on Figures 1-43 can comprise various features, characteristics and design configurations. These can vary very widely.
Said solar ray concentrators (Figures 1-43) can comprise a solar ray light intensity senor (23.1) , to be comprised at the top of the tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1,9.7, 9.13,9.19, 10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1,23.13). Said position of said light intensity sensor (23.1) can generate an accurate supply of light intensity data to the control computer which controls the water flow control gate (3.10, 23.15, 24.7, 26.3, 28.12). A lighting system (23.1) for the tower mast position awareness for aircraft, can also be comprised at the top of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1,4.6, 5.1, 6.1,7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19, 10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1, 23.13).
A de-icing system can be comprised under each of the mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, 1.13,
2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 7.6, 7.7, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9,
8.10, 8.11, 8.14, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3, 10.5, 11.3, 11.4, 12.3, 12.4,
13.3, 13.4, 23.2, 23.3, 24.1, 24.2), which heats said mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, 1.13, 2.2,
2.3, 2.4, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 7.6, 7.7, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 8.10,
8.11, 8.14, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3, 10.5, 11.3, 11.4, 12.3, 12.4, 13.3,
13.4, 23.2, 23.3, 24.1, 24.2) in order to avoid any icing on said mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7,
1.10, 1.13, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 7.6, 7.7, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14, 8.6,
8.7, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.14, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3, 10.5, 11.3, 11.4,
12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4, 23.2, 23.3, 24.1, 24.2) during icing weather conditions. Said de-icing system would avoid any of said mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, 1.13,2.2,2.3,2.4,5.3,5.4,
5.6, 5.7, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 7.6, 7.7, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.14, 9.3,
9.4, 9.9, 9.10, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3, 10.5, 11.3, 11.4, 12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4, 23.2, 23.3,
24.1, 24.2) of being covered with frost, and hence avoiding any undesired light ray reflections. Said de-icing system should preferably be electrically operated and actuated.
A temperature sensor can also be comprised at the inlet of said water intake pipe (3.12, 4.1,
15.38, 21.1, 26.14, 28.11), such that said sensor measurers the inlet water’s (3.9, 25.1, 26.1,
27.1, 28.1) temperature to compare it with the temperature of the heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 26.13, 28.10) which is heated by the solar rays, such that said data of both temperatures can be supplied to the control computer, which can accurately calculate the rate of water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) flow required for the conditions concerned in order for said water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) to be converted into steam to drive the steam turbine(s) (4.11, 15.22, 26.12, 28.8). Said water flow control gate (3.10, 23.15, 24.7, 26.3, 28.12) hence controls the water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) fluid flowrate into the water driving pipe (3.12, 4.1, 15.38, 21.1, 26.14, 28.11). Atemperature sensor at the heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 26.13,
28.10) should also be comprised. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15, 32.17, 33.16) should be made of a ceramic material or alloy, and comprise cavities in order for the water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) to pass through said heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39,
21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15, 32.17, 33.16), and hence to collect the heat supplied by the solar rays. The fluid concerned can be water, or pressurised water, molten salt, synthetic oil or pressurised steam in the case of closed pressurised fluid circuits, or closed pressurised primary fluid circuits. Said control computer uses programmed equations to calculate the required water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) flow rate into the intake pipe (3.12, 4.1, 15.38, 21.1, 26.14, 28.11), hence controlling the water flow control gate (3.10,
23.15, 24.7, 26.3, 28.12).
Said solar ray concentrators should comprise a heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10,
6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15, 32.17, 33.16) which is comprised just under the concentrated light ray vertical supply pipe (3.15, 14.7, 15.42, 21.2,
21.8, 25.4, 26.6, 27.6, 28.5, 29.5, 31.8, 32.10, 33.6), and which is positioned inside the water supply pipe (3.12, 4.1, 15.38, 21.1, 26.14, 28.11). Said heat exchangers or steam generators (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15, 32.17, 33.16) are made of a ceramic material or alloy, which is a very suitable material to transfer heat, thanks to its high melting points and high heat conductive properties. Said heat exchangers or steam generators (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15,
32.17, 33.16) comprise cavities in order to maximise heat transfer to the water (3.9, 25.1,
26.1, 27.1, 28.1) which is driven through said cavities, and hence maximise the efficiency of the conversion to steam of the flowing water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1). Said design will maximise steam temperatures, and hence maximise power generation efficiencies when said steam drives the steam turbine(s) (4.11, 15.22, 26.12, 28.8). Said heat exchangers or steam generators (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15,
32.17, 33.16) can also be made of steel, copper or aluminium alloy in order to maximise the heat transfer efficiencies of the solar rays to the flowing water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1). Steel, copper or aluminium alloy are good heat conductors, and comprise high melting points as well, making said materials ideally suitable for heat transfer applications.
Said heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 15.39, 21.4, 25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 31.15, 32.17, 33.16) is comprised in the water driving conduit (3.12, 4.1, 15.38, 21.1, 26.14, 28.11), and hence isolates the flow of water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) from the vertical light driving pipe (3.15, 14.7, 15.42, 21.2, 21.8, 25.4, 26.6, 27.6, 28.5, 29.5, 31.8, 32.10, 33.6).
Said solar ray concentration systems (1.1, 3.1, 4.6, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19, 10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1, 23.13) can also comprise a salt evacuation pipe(s) (3.19,5.11,6.11,
14.10, 15.41, 21.11) along the bottom of said vertical concentrated solar ray supply pipe (3.15, 14.7, 15.42, 21.2, 21.8, 25.4, 26.6, 27.6, 28.5, 29.5, 31.8, 32.10, 33.6) in order for said system to evacuate automatically by gravity any salt or undesired solid materials being comprised in the flowing water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1). Said system can hence be used for desalination applications by converting the flowing water (3.9, 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.1) into steam. Said salt evacuation pipe (3.19,5.11,6.11, 14.10, 15.41, 21.11) can be opened or actuated by a valve (3.20, 5.12, 6.12, 14.11, 15.40, 21.12), which can be opened by the pressure present in the water driving pipe (3.12, 4.1, 15.38, 21.1, 26.14, 28.11). Alternatively, said valve (3.20, 5.12, 6.12, 14.11, 15.40, 21.12) can be electrically operated or actuated.
Said concave (3.3, 5.7, 6.7, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3, 11.4, 12.3, 13.3) or Plano-concave (1.7, 2.4, 6.3, 7.11, 8.11, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10) mirrors can be 45 degree inclined compared to the ground plane level, and should be facing and be focused towards said convex (3.2, 5.6, 6.6, 10.5, 11.3, 12.4, 13.4) or Plano-convex (1.6, 6.2, 7.10, 8.10) mirrors, or towards smaller concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano-concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors, which in this case should in turn be inclined at 45 degrees to the ground plane level, and be facing and be focused towards said concave (3.3, 5.7, 6.7, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3, 11.4, 12.3, 13.3) or Plano-concave (1.7,
2.4, 6.3, 7.11, 8.11, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10) mirrors. Said design will guarantee maximum efficient solar ray reflections from all angles of the concave (3.3, 5.7, 6.7, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22, 10.3,
11.4, 12.3, 13.3) or Plano-concave (1.7, 2.4, 6.3, 7.11, 8.11, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10) mirrors towards the smaller convex (3.2, 5.6, 6.6, 10.5, 11.3, 12.4, 13.4) or Plano-convex (1.6, 6.2,
7.10, 8.10) mirrors, or towards smaller concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano-concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors.
Said solar light ray concentration systems (1.1, 3.1, 4.6, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19,
10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1, 23.13) can be comprised on the roofs of buildings, and hence supply said buildings with heat and electricity simultaneously. This can be achieved by comprising said solar ray concentrators (1.1, 3.1, 4.6, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19,
10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1, 23.13) on the roofs of said buildings, and placing the vertical light ray driving pipe (15.14) into the closed inner walls (15.13) of the buildings. So, said light rays can be simultaneously partially reflected towards the sides of said vertical conduit (15.14), in horizontal directions by a set of 45 degree inclined reflection mirrors (15.32,
15.36) which can be positioned at each side of said conduit (15.14). Said 45 degree inclined mirrors (15.32, 15.36) are each attached to horizontally sliding switches (15.15, 15.35), which are each (15.15, 15.35) positioned inside a manual horizontal sliding switch box (15.16, 15.34).
The remaining concentrated light rays are driven further vertically downwards towards an embedded pipe (15.42) towards a ceramic or metallic heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39), which transfers the solar rays’ heat to the flowing water which flows in the water driving pipe (15.38). A water flow control gate (15.37) controls the water flow rate inside said water driving pipe (15.38). The converted steam which leaves said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39) which is positioned under the vertical light driving pipe (15.42), is driven to a steam turbine (15.22) via a steam driving pipe (15.25). Said steam turbine (15.22) drives a generator (15.24), which generates electricity. The remaining steam is driven away from the system through a steam exit pipe (15.23). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39) is made of a ceramic or metallic material, which is suitable for its use as a heat transfer device thanks to the high melting points of said materials. A set of water transfer cavities are comprised through said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39) in order to drive the flowing water through said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39) can be made of steel, copper or aluminium alloy in order to transfer heat efficiently to the water. A salt evacuation pipe (15.41) is comprised along the bottom floor of said steam driving pipe (15.25), and beside said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39), in order to evacuate the salt or other undesired solid materials which may be contained inside the flowing water, towards said pipe (15.41), and hence out of said system. A valve (15.40) can open the access to said pipe (15.41) either automatically due to the high pressures, or electrically, whichever best suits the customer’s usage requirements. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39) isolates the water flow inside the water driving pipe (15.38) from the vertical light supply pipe (15.42). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (15.39) can also be made of steel in order to maximise the efficiency of heat transfer of the solar rays to the flowing water inside the water supply pipe (15.38). Steel, copper and aluminium alloy are good heat conductors, and comprise high melting points as well.
One of said lateral light evacuation mirrors (15.31) drives part of the concentrated light rays horizontally towards another 45 degree inclined reflection mirror (15.32), which in turn reflects said light rays back vertically downwards. Said vertically driven light rays are then reflected back horizontally by another 45 degree inclined flat mirror (15.30), and then vertically upwards again by another 45 degree inclined flat mirror (15.29). Said light rays are driven through a concave lens (15.28) which is horizontally positioned and oriented, and which drives vertically projected light into an expanded array of light rays, which are driven in such way after passing through said concave lens (15.28). Said light rays are hence driven upwards, towards the lower surface of a cooking hob (15.19), such that said light rays are driven towards a circular surface on the bottom of said cooking hob (15.19) after passing through said concave lens (15.28). Said light rays previously reach the lower surface of said concave lens (15.28) in a coherent manner. Said cooking hob (15.19) is positioned over said concave lens (15.28).
A cooking pot (15.18) is heated by the light rays, which directly heat the lower surface of the cooking hob (15.19) over which said cooking pot (15.18) is positioned. Said concave lens (15.28) comprises fully concave surfaces on both sides of said lens (15.28), and is attached to a member (15.26), which can be vertically slid upwards or downwards through a rail, such that said member connects to a vertically projecting member (15.20) which attaches to a wheel. Said wheel hence drives a horizontally sliding member (15.21) which can come into contact with the cooking pot’s (15.18) side. This adjustment system design allows the user to adjust the heating light rays to exactly the surface of the cooking hob (15.19) over which the cooking pot (15.18) is standing, hence avoiding any heat losses, and hence maximising the system’s efficiency.
If the user moves the horizontally sliding member (15.21) away from the cooking pot (15.18), said concave lens (15.28) will be moved down, and will hence supply light rays to a wider surface area on the cooking hob (15.19) for a wider cooking pot (15.18). If the user moves the horizontally sliding member (15.21) more towards the centre of the cooking hob (15.19), said concave lens (15.28) will reflect light rays towards a smaller surface area on the cooking hob (15.19), and will hence supply more concentrated heat to a narrower cooking hob surface (15.19), and hence to a narrower cooking pot (15.18) with the same manual sliding switch (15.15) setting. With this design, the user does not depend automatically on electricity for coking, and can avoid any significant heat losses, while offering a very fast heating source to the cooking pot (15.18), but without using any environmentally unfriendly energy sources such as gas or fossil fuels.
Said wheel system is calibrated such that the concave lens (15.28) will drive light rays along all the central surface of the cooking pot (15.18), up to the edge on which the horizontal sliding member (15.21) is set to. In this way, the user can just move the horizontal sliding member (15.21) to the outer edge of the cooking pot (15.18), as long as the cooking pot (15.18) is situated at the centre of said cooking hob (15.19). The cooking hob (15.19) consists of ceramic or metallic conduits, which are separated the one from the other in order to minimise heat losses. Said concave lens (15.28) remains always oriented at the same position, and hence always remains horizontally positioned, and facing vertically upwards and vertically downwards, whatever is the position of said concave lens (15.28) being set by the user.
The other 45 degree inclined reflection mirror (15.36) can drive the light rays horizontally towards another set of mirrors (15.6, 15.9), which are positioned in a 45 degree inclined L shaped (15.6, 15.9) geometry, in order to then drive said light rays vertically upwards towards the heater rods (15.2) of a boiler (15.1), or vertically downwards towards a heating convector (15.10). Both mirrors (15.6, 15.9) which form the 45 degree inclined L shape geometry (15.6, 15.9), attach to a horizontal member (15.7) which can be moved vertically upwards or downwards by a sliding switch (15.8).
Another 45 degree inclined flat mirror (15.33) is comprised on the path of the horizontally reflected light rays by said second 45 degree inclined flat mirror (15.36), and connects to a sliding vertical switch (15.4) which is positioned on a vertical sliding switch (15.5). Said design offers the user to be able to take part of said reflected light rays in order to supply instant high heat to the heat exchanger or steam generator (15.11) of the pipe which drives water to a shower installation (15.12). So, said design enables the user to obtain very hot water without the need of electric power, and at an instant time frame, without having to wait for the boiler (15.1) to heat up enough water for the user’s requirements. Said installation is very suitable for cold climate conditions.
Said mentioned design allows the user to use the concentrated light rays which are supplied by the vertical light ray driving conduit (15.14) for any household applications, according to the user’s needs. The user can slide the sliding switch (15.15) in order for the reflection mirror (15.31) to move towards the light driving conduit (15.14) if the heat power should be increased for the cooker, or vice-versa if less heat is actually needed. An electric fume evacuation extractor (15.17) can also be comprised over the cooking hob (15.19). The user can also select the light ray intensity, and hence the heating power supplied to the heater (15.10), the boiler (15.1), and the shower pipe (15.11) according to the user’s specific needs.
If the user wants to use maximum power for the shower 915.12), the vertical sliding switch (15.4) for the shower (15.12) can be set to the lowest level, meaning that all light rays which are reflected by the collection mirror (15.36) on the light driving conduit (15.14), can be supplied to heat the shower’s (15.12) water supply pipe (15.11). The sliding switch (15.34) can be adjusted for said reflection mirror (15.36) to reflect the concentrated solar rays to supply heat to the heater (15.10), the boiler (15.1) and the shower’s pipe (15.11). The L shaped mirror geometry (15.6, 15.9) can be sided up or down via the sliding switch (15.7,
15.8) in order to supply heat equally to the boiler heater (15.1, 15.2) and the convector heater (15.1), or more upwards if the heater (15.10) has got a heating priority. If the boiler (15.1) needs a heating priority, said set of mirrors (15.6, 15.9) can be slid downwards via the sliding switch (15.7) in order for said light rays to supply heat said boiler’s (15.1) water heater (15.2) only. If said L shaped mirror (15.6, 15.9) are set to the mid position of said switch (15.7), said light rays will equally supply the same heat supply rate to both the boiler (15.1, 15.2) and the convector heater (15.10). The upper mirror (15.6) is used to reflect solar rays to heat the boiler (15.1), while the lower mirror (15.9) is used to reflect solar rays to supply heat to the heater (15.10).
All of said above mentioned systems can be actuated electrically and automatically by control computers which connect to control sensors and/or thermostats, according to the user’s mode of choice.
If the sliding switch (16.5) which connects to the vertically adjustable reflection mirror (16.7) is moved upwards, no heat will be supplied to the shower pipe (15.11). Said switch is positioned in its vertical switch casing (16.6). In this case, if the other vertically sliding switch (16.3) which connects to the L shaped mirror geometry (16.2, 16.4) is slid downwards, said upper mirror (16.2) will reflect light such that only the boiler’s heater device (16.1) will be supplied with heat. This situation can be present if the boiler (15.1) needs a high and urgent heat supply.
If the horizontal sliding member (16.9) is slid towards a narrower cooking pot (16.8), the member (16.10) which connects to the concave lens (15.28) will hence supply heat to a narrower surface area on the cooking hob (15.19), but at a greater heat source intensity per surface area on said surface (15.9).
If the horizontal sliding switch (17.1) is slid out of said light driving conduit (15.14), said reflection mirror (17.3) will not reflect any of the light rays out of said conduit (15.14). Said horizontal switch casing (17.2) keeps the sliding switch (17.1) in its required orientation at all times. If the other horizontal sliding switch (17.5) is moved towards the light driving conduit (15.14), said mirror (17.4) will reflect light rays towards the cooking hob (15.19). Said switch casing (17.6) keeps said switch (17.5) in its required orientation at all times. This allows the cooking hob (15.19) to be supplied with heat, and if said horizontal sliding member (17.9) is moved towards a wide cooking pot (17.7), said vertical member (17.8) which connects to said concave lens (15.28) will leave said concave lens (15.28) at a greater distance from the bottom surface of the cooking hob (15.19), hence supplying heat to a wider surface area of the cooking hob (15.9), but at a lower heat intensity rate per surface area. This means that the user will have to slide the intake mirror (17.4) further towards the centre of said light driving conduit (15.14) in order to obtain a greater heat supply source.
Said cooking hob (18.1) comprises separate heat conductive surfaces (18.2) which can be made of metallic materials such as steel, copper or aluminium alloy, and which are separated by separator spaces (18.3) in order to avoid any heat losses or heat dissipation. Said conductive members (18.2) are opaque in order to avoid injuring the user with the highly intense light rays supply.
Said solar ray concentrator designs (Figures 1-43) comprised on this application, can be comprised on each mast of a floating vessel or ship (19.6, 19.12). Each of said tower mast structures comprises a vertical light ray guiding conduit (19.6, 19.12) which drives said concentrated light rays to a heat exchanger or steam generator (19.5, 19.16). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (19.5, 19.16) comprises cavities in order for the water to be driven through easily, such that said water can easily collect the heat from said solar rays.
Said water enters into the vessel by two separate tubes (19.11, 19.15). Each of said tubes (19.11, 19.15) drives water under one mast structure (19.6, 19.12). Each of said intake pipes (19.11, 19.15) comprises a filtering structure (19.13, 19.14) which avoids any undesired material from entering into said intake pipes (19.11, 19.15). Each of said intake pipes (19.11,
19.15) comprises an electrical pump (19.23, 19.24) to drive said water or fluid through said intake pipes (19.11, 19.15).
After flowing through said heat elements (19.5, 19.16), said flowing water is converted into steam, and is driven through pipes (19.4, 19.17), one pipe (19.4) connecting to the rear tower mast structure (19.6), and another pipe (19.17) connecting to the front tower mast structure (19.12). Said pipes (19.4, 19.17) each divide into one conduit (19.7, 19.10) which drives steam to a set of reciprocating expanders (19.19), and another pipe (19.4, 19.18) which drives the reimaging steam to a steam turbine (19.3). Said reciprocating expanders (19.19) drive the vessel’s propellers, while said steam turbine (19.3) drives a generator to generate electricity, or can also be used to drive the vessel’s propulsion, depending on the vessel’s requirements. The exhaust pipes (19.20) of said set of reciprocating expanders (19.19) drive the remaining steam to the rear of the vessel, where a pipe (19.21) carrying the steam turbine’s (19.3) reimaging steam, joins said exhaust pipe (19.20). Said exhaust pipe (19.20) drives the remaining steam to the rear of the ship, where a pump (19.22) ensures the accurate flow of the flowing steam to the outlet (19.1) of said conduit (19.20). Said set of reciprocating expanders (19.19) comprises an intake structure (19.8) to collect the high temperature steam, and a set of reciprocating pistons (19.9) which are driven by the high pressures offered by said steam. The water is collected from the medium on which said ship or vessel floats, and is then eliminated through the vessel’s rear outlet (19.1), into the same medium.
A floating vessel or ship can also use the water to separate it into pure hydrogen and pure oxygen to use it for combustion applications in a reciprocating heat engine (20.10), and will hence need storage tanks (20.24, 20.12) for said application. In this system design, said water is collected from the medium on which said vessel floats, and is driven into filtering structures (20.15, 20.16) in order to avoid any undesired materials of entering into the intake pipes (20.13, 20.17). Two intake pipes (20.13, 20.17) collect water by the means of electric pumps (20.26, 20.27) in order to drive said water through a separated driving pipe (20.13, 20.17) for each tower mast structure (20.6, 20.14). Each of said water driving pipes (20.13, 20.17) drives water through a heat exchanger or steam generator (20.5, 20.18), with each heat exchanger or steam generator (20.5, 20.18) positioned under the light driving conduit (20.6, 20.14) of each tower mast structure (20.6, 20.14). After flowing through each heat exchanger or steam generator (20.5, 20.18), the highly pressurised water separates into pure hydrogen and pure oxygen.
So, behind each heat exchanger or steam generator (20.5, 20.18), a separate pipe (20.21) drives pure hydrogen through a membrane (20.4, 20.19) which allows only the passage of pure hydrogen, hence driving said pure hydrogen to a hydrogen storage tank (20.24). Similarly, a separate pipe for pure oxygen driving (20.2) is comprised behind each heat exchanger or steam generator (20.5, 20.18), which drives said pure oxygen through a membrane (20.3, 20.20) at each pipe (20.2) in order to avoid the passage of any other substance apart from pure oxygen. So, said pipes (20.2, 20.23) drove said pure oxygen to an oxygen storage tank (20.12). Both oxygen (20.12) and hydrogen (20.24) storage tanks allow the system to fill these (20.12, 20.24) with hydrogen and oxygen which is taken from the water on which the vessel floats constantly, even when the ship is at port, or operating on a ride.
A separate hydrogen driving pipe (20.7) drives hydrogen from said hydrogen tank (20.24) to said intake structure (20.8), while another separate pipe (20.11) drives oxygen from said oxygen tank (20.12) to said intake structure (20.8). Said intake structure guides said hydrogen (20.7) and oxygen (20.11) pipes to the pistons (20.9) of the reciprocating heat engine (20.10) concerned. After finalising combustion inside the cylinders (20.9) of said reciprocating engine (20.10), the resulting water is driven through an exhaust pipe (20.22) towards a pump (20.25) which ensures the steady water flow, in order to finally drive said resulting water out of the system through an exhaust outlet (20.1) at the rear of said vessel or ship.
Said solar ray concentration systems (21.2, 21.8) can be configured in order to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen industrially, with said hydrogen sent to a storage tank (21.18) to be used for propulsion applications, or for industrial applications. Said system comprises at least two solar ray concentrators (21.2, 21.8) positioned one beside the other. So, a water driving pipe (21.1) drives water through a heat exchanger or steam generator (21.4) which is comprised into said water driving pipe (21.1), and which is comprised under one solar ray concentrator’s light driving conduit (21.2), hence isolating any solar rays from the flow of water and steam through said heat exchanger or steam generator (21.4).
Said heat exchanger or steam generator (21.4) comprises through all cavities in order to drive the water through the structure (21.4). A salt evacuation pipe (21.11) is comprised behind said heat exchanger or steam generator (21.4) if the water is collected from the sea, such that any salt would be evacuated through said pipe (21.11). A valve (21.12) controls the intake of said pipe (21.11), and can be actuated automatically or electrically. Behind said heat exchanger or steam generator (21.4), a membrane (21.13) allows only the passage of pure oxygen, to drive said pure oxygen through a separate pipe (21.10) to a storage tank or back to the environment. Another pipe (21.14) connects to the area behind said heat exchanger or steam generator (21.4), and comprises another membrane (21.3) in order to allow only the passage of pure hydrogen. Said pipe (21.14) hence drives said pure hydrogen under another solar ray concentration system, and hence under the vertical light ray driving pipe (21.8).
Said solar ray concentration system (21.8) comprises a set of 45 degree inclined mirrors (21.9) which reflect part of the concentrated light rays into separate pipes (21.7), in which other flat mirrors (21.6) reflect said initially reflected light rays back towards pipes (21.5) which project towards a focal point, which is where said pure hydrogen is driven through.
Said focal point is comprised through said hydrogen driving pipe (21.14). So, said pure hydrogen is cooled instantly to the liquefied state by the laser cooling process, which is where said focal point is located in said hydrogen driving pipe (21.14), and is where highly intense light rays bombard the hydrogen atoms with photons. Said liquefied hydrogen is then driven through a pipe (21.17) to a storage tank (21.18). Said system design is configured for the laser cooling process to take place in order to liquefy pure hydrogen, using the highly concentrated light rays from said light ray driving conduit (21.8).
Said resulting pure hydrogen in said storage tank (21.18) can be used for propulsion applications, and can hence be comprised beside airports, harbours, ports, railway stations, petrol stations, space launching stations, or hydrogen vehicle fuelling points. Other applications can include all sorts of industrial applications. A follow down pipe drives the light rays beside said reflection mirrors (21.9) vertically down to said focal point in the hydrogen driving pipe (21.14) as well, just under said vertical light driving conduit (21.8).
Each of said separate pipes concerned (21.6, 21.7), including said follow down pipe, comprises transparent lenses (21.15, 21.16) at the bottom of said pipes (21.6, 21.7) in order to seal the hydrogen flow entirely, and also to avoid any hydrogen leaks, and any hydrogen combustion accidents. Said lenses (21.15, 21.16) can be made of transparent PVC, or glass, preferably tempered glass.
A pump (21.19), and a valve (21.20) which is actuated by fluid pressure, can be comprised inside said hydrogen driving pipe (21.14), and so between the hydrogen membrane (21.3) and the laser cooling process focal point under said vertical light driving conduit (21.8), such that said valve (21.20) will be only automatically opened if the pressure of the hydrogen under said vertical light ray driving pipe (21.8) and said lenses (21.15, 21.16), is reduced. If said hydrogen is in a liquid sate, the pressure will dramatically drop, hence allowing said valve (21.20) to open, but if said hydrogen remains in a gas state, the pressure will not be altered, hence closing said valve (21.20) until all hydrogen featured under said lenses (21.15, 21.16) is in a liquid state. Said valve (21.20) can hence be automatically and passively actuated by the hydrogen fluid itself, or can also be actuated electronically, depending on the system’s requirements. Said pump (21.19) would allow the desired flow of hydrogen to the focal point area under said lenses (21.5, 21.6) from said membrane (21.3) through said hydrogen driving pipe (21.14).
Space vehicles such as satellites or space modules (22.16) can also comprise concentrated solar ray systems in order to supply these (22.16) with electrical power, as PV cells are extremely expensive if these need to collect a large amount of the solar energy supplied per surface area. Said space module (22.16) can hence comprise a solar ray guiding pipe (22.2) which drives the solar rays from said solar ray concentrator towards a heat exchanger or steam generator (22.13). A pump (22.7) drives the fluid, which can be water, synthetic oil or pressurised steam, towards said heat exchanger or steam generator (22.13), which comprises through all cavities for said fluid to be driven through said heat exchanger or steam generator (22.13) and collect the heat from said solar rays.
Said heated fluid is then driven through a pipe (22.14) to a steam turbine (22.8), which in turn drives a generator (22.9) to generate electricity. Said remaining fluid is then driven through a follow up pipe (22.10) towards a pump (22.11) which drives said fluid flow through a condensing pipe (22.17). Said condensing pipe (22.17) is positioned behind the insulation area (22.18) of said space module in order for the fluid to transfer its excess heat to the surrounding environment of said space module’s outer casing (22.15), but without affecting the temperature inside said space module (22.16). Said fluid for this case should preferably be water.
An electric motor(s) (22.4) actuates the rotational movement of the base plate (22.5) of the tower mast structure, and the tower mast structure itself, by driving a rotational wheel (22.1) which connects each electric motor (22.4) to the base plate (22.5) by the means of the contact of said wheel (22.1). Another counter rotating wheel (22.3) attaches to said driving wheel (22.1) for each electric motor’s (22.4) system. Said counter rotation wheel (22.3) rotates a heavy wheel (22.6) in the opposite direction as said base plate (22.5) at every rotating action of said electric motors (22.4). So, said heavy wheel (22.6) rotates always in the opposite direction as said base plate (22.5) when an adjustment rotational movement is actuated by said electric motors (22.4). Said wheels contact both heavy wheel (22.6) and said rotational wheel (22.1) at all times, such that said rotational wheel (22.1) can move both of said tower mast structure and base plate (22.5), and said heavy wheel simultaneously at all times.
This design is comprised to ensure that the attitude of the space vehicle (22.15, 22.16) does not change when an adjustment is made, as in space, there are no stress supporting points anywhere for said space module (22.15, 22.16). The density of said heavy wheel (22.6) should be high enough to cancel out any inertial forces when said electric motors (22.4) actuate an adjustment rotational movement in order for said tower mast to be positioned accurately according to the sun’s position. Both tower mast base (22.5) and heavy counter rotating wheel (22.6) rotate about exactly the same axis of rotation. Said heavy wheel (22.6) should preferably be made of steel, due to the very high density of said material.
Said solar light ray concentrators can comprise an architecture which comprises steel wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.16) in order to actuate said collection mirrors (23.2, 23.3). Said architecture hence comprises various system features. Each inner collection mirror (23.2) is controlled by a steel wire (23.11) which is sustained by a plurality of wheels (23.4, 23.5) along the tower mast structure (23.13). Said steel wires (23.11) are sustained by a plurality of wheels (23.4, 23.5), and connects to a handle (23.31) for each of said steel wires (23.11). Each outer collection mirror (23.3) is sustained by a steel wire (23.14) which is sustained by a plurality of wheels (23.4, 23.6, 23.7) along the tower mast structure (23.13). Said steel wires (23.11, 23.14) are sustained by a plurality of wheels (23.4, 23.6, 23.7), and each connect to a handle for each of said steel wires (23.33), and hence for each of said mirrors (23.2, 23.3).
A wheel (23.4) is comprised close to the vertically positioned set of wires (23.8), which are positioned inside said tower mast structure (23.13), and is sustained by sustaining members. Said plurality of wheels (23.4, 23.5, 23.6, 23.7) ensures that said steel wires (23.11, 23.14) are stressed in a constant tensional load, such that said wires (23.11, 23.14) will be submitted to more predictable and durable loads.
Said steel wires (23.11) which sustain said inner collection mirrors (23.2), connect to the lower area of the rotating pivot (23.12) of said mirrors, in order to guarantee that said loads applied on said steel wires (23.11) will always be tensional loads. The weight of said inner collection mirrors (23.2) always keeps said steel wires (23.11) in a tensional load mode. The same happens with the steel wires (23.14) which sustain said outer collection mirrors (23.3). Said steel wires (23.14) sustain said outer collection mirrors (23.3) by attaching to the upper area of the rotating pivot (23.10) of said outer collection mirrors (23.3). This design guarantees that said steel wires (23.14) will always be submitted to tensional load at all times. The tensional loads applied on said steel wires (23.14) are exerted by the weight of said outer collection mirrors (23.3).
At each level, said steel wires (23.11, 23.14) which sustain both inner (23.2) and outer (23.3) collection mirrors are separate, but are sustained by the same wheel (23.4), hence keeping said wires (23.11, 23.14) into a vertical set of wires, into which all steel wires (23.11, 23.14) which control all of said collection mirrors (23.2, 23.3) are united together. Said outer collection mirrors’ (23.3) steel wires (23.14) are sustained in a tensional load by a set of wheels (23.4, 23.6, 23.7), while said steel wires (23.11) which sustain said inner collection mirrors (23.2) are sustained in a tensional load by a set of wheels (23.4, 23.5), with one wheel (23.4) sharing the load of both wires (23.11, 23.14) for each level on said tower mast structure (23.13).
Said water flow control gate (23.15) is also sustained by a steel wire (23.16) which is also submitted to a constant tensional load due to the weight of said water flow control gate (23.15) actuating on said steel wire (23.16). Said steel wire (23.16) attaches to the top part of said water flow control gate (23.15). Said steel wire connects to a separate handle (23.30) for the level control of said water flow control gate (23.15). Each steel wire (23.11) which connects to each inner collection mirror (23.2) connects to a separate handle (23.31), while each steel wire (23.14) which connects to each outer collection mirror (23.3) connects to a separate handle (23.33) as well. With said design, any collection mirror (23.2, 23.3) can be adjusted or taken out of operation either electrically, automatically and electrically actuated, or manually by the means of said handles (23.31, 23.33). Said handle (23.30) which connects to the water flow control gate (23.15) comprises the same design advantages, as said water flow control gate (23.15) can be adjusted automatically, can be automatically controlled with electrical actuation, or can be adjusted or taken out of operation manually by the means of said handle (23.30). All of said handles (23.30, 23.31, 23.33) are housed in a control building or housing (23.32).
Said sustaining wires (23.11, 23.14) are positioned into a vertical wire driving shaft (23.8) inside said tower mast structure, into which also the electrical supply wire is positioned, such that said shaft connects the bottom of said mast (23.13) to the mast’s top (23.13). At the top of said mast structure (23.13), a light intensity sensor (23.1) can be comprised in order to supply the control computer with accurate real time solar ray light intensity data, such that the control computer can calculate the required water flow rate to be allowed in by said water flow control gate (23.15) with said data. A position awareness light for aircraft (23.1) can also be positioned at the top of said tower mast structure (23.13).
Said tensioned control wires (23.11, 23.140, as well as said electrical wire (23.28), are connected to a set of cavities (23.18) which drive said wires out of said mast structure (23.13). A set of rails (23.17) which are positioned around the bottom of said tower mast structure (23.13), are positioned in order to keep said wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.28) along a secure and horizontally aligned position. Said wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.24) are hence aligned horizontally towards a fixed member (23.25) which comprises cavities in order for said wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.24) to be then driven vertically down to a levelling wheel. When said electric motor (23.21) rotates, a driving wheel (23.20) drives the tower mast structure’s base (23.19) around the required rotational adjustment. As said driving wheel (23.20) contacts both the electric motor’s (23.21) shaft and the edge of said base plate (23.19), said driving wheel (23.20) actuates automatically the rotational motion of said tower mast structure (23.13).
The other side of said electric motor’s axis (23.21) connects to another driving wheel (23.29) which drives a horizontally positioned rotating plate shaped member (23.23) which rotates about a vertical axis, and connects to a circular member (23.22). Said circular member comprises a diameter such that the circumference of said circular member (23.22) is exactly half of the circumference comprised around the tower mast structure (23.13), and hence around said set of lower positioned railings (23.17). This design is calibrated such that said circular member (23.22) drives a horizontally projecting member (23.26) which comprises a wheel (23.27) at the other side of said fixed vertically projecting member (23.25), which is the member (23.25) which sustains said sliding member (23.26) in its required position. With said design, each time that the tower mast structure (23.13) is rotated, said sliding member (23.26) will rotate at half the linear speed travelled by the bottom railings (23.17) of said tower mast structure (23.13).
Each time that said electric motor (23.21) rotates said tower mast structure (23.13), the linear speed of the edge of said rotating circular member (23.22) is exactly half of the linear speed at the point of the railings (23.17) positioned at the bottom of said tower mast structure (23.13). So, said wheel (23.27) at the end of said member (23.26) is moved at half the speed of that of said railings (23.17) when said electric motor (23.21) rotates said tower mast structure (23.13), hence guaranteeing that said wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.24) always remain in a tensional mode, whichever is the rotational position of said tower mast structure (23.13). This hence guarantees that said wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.24) always remain in a tensional stress mode, and that no change in orientation is produced on said mirrors (23.2, 23.3) when said tower mast structure is rotated. Both of said circular rotating members (23.19, 23.23) comprises the same diameters in order for the angular speed to be equal for both members (23.19, 23.23) when these (23.19, 23.23) are rotated by said electric motor (23.21).
Said electric motor (23.21) rotates both driving wheels (23.20, 23.29) simultaneously, hence rotating said tower mast structure (23.13) and said circular member (23.22), hence also simultaneously moving said horizontally projecting member (23.26). Said horizontally projecting member (23.26) is moved away from said tower mast structure (23.13) if the wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.24) need a lower distance due to said rotation, or vice versa if said wires (23.11, 23.14, 23.24) need a greater distance. Said circular member (23.22) rotates at the same angular speed as said tower mast structure (23.13), as said plate shaped member (23.23) which connects to it (23.22), comprises the same diameter as said tower mast structure’s base plate (23.19). As said electric motor (23.21) drives driving wheels (23.20, 23.29) which drive the edges of both of said base plate (23.19) and said circular plate member (23.23), and both driving wheels (23.20, 23.29) are positioned at equal radii to the centre axis of rotation for both circular members (23.19, 23.23), said electric motor simultaneously actuates all systems at the same time, without any change in the orientation of said collection mirrors (23.2, 23.3). Said circular plate member (23.23) is positioned on the ground next to said tower mast structure (23.13). The tensioned wires (23.24) connect to said sets of handles (23.31, 23.33) by the means of a cable distributing system (23.35), with each cable (23.11, 23.14) connecting to a separate independent handle (23.31, 23.33). Said electrical supply cable connects to the ground structure beside said tower mast structure, where said wire (23.28) connects to the alternator which generates electricity as a result of the heat transfer process of said power generation system, which converts water into steam to then drive a steam turbine(s).
Said wire (24.8) which sustains said water flow control gate (24.7), can be moved either electrically, automatically with electric actuation, or manually by using said handle (24.9). As said wire (24.8) connects to said handle (24.9), said water flow control gate (24.7) will be closed, with its (24.7) weight acting on said wires. Said outer collection mirrors (24.2) can be moved to the neutral position (24.2) by pushing on said handles (24.11). Said pushing movement on said handles (24.11) will drive said wires (24.6) to move said rotating pivot (24.4) clockwise, hence moving said outer collection mirrors (24.2) to the neutral position, and hence putting these out of service. The same system is comprised for the inner collection mirrors (24.1). Said handles (24.10) can be pushed to put said inner collection mirrors (24.1) at the neutral positions (24.1), and hence putting these (24.1) out of service. Said pushing movement on said handles (24.10) will drive said wires (24.5) to drive the rotational pivots (24.3) of said inner collection mirrors (24.1) anticlockwise, hence putting said inner collection mirrors (24.1) to their neutral positions (24.1), and hence out of service. The pivot (24.4) of each outer collection mirror (24.2) connects to a separate control wire (24.6) which in turn attaches to the lower area of a separate handle (24.11). The pivot (24.3) of each inner collection mirror (24.1) connects to a separate control wire (24.5), which in turn attaches to the lower area of a separate handle (24.10). Said design features allows the operator to put one or more collection mirrors (24.1, 24.2) out of service independently without affecting the operation of the outer collection mirrors (24.1, 24.2), and hence without needing to shut down the solar ray concentrator, hence making said solar ray concentrator a reliable and fail safe power generation system design.
Said power generation systems can comprise different numbers of circuits, and different circuit architectures and configurations.
A solar ray concentrator power generation system can comprise a tower mast structure which is positioned on a floating vessel (25.9), which drives said concentrated solar rays through a vertical light driving pipe (25.4). The water from the medium on which said vessel (25.9) floats, is driven through an intake inlet through a filter (25.2) to avoid any undesired substances from entering into said system. A pump (25.3) sucks said water (25.1) into said system and hence drives said water (25.1) through a heat exchanger (25.7) to collect the excessive heat transferred by a primary circuit (25.6). Said pipe drives said secondary circuit’s (25.8) water through an exit pipe (25.8), onto which it is delivered to the medium on which said vessel (25.9) floats.
Said primary circuit comprises a fluid, preferably water, and is driven around in loop by a pump (25.14). Said pump (25.14) drives said liquid fluid through a pipe (25.13) which drives said fluid through a heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12) comprises an upwardly inclined geometry in order for the fluid to collect the heat and be driven easily through said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12) after it changes to the gaseous steam state. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12) comprises through all cavities to allow the water to pass through it (25.12), hence collecting the heat driven by said light ray driving pipe (25.4). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12) is positioned under said vertical light driving pipe (25.4). After collecting said heat energy, said gaseous fluid is driven through a stem turbine (25.5), which is driven at speed by the pressure of said steam. Said steam turbine (25.5) drives a generator (25.11) to generate electricity. After leaving said steam turbine (25.5), said fluid is driven through the same heat exchanger (25.7) as that through which said secondary circuit (25.8) is driven through. Booth circuits are (25.6, 25.8) driven through separate closed pipes (25.6, 25.8). After transferring said excess heat to said secondary circuit (25.8) through said heat exchanger (25.7), said primary circuit’s fluid comes back to the driving pump (25.14), which drives said liquid fluid back again through said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12) in order to newly collect heat. Said floating vessel is sustained by a set of cables (25.10) which attaches said vessel (25.9) to the bed of the floating medium (25.15). Said cables should preferably be made of steel. Said cables sustain said vessel (25.9) below its floating height, such that the buoyant force avoids it from moving when waves or wind is present.
Said floating vessel (26.5) is attached to the bed (26.15) of said floating medium (26.1) by wires (26.10) which are subjected to a constant tensional force. Said floating vessel (26.5) can be also comprised with an architecture which comprises a primary circuit (26.14) only architecture. Said design hence comprises said water (26.1) on which said medium floats, being allowed into an intake inlet, and hence through a filter (26.4) to avoid any undesired substances of entering into said system. A water flow control gate (26.3) controls the flow of water according to the intensity of the light rays present at all times. A housing (26.2) allows said water flow control gate (26.3) to be positioned inside at all times. A pipe (26.14) then drives said intake water (26.1) to the heat exchanger or steam generator (26.13), which is situated under said light ray vertical driving pipe (26.6).
Said concentrated light rays transfer heat energy to said heat exchanger or steam generator (26.13), which then in turn transfers said heat to the flowing water (26.1). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (26.13) is inclined upwards such that the converted steam can be easily driven upwards and out of said heat exchanger or steam generator (26.13). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (26.13) also comprises through all cavities in order to allow the water to pass through it (26.13), hence collecting the heat. The steam is then driven from said heat exchanger or steam generator (26.13) to a steam turbine (26.12). Said steam turbine is driven at speed by said steam. Said steam turbine (26.12) drives a generator (26.9) to generate electricity. After driving said turbine, said water is driven through an exit pipe (26.11) towards a pump (26.7), which drives said water out of the system through an exit pipe (26.8). The exit pipe (26.8) connects to the other side of the vessel, such that the intake pipe does not collect already heated water (26.1). Said water is redelivered to the floating medium (26.1) on which said vessel (26.5) floats.
Concentrated light ray power generation systems which are comprised on hard or artificial land, can also comprise similar design architectures as those comprised on Figures 25 and 26.
The vertical light ray driving pipe (27.6) of the solar ray concentrator, drives light vertically downwards towards a heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12). A pump (27.13) drives a fluid, preferably water, through a pipe, and hence through said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12). Said fluid collects the heat of said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12) and hence converts to steam. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12) is inclined upwards in order to allow the steam to flow easily out of said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12) by the means of natural circulation. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12) comprises through all cavities in order to allow the fluid of the primary circuit through it (27.12), hence collecting the heat transferred by said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12). Said steam then drives a steam turbine (27.11), which hence drives a generator (27.10) to generate electricity.
The fluid of said primary conduit is then driven via a pipe (27.8) to a heat exchanger (27.7) after leaving said steam turbine (27.11). Said primary circuit hence transfers the excess heat to a secondary circuit (27.9) through said heat exchanger (27.7). Said primary circuit (27.2) drives the liquefied fluid through a pipe (27.2) back to the driving pump (27.13), which drives said fluid back newly again towards said heat exchanger or steam generator (27.12) to newly collect heat. The pipes of both primary (27.2) and secondary (27.9) circuits are separate at all times. Said secondary circuit (27.9) collects the water (27.1) from a water basin (27.1) beside said power generation system, through an intake inlet. A filter (27.3) avoids any undesired substances of entering into said system. A driving pump (27.4) drives said secondary circuit’s (27.9) water through said heat exchanger (27.7) in order to collect the excess heat from said primary circuit (27.8). Then, said secondary circuit drives the heated water (27.1) out of the system through an exit pipe (27.9), back into said lateral water basin (27.1) . Said artificial or hard land (27.5) comprises said water basin (27.1) beside it.
Said power generation system can also comprise a vertical light ray driving pipe (28.5) which drives concentrated light from a solar ray concentrator onto a heat exchanger or steam generator (28.10). Water (28.1) is collected from a laterally positioned water basin (28.1), hence driving said water (28.1) through a filter (28.13) which avoids any undesired substances of entering into said system. In the intake pipe (28.11), a water flow control gate (28.12) controls the water flow through the intake pipe (28.11). A housing (28.2) is comprised to keep said water flow control gate (28.12) positioned in it (28.2) at all times. A pipe (28.11) drives said water (28.1) towards said heat exchanger or steam generator (28.10). Said heat exchanger or steam generator (28.10) transfers the heat to said flowing water (28.1) . Said heat exchanger or steam generator (28.10) comprises through all cavities to allow the water flow through, and is (28.10) inclined towards an upwards direction in order to facilitate the flow of the water (28.1) which is converted to steam, by natural circulation. Said steam then flows through a pipe (28.9) after leaving said heat exchanger or steam generator (28.10), to a steam turbine (28.8).
Said steam turbine (28.8) is driven by the steam flow, and drives a generator (28.7) to generate electricity. Saud fluid flow is driven by a pump (28.6) out of said steam turbine, and is then driven out of the system buy an exit pipe (28.3). Said artificial or hard land (28.4) comprises said water basin (28.1) positioned beside it, and said solar ray concentrator is comprised on said land (28.4) surface.
Said solar ray concentrator is comprised on said vertical light ray driving pipe (29.5), which drives said concentrated light rays to said heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15). Said system can also be comprised on places where no water supply is present for the cooling process of the fluid present in the primary circuit (29.2). Said places include mountain areas, deserts or simply hard land. In such case, said power generation system can still be fully operational in said environments.
For such designs, said power generation system comprises a driving pump (29.16) which drives the fluid of the primary circuit through a pipe, towards said heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15). Said primary circuit’s (29.2) fluid can be synthetic oil, pressurised steam, or water, but should preferably be water. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15) is inclined upwards in order facilitate the newly converted steam to flow upwards and out of said heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15) by natural circulation. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15) comprises through all cavities in order to allow the water to be passed through it (29.15), hence collecting the heat transferred by said light rays. After leaving said heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15), said fluid is driven to a steam turbine (29.14). Said steam turbine (29.14) is driven by said steam, which in turn drives a generator (29.13) which generates electricity. A pipe drives said remaining steam out of said turbine (29.14) and towards a heat exchanger (29.3).
In said heat exchanger (29.3), the remaining excess heat of said primary circuit’s (29.12) fluid is transferred to the pipe (29.4) of a secondary circuit (29.11) which is driven through said heat exchanger (29.3). The pipes of both primary (29.2) and secondary (29.4) circuits form totally separate and closed circuits (29.2, 29.4) at all times. The primary circuit’s (29.2) fluid is then driven through a pipe (29.2) from said heat exchanger (29.3) to said driving pump (29.16), which drives said fluid newly again to the heat exchanger or steam generator (29.15) in order to newly collect heat.
Said secondary circuit comprises a refrigerant fluid inside said pipe (29.4). A compressor (29.10) drives the liquefied fluid through a pipe (29.4) after releasing its heat through said compressor (29.10). Said compressor (29.10) hence drives said liquid refrigerant fluid through a pipe (29.4) towards said heat exchanger (29.3). Inside said heat exchanger (29.3), said secondary circuit’s (29.4) refrigerant collects the heat, hence changing to a gaseous state. Said gaseous refrigerant is then driven through a pipe (29.11) out of said heat exchanger (29.3) and into the compressor (29.10). Said compressor (29.10) comprises the gaseous refrigerant, hence converting it back into the liquid state, and releasing the heat in the compressor’s (29.10) surroundings. Said compressor (29.10) is positioned inside an open duct (29.9).
An electric motor (29.6) drives a fan (29.8) which drives air through said open duct (29.9), hence constantly transferring the heat from said compressor’s (29.10) surroundings to the outside surroundings of the power generation system. The electric motor (29.6) drives a shaft (29.7) which connects to said rotating fan (29.8).
Said power generation system design can also be comprised on a floating vessel or ship (30.4). Each mast of said vessel (30.4) comprises a solar ray concentrator, with a light ray driving pipe (30.1, 30.13) under of said mast structures. A heat exchanger or steam generator (30.24, 30.14) is comprised at the bottom of each of said light ray driving pipes (30.1, 30.13). Said heat exchangers or steam generators (30.1, 30.13) transfer the heat from said light rays to a fluid in a primary circuit pipe (30.15, 30.23). Two driving pipes (30.3, 30.25) each drive the fluid through a separate pipe (30.15, 30.23) for each separate heat exchanger or steam generator (30.14, 30.24). Once said primary circuit’s (30.15, 30.23) fluid has collected said heat through said heat elements (30.14, 30.24), said two steam driving pipes (30.23) unite and drive said fluid through a separate pipe (30.22) into a set of steam expanders (30.21), and through another separate pipe (30.19) into a steam turbine (30.18). After driving said steam turbine (30.18), and driving said set of reciprocating expanders (30.21), said two separate pipes (30.20) unite again, and drive said fluid through a pipe (30.17) to a heat exchanger (30.6). Said steam turbine (30.18) drives a generator (30.16) to generate electricity.
Said heat exchanger (30.6) transfers the excess heat of said primary circuit’s (30.17) fluid to a secondary circuit (30.5). After transferring said excess heat, said primary circuit’s (30.17) fluid is driven back through a pipe (30.2) to said pipe separations, in which each separate pipe (30.3, 30.25) drives fluid back again to said heat exchangers or steam generators (30.14, 30.24). Said heat exchanger (30.6) comprises both primary (30.17) and secondary (30.5) circuit pipes together in order for the heat transfer to take place, but are totally separate the one (30.17) from the other (30.5). A compressor (30.11) drives a liquid refrigerant through said secondary circuit pipe (30.5) into said heat exchanger (30.6). After collecting said excess heat, said refrigerant, in a gaseous state, is driven through a pipe (30.12) to said compressor (30.11). When said compressor (30.11) comprises said gaseous refrigerant, it drives it through the pipe (30.5) again towards said heat exchanger (30.6) in a liquid state, and transfers the heat to the surroundings of said compressor (30.11). Said compressor (30.11) is positioned in an open duct (30.10) on the ship’s or vessel’s (30.4) deck. An electric motor (30.7) drives a rotating shaft (30.8) which hence drives a fan (30.9) in order to transfer said heat out of the system.
Said power generation system can also comprise a fully enclosed primary circuit (31.17) which comprises pressures fluid, preferably pressurised water or oil in it (31.17). Said system comprises a heat exchanger (31.15) which transfers the heat of said light rays driven by said light ray driving pipe (31.8) to the fluid in said conduit (31.17). A pump (31.16) drives said pressurised fluid, preferably water or oil, through a pipe (31.17) and into said steam generator (31.18). Said fluid transfers its heat to the secondary circuit (31.6), also present through said steam generator (31.18). Both primary (31.17) and secondary (31.6) remain separate and closed at all times. After transferring said heat, said fluid is driven back through said heat exchanger (31.15), hence newly collecting heat from said solar rays. Said heat exchanger (31.15) is positioned under said light ray driving pipe (31.8). Said fluid is then driven by said pump (31.16) again towards said steam generator (31.18), starting the process over again.
Said secondary circuit comprises a fluid, preferably water. Said secondary circuit comprises a driving pump (31.5) which dives said fluid through a pipe (31.6), and hence into said steam generator (31.18). Said steam generator (31.18) transfers the heat of the primary circuit (31.17) into the secondary circuit’s (31.6) fluid. Said fluid then drives a steam turbine (31.14), which in turn drives a generator (31.13) to generate electricity. Said secondary circuit’s (31.11) fluid is then driven through a pipe (31.11) and into another heat exchanger (31.9), in which said secondary circuit transfers the excess heat of the fluid to a tertiary circuit (31.10). Both secondary (31.11) and tertiary (31.10) circuits are enclosed in fully separate pipes (31.11,31.10). Said secondary circuit’s (31.11) fluid is then driven through a pipe to said driving pump (31.5) again, where said pump (31.5) drives said fluid again through said pipe (31.6) into the steam generator (31.18).
Said steam generator (31.18) is inclined in an upward direction in order for said secondary circuit’s fluid to be driven easily through said steam generator (31.18) when said fluid is converted to steam after collecting said heat. Said power generation system is comprised on a floating vessel (31.7) which floats on water, and is sustained to the bed (31.19) of said floating medium (31.1) by a set of tensioned cables (31.12) which impede said vessel (31.7) of moving or oscillating due to wave or wind being present. Said cables (31.12) sustain said vessel (31.7) below its (31.7) buoyant floating level in order to avoid any undesired movement or vibration of said vessel (31.7) due to waves or wind.
Said tertiary circuit takes water (31.1) from the medium on which said vessel (31.7) floats, through an intake. A filter (31.2) is present to avoid any undesired substances of entering into said tertiary circuit (31.4). A driving pump (31.3) drives said water (31.1) through a pipe (31.4), and hence through said heat exchanger (31.9). Said water collects the excess heat from the secondary circuit (31.11) through said heat exchanger (31.9). Said fluid is then driven through an exit pipe (31.10), where it is driven out of the system, back into the medium on which said vessel (31.7) floats. Both secondary (31.11) and tertiary (31.10) circuit pipes are separate from each other, even through said heat exchanger (31.9).
Said power generation system can also be comprised on hard or artificial land (32.9), with a water basin (32.1) situated beside it (32.9). Such architecture comprises a driving pump (32.8) which drives the primary circuit’s (32.7) fluid through a pipe (32.7) into said steam generator (32.18). A secondary circuit (32.5) collects the heat through said steam generator (32.18), and so converts into steam when flowing through said steam generator (32.18). Said primary circuit’s (32.7) fluid is then driven back to the heat exchanger (32.17) through which it collects newly heat. Said heat is supplied by the concentrated light driving pipe (32.10), positioned above said heat exchanger (32.17). Said fluid is then driven back through said driving pump (32.8), which drives the fluid newly around said primary circuit (32.7). A driving pump (32.40 drives fluid, preferably water, through the pipe (32.5) of a secondary circuit. Said pipe (32.5) drives said secondary circuit’s (32.5) fluid through the steam generator (32.18), which is shared between the primary circuit (32.7) and said secondary circuit (32.5). Said fluid collects the heat transfers by said primary circuit (32.7) when flowing through said steam generator (32.18), hence converting itself into steam. Said steam is then driven to a steam turbine (32.16), which is driven by said steam, and hence drives a generator (32.15) to generate electricity. The remaining steam is then driven through a pipe (32.12), and hence driven through a heat exchanger (32.11) which is shared between said secondary circuit (32.12) and a tertiary circuit (32.13). In said heat exchanger (32.11), said secondary circuit’s (32.12) fluid transfers the excess heat from the steam to said tertiary circuit (32.13), hence changing back the state of the secondary circuit’s (32.12) fluid to the liquid state. Said fluid is then driven back from said heat exchanger (32.11) to said driving pump (32.4), where the whole process is restarted again.
Said steam generator (32.18) is upwardly inclined in order to allow the steam to flow through it (32.18) easily due to natural circulation. Through all cavities are comprised through said steam generator (32.18) in order to allow the fluids of both primary (32.7) and secondary (32.5) circuits, to flow through it (32.18) from end to end. Said tertiary circuit (32.3) comprises an intake pipe which takes water (32.1) from the water basin (32.1) positioned beside said power generation system. A filter (32.6) avoids any undesired distances of entering into the tertiary circuit (32.3). A driving pump (32.2) drives the water (32.1) through a pipe (32.3) which drives said water (32.1) through the heat exchanger (32.11), which is shared with the pipe if the secondary circuit (32.12). In said heat exchanger (32.11), said
100 tertiary circuit’s (32.3) water (32.1) flow collects the excess heat of said secondary circuit (32.12), and is then driven through an outlet (32.13) from said heat exchanger (32.11), and then through an exit pipe (32.14) to be driven out of the system to the same basin (32.1) as where said water (32.1) was initially collected.
Said power generation system can also be comprised on isolated land (33.1) without any water supply being offered. Said design would hence comprise a heat exchanger (33.16) which collects the heat from the solar rays. Said solar ray driving pipe (33.6) is comprised just above said heat exchanger (33.16). Said primary circuit’s (33.18) fluid, preferably water or oil, is constantly in a liquid state, and hence transfers the heat from said light rays very easily through said heat exchanger (33.16). Said heated fluid is driven through a driving pump (33.17), which drives it through a pipe (33.18), and hence through a steam generator (33.19). In said steam generator (33.19), said primary circuit’s (33.18) fluid transfers the heat to a secondary circuit (33.3). After transferring said heat, said primary circuit’s fluid is driven back through said heat exchanger (33.16) in order to newly collect heat, hence starting the process all over again.
A driving pump (33.2) drives the fluid of said secondary circuit (33.3), preferably water, through a pipe (33.3), which drives it through said steam generator (33.19). Said secondary circuit’s (33.3) fluid is converted to steam as it collects the heat from the primary circuit (33.18). Said steam generator (33.19) comprises the pipes of both primary (33.18) and secondary (33.3) circuits. Said steam generator (33.19) is inclined upwardly in order to allow the ease of forward circulation of said steam in said secondary circuit (33.3) when being driven through said steam generator (33.19). Said steam then drives a steam turbine (33.15), which in turn drives a generator (33.14) to generate electricity. Said remaining steam is then driven through a pipe (33.13) which drives said steam to a heat exchanger (33.4). In said heat exchanger (33.4), said excess heat from said secondary circuit (33.13) is transferred to a
101 tertiary circuit (33.5). Said secondary circuit’s (33.13) fluid, back in the liquid state, is then driven back through said driving pump (33.2), which restarts said process over again.
Said driving pipe (33.5) of said tertiary circuit (33.5) drives a refrigerant in the liquid state through the heat exchanger (33.4) which said tertiary circuit (33.5) shares with the pipe of the secondary circuit (33.13). Said refrigerant fluid of said tertiary circuit (33.5) collects the excess heat from said secondary circuit (33.13), hence converting itself into the gaseous state. Said gas is then driven through a pipe (33.12) to a compressor (33.10). Said compressor (33.10) compresses the gas, hence releasing the heat from said gas to the surroundings of said compressor, and driving back said refrigerant, in a liquid state, through said tertiary circuit’s pipe (33.5).
As said compressor (33.10) is comprised in an opened duct (33.11), a fan (33.9) drives air through said duct (33.11), hence transferring the heat from said compressor (33.10) through said duct (33.11) to the outer environment around the system. An electric motor (33.7) drives a shaft (33.8) which dives said fan (33.9). Said fan collects air from the other side of said duct (33.11) , hence driving said air around said compressor (33.10), and hence transferring its (33.10) excess heat to the outer environment.
Said power generation system can also be comprised on a floating vessel or ship (34.4). In said design, the light driving pipes (34.1, 34.13) are positioned on the heat exchangers (34.14, 34.29). Said heat exchangers (34.14, 34.29) transfer heat to the fluid of the primary circuit (34.3, 34.28). Said fluid of said primary circuit (34.3, 34.28) can be synthetic oil, water or pressurised steam, but should preferably be water. Said primary circuit’s (34.3, 34.28) fluid is driven by a driving pump (34.3). Said primary circuit’s (34.3, 34.28) fluid is driven through a heat exchanger or steam generator (34.20) after collecting the heat from said heat exchangers (34.14, 34.29). The primary circuit (34.3, 34.28) is a pressurised fluid or pressurised water
102 circuit. Said heat exchanger or steam generator (34.20) transfers the heat to a secondary circuit (34.25). Said fluid of the secondary circuit (34.25) should be preferably water. A pump (34.26) drives said fluid in said secondary' circuit (34.25) through a pipe (34.25) and into said heat exchanger or steam generator (34.20). In said steam generator (34.20), said secondary circuit (34.25) collects the heat transferred by the primary circuit (34.3, 34.28).
The resulting steam is then driven through a pipe (34.22), which separates into a pipe (34.23) which drives steam onto a set of reciprocating expanders (34.24), which can drive the vessel’s propulsion systems, and another separate pipe (34.21) to a steam turbine (34.18).
Said steam turbine (34.18) drives in turn a generator (34.16) which generates electricity. The exhaust steam of both steam expanders (34.24) and steam turbine (34.18), are driven through a separate pipe (34.19) to a single united pipe (34.17) which drives said steam through a heat exchanger (34.5). In said heat exchanger (34.5), said secondary circuit transfers the excess remaining heat to a tertiary circuit (34.6), prior of being driven back to the driving pump (34.26) through a pipe (34.27).
Said tertiary circuit (34.6) drives a liquid refrigerant through said heat exchanger (34.5) to collect the excess heat from said secondary circuit (34.17), which said refrigerant, in a gaseous sate, drives through a pipe (34.12) to a compressor (34.11). Said compressor (34.11) releases the heat of said tertiary circuit (34.6) into an open duct (34.10). An electric motor (34.7) drives a shaft (34.8) which drives a fan (34.9), which drives air through said duct (34.10), hence removing the heat released by said compressor (34.11) from said duct, hence driving it out of the system.
Said power generation system can also take the tertiary circuit’s (35.1) fluid from the medium on which said vessel or ship (35.5) floats, provided that said power generation system is comprised on a floating vessel or ship (35.5). In this case, the tertiary circuit (35.1) collects
103 the water (35.3) from an intake inlet, from the medium (35.3) on which said vessel (35.5) floats. A filter (35.27) avoids any undesired substances of entering into said tertiary circuit (35.1). A pump (35.2) drives said water (35.3) through said tertiary circuit pipe (35.1), and hence through a heat exchanger (35.6) which is shared between the secondary circuit’s pipe (35.9) and said tertiary circuit’s pipe (35.1). Said water collects the excess heat from said secondary circuit (35.9) when flowing through said heat exchanger (35.6), and is then driven out of the system through a pipe (35.10), which guides said water (35.1) to a fluid outlet (35.12) at the other side of the vessel (35.5). This guarantees that no hot water will be taken in by said tertiary circuit (35.1), as said inlet is positioned at the other side of said vessel (35.5).
The primary (35.22) and secondary (35.17) circuits function in the same manner as comprised on Figure 34. The light ray driving pipes (35.4, 35.11) supply heat to a set of heat exchangers (35.13, 25.25) which transfer heat to the fluid of the primary circuit (35.14,
35.22). Said primary circuit’s (35.14, 35.22) fluid should be pressurised steam, synthetic oil or water, but should preferably be water or oil, as said circuit (35.14, 35.22) is just used to transfer heat while remaining in a constant liquid state. After collecting said heat through said heat exchangers (35.13, 35.25), said primary circuit’s (35.14, 35.22) fluid is driven through a heat exchanger or steam generator (35.19) in which said primary circuit’s (35.14, 35.22) fluid transfers heat to a secondary circuit. Said fluid is then driven back through a pipe (35.22) towards one of the heat exchangers (35.25). The same pipe (35.14, 35.22) drives the fluid through both heat exchangers (35.13, 35.25). A pump (35.26) drives said primary circuit’s (35.14, 35.22) fluid around the loop.
Said secondary circuit (35.21) is driven by a pump (35.23). Sais secondary circuit’s (35.21) fluid should preferably be water. When said fluid is driven through said heat exchanger (35.19), the fluid collects the heat transferred by the primary circuit (35.14, 35.22). After
104 collecting said heat, said fluid, in the form of steam, is driven through a pipe (35.17) out of said heat exchanger (35.19) and said pipe (35.17) then separates into a pipe (35.18) which drives fluid to a set of reciprocating expanders (35.20), and another pipe (35.7) which drives fluid to a steam turbine (35.16).
Said reciprocating steam expanders (35.20) drive the vessel’s (35.50 propulsion system. Said steam turbine (35.16) drives a generator (35.15) which generates electricity. Said exhaust pipe (35.8) of said set of reciprocating expanders (35.20), then unites with the exhaust pipe of said steam turbine, into a single pipe (35.9), which then drives the remaining steam fluid to a heat exchanger (35.6). In said heat exchanger (35.6), said secondary circuit’s (35.17) fluid transfers its remaining excess heat to said tertiary open circuit (35.1, 35.10). After that, said fluid, back in the water or liquid state, is driven back through a pipe (35.24) to said driving pump (35.23), which drives said fluid back again through said pipe (35.21) towards said heat exchanger or steam generator (35.19), hence restarting the process over again.
Said power generation systems comprised on Figures 1 to 35 can also be used to heat fluid in a storage tank, such as molten salt, in order to use said heat to generate power during the dark hours of each day.
Said power generation system (Figure 1-43) can also comprise a storage tank (36.1) which comprises high density energy storage materials, such as molten salt. Said storage tank (36.1) can use the heat stored in the fluid comprised in the fluid to heat the primary circuit’s (36.3) fluid during dark hours. This can be done by driving said energy storage fluid through a pump (36.5), which drives said fluid through a circuit pipe (36.4). Said energy storage fluid should be preferably molten salt. Said pipe (36.4) drives said energy storage fluid through the heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2), where said energy storage fluid collects heat. After that, it is driven back to the energy storage tank (36.1). The energy storage process is the
105 storage of very high temperatures in a highly dense fluid such as molten salt. The primary circuit pipe (36.3) is driven through the same heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2) in order to collect heat from the concentrated solar rays. During dark hours, the energy storage fluid is driven from said storage tank (36.5) by said pump (36.5), through the heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2), hence guaranteeing a continuous supply of heat energy to the heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2), which in turn transfers said heat continuously to the primary circuit’s (36.3) fluid.
Said energy storage fluid is continuously driven through said heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2) during light hours in order to collect heat energy. The energy storage fluid is taken from the bottom of said tank (36.1), such that gravity makes fluid driving an easier and more economic task through said pipe (36.4). Said primary circuit pipe (36.3) and said heat energy storage fluid pipe (36.4) remain fully separate at all times, although sharing the same heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2). During dark hours, it is said energy storage fluid pipe (36.4) which transfers heat to said heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2) in order to transfer it to the primary circuit’s fluid (36.3).
Said power generation system can also comprise an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (37.2). Said design is conceived in order for the steam produced in the primary circuit’s pipe (37.3) to be driven easily up said heat exchanger or steam generator (37.2) by the means of natural circulation. Said heat exchangers or steam generators (36.2,
37.2) comprise through all cavities in order for the fluids of both circuits (36.4, 36.3, 37.4,
37.3) to be driven through said heat exchangers or steam generators (36.2, 37.2). The architecture of the heat energy storage fluid’s circuit components (37.1, 37.5) remains identical for this design concept as well.
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Said power generation system can also comprise a storage tank (38.1), from which a pump (38.6) drives the energy storage fluid, preferably molten salt, through a pipe (38.5). In said design, said pipe (38.5) is the only pipe which collects heat from the heat exchanger or steam generator (38.2) from the solar rays. The fluid flow of the primary circuit (38.4) which flows through the primary circuit’s pipe (38.4), collects the heat from said energy storage fluid when being driven through a heat exchanger (38.3). The remaining heat remains in said energy storage fluid, and is hence driven to the energy storage tank (38.1). Said system drives energy storage fluid during both light hours and dark hours, ether taking heat energy from said heat exchanger (38.2) or from said storage tank (38.1), while continuously transferring heat to the primary circuit (38.4) through said heat exchanger (38.3). Both pipes (38.5, 38.4) are driven separately through said heat exchanger (38.3).
Said power generation system can also comprise an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (39.3) in order to facilitate the steam flow in the primary circuit pipe (39.4) when said water flow is converted to steam in said heat exchanger or steam generator (39.3).
The energy storage circuit’s architecture (39.1, 39.5, 39.6), as well as that of the light ray heat exchanger (39.2) remain identical for said design configuration. Both energy storage (39.5) and primary circuit (39.4) pipes are driven separately through said heat exchanger or steam generator (39.3).
Said power generation system can comprise the tower mast structure, with the light ray driving pipe (40.4) at its bottom, being positioned on an energy storage tank (40.1). In this design, heat is constantly transferred to the energy storage fluid, preferably molten salt, being comprised in said storage tank (40.1), by the means of heat transfer rods (40.2). Said heat transfer rods connect to a heat exchanger (40.3) which is positioned under said light ray driving pipe (40.4), and transfers continuously the heat from said light rays to the heat transfer rods (40.2) inside said tank (40.1) in order to heat said storage tank’s (40.1) fluid.
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Weather during light hours or dark hours, the primary circuit pipe (40.6) flows through a heat exchanger (40.7) positioned at the bottom of said storage tank (40.1), hence constantly collecting heat from said tank (40.1). During dark hours, the heat energy stored in said tank (40.1) is transferred to the primary circuit (40.6) by the means of said heat exchanger (40.7).
Said power generation system, comprising said light driving pipe (41.4) on said heat exchanger (41.3), transferring heat to the heat transfer rods (41.2) of said storage tank (41.1), keeps the tank’s (41.1) fluid, preferably molten salt, at very high temperatures at all times. The primary circuit (41.6) can be driven through an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (41.7) in order for the generated steam in said heat exchanger (41.7) to flow easily due to natural circulation through said primary circuit’s pipe (41.6). Said storage tank (40.1, 41.1) can be positioned under, over, or partly under the ground level (40.5, 41.5) situated around said power generation system. If said tank (40.1, 41.1) is partly positioned under said land level (40.5, 41.5), the structure will be more pleasing to the environmental landscape and topology.
Said power generation systems comprised in this invention (Figures 1-43), can comprise a pipe (42.1) which drives water through a hydroelectric turbine (42.2) prior of driving said water through a follow on pipe (42.4) through the heat exchanger or steam generator (42.5) which transfers heat from the light rays driven by said light ray driving pipe (42.7) to the primary circuit’s (42.4) fluid by the means of said heat exchanger or steam generator (42.5). Said hydroelectric turbine (42.2) drives a generator (42.3) which also generates electricity.
Said power generation system can also comprise an upwardly inclined heat exchanger or steam generator (43.5) in order for the water flow in the primary circuit (43.4) to be easily driven through said heat exchanger or steam generator (43.5) due to natural circulation after being converted to steam. The architecture of the hydroelectric turbine (43.2) and the
108 connecting generator (43.3), as well as that of the vertically projecting pipe (43.1) and the light driving pipe (43.7), remain identical. The vertically projecting pipe (42.1, 43.1) is inclined at a very sharp downward vertical angle in order for the falling water to gain enough kinetic energy to efficiently drive said hydroelectric turbine (42.2, 43.2), hence driving said generator (42.3, 43.3) to generate electricity.
The heat exchanger and steam generators (36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 38.3, 39.2, 39.3, 40.3, 40.7, 41.3,
41.7, 42.5, 43.5) and said heat transfer rods (40.2, 41.2) should be made of a metallic material, preferably steel, aluminium alloy or copper.
The energy storage fluid tanks (36.1, 37.1, 38.1, 39.1, 40.1, 41.1) can connect to a plurality of pipes (36.4, 37.4, 38.5, 39.5) which each drive energy storage fluid, preferably molten salt, through each heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 38.3, 39.2, 39.3, 40.3, 40.7,
41.3, 41.7, 42.5, 43.5) of a plurality of tower mast structures (40.4, 41.4, 42.7, 43.7). Said design would hence result in a power station comprised of a plurality of said tower mast structures (40.4, 41.4, 42.7, 43.7), hence making the system more efficient due to a much higher power output being generated. Said storage tank (4.14) can hence connect to a pipe (4.15) which drives energy storage fluid by the means of a pump (4.16) through a distribution pipe (4.17).
Said distribution pipe (4.17) distributes fluid to a plurality of pipes (4.18), each being driven through a steam generator or heat exchanger (36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 38.3, 39.2, 39.3, 40.3, 40.7,
41.3, 41.7, 42.5, 43.5) under a tower mast structure (4.6). After collecting said heat during light hours, or supplying said heat duding dark hours, to said heat exchanger or steam generator (36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 38.3, 39.2, 39.3, 40.3, 40.7, 41.3, 41.7, 42.5, 43.5), said energy storage fluid is driven to a fluid collection pipe (4.19) which drives said energy storage fluid back to said heat energy storage tank (4.14). This results in an energy storage fluid circuit
109 (4.15, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19) which is totally separate from said primary circuit (4.4, 4.5, 4.9). Said energy storage circuit (4.15, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19) can also be comprised under the ground surface’s level (40.5, 41.5).
So, the present invention comprises a solar ray concentration system which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) which comprises a plurality of system base levels positioned one on top of the other, with each of said system base levels comprising an upper horizontal member (7.5, 8.5) which comprises a concave mirror (12.3,
13.3) which comprises its (12.3, 13.3) lower edge positioned on the upper surface of said end of said horizontal member (7.5, 8.5), while comprising an inner flat collection mirror (7.14, 8.14) hanging from said end of said horizontal member (7.5, 8.5), such that said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3) faces partly vertically upwards, and partly away from said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) and towards a convex mirror (12.4, 13.4), such that said convex mirror (12.4, 13.4) faces partly vertically downwards, and partly towards said mast structure (7.1,
8.1, 11.5, 12.5) and towards said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3), such that the upper edge of said concave mirror(12.3, 13.3) is positioned closer to said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5,
12.5) than said concave mirror’s (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) lower edge, and that the upper edge of said mirror (12.3, 13.3) is sustained by an upper horizontal member (7.4, 8.4) which sustains said convex mirror (12.4, 13.4) which faces said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3) at said upper horizontal member’s lower end (7.4, 8.4), with the top of said end (7.4, 8.4) sustaining an outer flat collection mirror (7.6, 8.6) positioned on a vertically projecting member (7.3, 8.3), as well as a top positioned outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9, 8.9) and a top positioned inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7, 8.7) which is situated nearer to said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) than said inner reflection mirror (7.7, 8.7), such that a light rays shielding member (12.1, 13.1) which projects in parallel to said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) is comprised behind said mirrors (12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4,7.7,
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8.7, 7.9, 8.9) and said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5), comprises the same width as said oppositely positioned mirrors (12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4, 7.7, 8.7, 7.9, 8.9), and is sustained to said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) by a plurality of horizontal members (12.2, 13.2).
The preferred embodiments are the following.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1) which comprises a Plano concave mirror (7.11,
8.11, 9.4) at each equal position and orientation as said concave mirrors (12.3, 13.3) along said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1), as well as a Plano convex mirror (7.10, 8.10, 9.3) comprised at each equal position and orientation as said convex mirrors (12.4, 13.4) along the tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5) which comprises said concave mirrors (10.3,
11.4) projecting partly vertically upwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and partly towards said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and hence towards a convex mirror (10.5, 11.3), such that said convex mirrors (10.5, 11.3) project partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and partly away from said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and hence towards said concave mirrors (10.3, 11.4), such that said positioning of components is comprised at each system base level along the entire plurality of system base levels of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) which comprises concave (9.15, 9.21) and/or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors comprised at the same positions and orientations as said Plano convex mirrors (1.6, 7.10, 8.10) and/or said convex mirrors (10.5, 11.3, 12.4,
Ill
13.4), such that said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors always face partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19) and partly towards said concave (9.16, 9.22) or Plano concave (9.4, 9.9) mirrors, such that said light rays are driven through the focal point of said concave (9.16, 9.22) or Plano concave (9.4, 9.9) mirrors prior of being reflected downwards into a coherent light ray (9.6, 9.12, 9.18, 9.23) by said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors, such that said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors are always positioned with the surfaces of said mirrors (9.3, 9.10, 9.15, 9.21) facing said Plano concave mirrors (1.7, 2.4, 7.11, 8.11, 9.4, 9.9) or said concave mirrors (9.16, 9.22, 10.3, 11.4,
12.3, 13.3).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) in which the bottom area of the tower mast structure (5.1), comprises a light concentration system in which a pair of 45 degree inclined flat reflation mirrors (5.3, 5.4) reflects the light rays (5.2) to a parallel path to said tower mast structure (5.1), such that the inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3) faces partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (5.1), and partly horizontally away from said tower mast structure (5.1) towards the outer flat 45 degree inclined reflection mirror, while the outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.4) faces partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (5.1), and partly horizontally towards said tower mast structure (5.1), and hence towards said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3), such that said concave (5.7) and outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection (5.4) mirrors are positioned further from said tower mast structure (5.1) than said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3).
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A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) in which the bottom area of the tower mast structure (6.1), comprises a light concentration system in which the lowest positioned inner Plano convex mirror (6.2) is positioned in front of the outer positioned Plano concave mirror (6.3), which is in turn sustained by a horizontal member (6.4) which is sustained by said mast structure (6.1), such that a concave mirror (6.7) is positioned under said upper positioned outer Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that the light rays (6.5) reflected by said
Plano convex mirror (6.2) are projected between said tower mast structure (6.1) and said outer Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that said concave mirror (6.7) reflects said light rays (6.5) towards a convex mirror (6.6) embedded inside said lower mast structure (6.1), and that said lowest positioned Plano concave (6.3) and concave (6.7) mirrors are positioned further from said tower mast structure (6.1) than said lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (6.2).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5, 14.1) which comprises an outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) which reflects the vertically downwards projecting light rays (14.2) horizontally into said lower mast structure area (14.1), and so into a cavity until said light rays (14.7) are reflected back vertically downwards again by a tower mast structure (14.1) embedded 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4), such that said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4) faces partly vertically downwards and in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (14.1), and partly horizontally away from said tower mast structure (14.1) and towards said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3), while said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) faces partly vertically upwards and in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (14.1) and partly horizontally towards said tower mast structure (14.1) and towards said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4), such that said outer 45
113 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) is sustained by a vertical member (14.5) positioned at the end of a horizontal member (14.6) which attaches to said tower mast structure (14.1).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting pipe (3.7) embedded in the lower part of the tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), which projects (3.7) in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and which connects to a follow up pipe (3.15) which projects in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), such that both pipes (3.7, 3.15) are located at the centre of the cross-sectional area of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and that said follow up pipe (3.15) connects to the fluid driving pipe (3.13) in which the heat of the concentrated light rays (14.7) heats up the passing fluid in said fluid driving pipe (3.13), such that a transparent lens (3.17, 5.9, 6.9, 14.8) is comprised at the bottom of said vertically projecting follow up pipe (3.15), hence separating the inner volume of said follow up pipe (3.15) from that of said fluid driving pipe (3.13), hence avoiding any fluid from entering said follow up pipe (3.15) from said fluid driving pipe (3.13) in liquid or vapour form.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a transparent lens along the hollow opening which is comprised through the lower mast structure area (3.1, 5.1,
6.1, 14.1), and hence between said inner tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) imbedded flat (14.4) or concave (3.2, 5.6, 6.6) mirrors, and said outer positioned concave (3.3, 5.7, 6.7) or flat (14.3) mirrors, hence separating the inner volume of said tower mast structure (3.1,
5.1, 6.1, 14.1) embedded vertically projecting pipe (3.7) from the outer surrounding environment of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and hence avoiding any dirt or undesired materials from entering into said vertical tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) embedded pipe (3.7), therefore minimising maintenance costs, and maximising system safety,
114 reliability and power generation efficiency through a maximised energy transmission efficiency by the means of said concentrated light rays (14.7).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a vertically projecting mast structure (1.1) which comprises a plurality of systems which are mounted on top of the other down said mast (1.1) from top to bottom, and in which each of said systems comprises a flat collection mirror (1.4) which is sustained by two parallel horizontally projecting members (1.3) which sustain the Plano concave mirror (1.7) of the system positioned on top of the system concerned, such that said system comprises a Plano concave mirror (1.7) which faces towards the mast structure (1.1) and which is positioned below said flat collection mirror (1.4), which concentrates the solar rays (1.8) deflected by the flat collection mirror (1.4) towards a Plano convex mirror (1.6) which faces opposite to said mast structure (1.1), and which hence faces towards said Plano concave mirror (1.7), hence being positioned in front of and slightly above of said Plano concave mirror (1.7), and which is (1.6) nearer to said vertical mast structure (1.1) than said Plano concave mirror (1.7), such that said system comprises a 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) which is positioned below the upper system’s Plano convex mirror (1.6) and which partly faces upwards towards said Plano convex mirror (1.6) and partly horizontally away from said mast structure (1.1) and so towards another 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), which is positioned horizontally in front of said inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) and partly faces towards the mast structure (1.1) and so towards the inner 45 degree inclined mirror (1.5), and partly faces downwards towards the Plano concave mirror (1.7) of said lower system, which is positioned below said outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10), as well as below the whole surface of said lower system’s solar collection mirror (1.4).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above in which the inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.5) of the upper system, and the Plano convex mirror (1.6) of the lower
115 system, are both sustained by a common horizontally projecting member (1.2) in each system’s case, and are hence both (1.5, 1.6) mounted on top of each other, with the inner 45 degree inclined flat mirror of the upper system (1.5) being mounted on top of the Plano convex mirror (1.6) of the lower system, such that said horizontally projecting member (1.2) sustains both elements (1.5, 1.6) and is positioned between the two (1.5, 1.6) for each system’s case.
A solar ray concertation system according to the above in which the Plano concave mirrors (1.7) are each supported by a vertically projecting member (1.9), which sustain these (1.9) to a set of two parallel horizontally projecting members (1.3) on which said mirrors (1.7) are attached to, such that said horizontally projecting members (1.3) also sustain the lower system’s flat collection mirror (1.4) for each system’s case.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above in which the outer 45 degree inclined flat mirror (1.10) is sustained by a vertically projecting member (1.11) which attaches to the Plano concave mirror (1.7) positioned below it (1.10).
A solar ray concentration system (1.1) according to the above which comprises a plurality of systems which are mounted on top of the other down said mast (1.1) from top to bottom, and in which a flat collection mirror (1.13) is positioned outwards and sustained by an electric motor actuated rotational system (1.14) which connects to the bottom of said flat mirror (1.13), which is in turn connects to a vertical member (1.11) which connects these to the lower member’s structure (1.3), such that said collection mirror (1.13) is positioned in front of each of said systems comprises a flat mirror (1.4) which is sustained by an electric motor actuated rotary system at the top end of said flat mirror (1.4) and which is sustained by two top positioned horizontal members (1.3) positioned at each side, such that said outer flat collection mirror (1.13) is constantly oriented to reflect the solar rays (1.8) towards a
116 horizontal direction towards the vertical mast (1.1) which sustains said structure, such that if the solar rays (1.8) project at angles high than 45 degrees to the ground, said mirror (1.13) reflects said solar rays (1.8) to the inner solar collection mirror (1.4), which is inclined at 45 degrees in order to reflect these (1.8) at 45 degrees vertically downwards.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above in which the surface of said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) is oriented at an angle which is exactly perpendicular to the angle of projection of the solar rays (1.8) to the ground, such that said rays are projected to the inner flat collection mirrors (1.4) which reflect said solar rays (1.8) directly vertically downwards, all this being controlled by the computerised control unit which controls the rotational actuators (1.14) when the solar rays (1.8) project at an angle of 45 degrees or lower to the ground, such that said outer flat collection mirrors (1.13) and its connecting members (1.11, 1.9) and rotational systems (1.14) are positioned on top of each other, each (1.13) at the same distance from each other and from the mast structure (1.1) which sustains the set solar ray concentration systems.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above in which said inner flat collection mirror (1.4) is constantly inclined at an angle of 45 degrees, facing partly horizontally away from the mast structure (1.1) and partly vertically downwards when said outer flat collection mirror (1.13) initially reflects the incoming solar rays (1.8) towards said inner flat collection mirror (1.4), such that said outer collection mirror (1.13) is positioned at a greater horizontal distance from the main structural mast (1.1) than the inner collection mirror (1.4), such that said outer collection mirror (1.13) comprises a vertical length component which spans to the upper positioned horizontal members (1.3) when said mirror (1.13) is tilted at its highest inclination angle compared to the ground level.
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A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a concave mirror (3.3) which is positioned at the lower part (3.1) of said mast structure (1.1), such that said concave mirror (3.3) is positioned under the lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (1.6) along said mast structure (1.1), hence being positioned just under said concentrated light rays (1.12), such that said light rays (1.12) are reflected and concentrated approximately horizontally towards said mast structure (1.1, 3.1), and so towards a convex mirror (3.2) which is embedded inside said lower mast structure (3.1), such that said light rays (1.12) access its convex surface (3.2) through a hollow opening situated between said concave (3.3) and said convex (3.2) mirrors, such that said convex mirror (3.2) reflects said concentrated light rays (1.12) back vertically downwards into a hollow vertically projecting pipe (3.7) or channel (3.7), which is embedded inside said lower mast structure (3.1), followed by a vertical pipe or channel (3.15), which continues to drive said concentrated light rays (1.12) into the ground or basement on which said mast structure (1.1, 3.1) is positioned, such that said convex mirror (3.2) faces partly downwards and partly towards said concave mirror (3.3) , while said concave mirror (3.3) faces partly upwards towards said lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (1.6), and partly towards said lower positioned convex mirror (3.2).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a rotational system (3.4, 4.8) which is actuated by an electric motorised system, which rotates said mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) about an axis (1.15, 3.16) which is positioned along the middle of said mast structure’s (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) cross-section, such that said rotational axis (1.15, 3.16) always projects along the direction of projection of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), such that said electric rotational mechanism is located under the basement plate (3.4, 4.8), which is positioned at the bottom of said mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), such that said collection mirrors (1.4, 1.13) will always be positioned opposite to the incoming solar rays (1.8), such that said power generation system comprises a hydroelectric turbine (4.3) which converts the kinetic
118 energy of the gravity driven water (3.9) into electricity prior of passing under said mast structure(s) (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), in which water is converted into steam, and driven to a steam turbine(s) (4.11), which drives generators to generate electricity.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which is comprised on floating vessels, including ships, barges, boats, pontoons and floating docks, such that said system is comprised floating on a sea, lake, river, water basin or canal, such that said floating vessel on which said system is comprised, collects the water (3.9) by gravity from the water (3.9) on which said vessel floats, and said water (3.9) is driven by gravity by comprising the water intake (3.12) positioned under the water surface (3.9), such that said water (3.9) flows towards the evaporation area (3.13), in which said water (3.9) is converted into steam to drive steam turbines (4.11) which in turn drive generators, such that said vessels can be moored to the bed of said sea, river, canal, water basing or channel by rigid steel cables which connect said bed to the lower surface of said vessel.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above in which said mast structures (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) are comprised one beside the other (4.6) along a linear pattern, under which a water driving pipe (4.5) projects across the evaporation area (3.13) under each mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6), such that the intake pipe (4.1, 4.2) connects to a water distribution pipe (4.4), which distributes said water (3.9) into the required plurality of water driving pipes (4.5), such that water flows under each tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6) and is converted into steam, which is driven along each of said pipes (4.5) to a steam collection pipe (4.9) which connects to all water driving pipes (4.5) altogether, and which drives said steam to a steam driving pipe, (4.10) which drives said steam to at least one steam turbine (4.11), which in turn drives generators to generate electricity, such that a water flow control gate (3.10) is located at the intake of said water intake pipe (3.12), which is positioned into the upper surface of said intake pipe (3.12), and is controlled by a computerised controller, which controls the
119 actuation of said water flow control gate (3.10) according to the data supplied by a light intensity sensor, which is positioned at a high point at the outside, preferably on top of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6).
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which is used for desalination applications, hence comprising a salt exit pipe (3.19, 5.11, 6.11, 14.10) along the bottom of said evaporation area (3.13), such that said pipe (3.19, 5.11, 6.11, 14.10) can also be opened by avalve (3.20, 5.12, 6.12, 14.11, 21.12), such that said accumulated salt will be driven away from said system if salt or other undesired material is contained in the circuit’s fluid or water, such that said system can also be used for the isolation of hydrogen and oxygen at the evaporation area (3.13) from said water (3.9), given that the temperatures and pressures present are high enough, such that an oxygen collection pipe (21.10) and a hydrogen collection pipe (21.14) are comprised at the evaporation area (3.13), with each pipe (21.10,
21.14) comprising a membrane to collect only oxygen (21.13) or only hydrogen (21.3), such that each of said pipes (21.10, 21.14) supplies oxygen (21.10) and/or hydrogen (21.14) separately via pipes (21.17) to storage tanks (21.18) or storage areas and/or to industry, as well as supplying hydrogen as a fuel to harbours, ports, airports, petrol stations, railway stations, for use as fuel for aerospace propulsion, road vehicle propulsion, railway propulsion, and/or offshore vessel propulsion.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 21.4, 36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 39.2, 40.3, 40.7, 41.3, 41.7, 42.5, 43.5) which is made of a ceramic material or ceramic alloy, steel, copper or aluminium alloy, and which comprises thin cavities for the fluid or water to be driven through, and which is (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 21.4, 36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 39.2, 40.3, 41.3, 42.5, 43.5) comprised just at the bottom end of the concentrated solar ray driving pipe (3.15, 14.7), and hence through the heat transfer area (3.13) of the circuit pipe (3.12, 21.1) which drives the heat
120 collecting fluid, such that said ceramic material will maximise heat transfer efficiency while being kept in its required form and positon thanks to its high melting point and high heat conductivity properties.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above in which pure hydrogen which was previously separated from water, is driven through a pipe (21.14) to be driven under another solar ray concentrator driving pipe (21.8), on which part of the concentrated light rays are reflected by a set of mirrors (21.6, 21.9) and then driven towards the same point by a set of separate pipes (21.5, 21.7), hence projecting on the pure hydrogen gas at various angles with highly concentrated light, and therefore liquefying said pure hydrogen by the laser cooling process, with transparent lenses (21.15, 21.16) sealing said hydrogen flow while simultaneously allowing the passage of said concentrated light rays, such that said liquefied hydrogen is then driven by a pipe (21.17) to a storage tank (21.18) in a liquid state for industrial or propulsion applications.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 37.2, 39.3, 41.7, 43.5) made of a ceramic material, steel, copper or aluminium alloy which is inclined upwards such that the cavities of said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 37.2, 39.3, 41.7,
43.5) which drive said flowing water, drives it upwards after entering into contact with said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 37.2, 39.3, 41.7, 43.5), an hence converting said water into steam, hence facilitating the steam driving process, in which said system can also comprise a heat exchanger (29.3, 33.4, 34.5, 35.6) which transfers the excess heat from a primary (29.12) or secondary (33.13, 34.17) circuit, to a refrigerant filled circuit after driving the required steam turbine (29.14, 33.15, 34.18) or any other applications (34.24), such that a compressor delivers said excess heat to an outer space (29.9, 33.11, 34.10) after compressing said refrigerant fluid, in which an air fan (29.8, 33.9, 34.9)
121 finally drives said heat fully out of the system, with said system therefore avoiding the need of any water supply for heat transfer applications.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which comprises a steel cable (23.14, 24.6) to control the orientation of each outer collection mirror (23.3, 24.2) which connects to the upper area of said mirrors’ (23.3, 24.2) pivots (23.10), a steel cable (23.11,
24.5) to control the orientation of each inner collection mirror (23.2, 24.1) which connects to the lower area of said mirrors’ (23.2, 24.1) pivots (23.12), and a steel cable (23.16, 24.8) to control the position of the water flow control gate (23.15, 24.7) which connects to said water flow control gate (23.15, 24.7), such that the positions and orientations of these (23.2, 23.3, 23.15, 24.1, 24.2, 24.7) can be controlled from the ground either automatically or manually by the means of electromechanical actuators which connect to handles (23.30, 23.31, 23.33,
24.9, 24.10, 24.11), with said solar ray concentration system comprising a temperature sensor at the inlet of the water collection pipe (3,12) which connects to said computer to calculate the required water flow rate, and to hence control the water flow control gate (3.10, 23.15,
24.7) according to the solar ray intensity, which can be obtained from a sensor (23.1) positioned at the top of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1), as well as comprising a de-icing system which is comprised beneath said mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.10, 1.13, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 7.6, 7.7,
7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.14, 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22,
10.3, 10.5, 11.3, 11.4, 12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4, 23.2, 23.3,24.1,24.2) in order to avoid any icing.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above which is comprised in a solar ray concentration system, in which said previously stated elements are made of a composite material, preferably carbon fibre reinforced plastics or glass fibre reinforced plastics, or a transparent material, preferably glass, transparent PVC or UPVC, or Plexiglas, or a plastic
122 material, preferably UPVC, PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene, or a metallic material, preferably steel or an aluminium alloy, or cement, or concrete, or a ceramic material, or a combination of at least two of said materials, such that said solar ray concentration system is comprised in a solar ray concentration system, in which all of said systems and components of the above, are manufactured using extrusion and extrusion moulding processes, hot or cold die processing, forging, forging press processes, casting, plastic injection moulding processes, and machining processes such as milling, laser cutting or water jet cutting processes.
A solar ray concentration system according to the above, in which said solar ray concentration system supplies power and/or supplies heat and/or supplies water and/or is comprised in mountainous areas, high altitude places, low altitude places, lake shores, sea shores, lakes, rivers, river sides, seas, canals, channels, canal shores, channel shores, ships, boats, submarines, trains, trucks, lorries, trailers, aircraft, air cushion ground effect vehicles, ground effect vehicles, maritime vehicles, naval vehicles, helicopters, airplanes, space planes, spacecraft, satellites, space stations, buildings, houses, factories, factory buildings, telecommunication towers, communication towers, airports, airport control towers, hospitals, tower blocks, towers, skyscrapers, quarries, mines, harbours, cranes, power stations, cooling towers, antennas, oceanographic vessels, icebreakers, offshore vessels, wind turbine offshore vessels, oil tankers, container vessels, solar thermal power generation offshore vessels, thermal power generation offshore vessels, offshore vessels, workboats, work vessels, tugs, marine vessels, oil rigs, oil rig towers, oil drilling towers, oil drilling vessels, industrial vessels, crane masts, cranes, wind turbines, wind turbine masts, signalling masts, signalling towers, railway signalling towers, railway signalling masts, traffic light masts, jack-up cranes jack-up vessels, jack-up ships, jack-up rigs, rigs, barges, floating barges, sea barges, river barges, canal barges, railway catenary pillars, railway catenary masts, road traffic masts, road
123 lighting masts, street lighting masts, pontoons, submersible pontoons, submersible barges, submersible vessels, submersible offshore vessels, bridges, bridge masts, dams, submersible wind turbine vessels, submersible solar thermal power generation vessels, desalination plants, offshore desalination plants, submersible desalination plants, semi-submersible desalination plants, semi-submersible barges, semi-submersible pontoons, semi-submersible vessels, semi-submersible offshore vessels, semi-submersible wind turbine vessels, semi-submersible solar thermal power generation vessels, icebreakers, shipyards, shipyard docks, dry docks, floating docks, semi-submersible docks, docks, harbours, ports, dockyards, airports, petrol stations, electric vehicle supply stations, space launching stations, spaceports and railway stations.
124

Claims (14)

Claims:
1) A solar ray concentration system which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) which comprises a plurality of system base levels positioned one on top of the other, with each of said system base levels comprising an upper horizontal member (7.5, 8.5) which comprises a concave mirror (12.3, 13.3) which comprises its (12.3, 13.3) lower edge positioned on the upper surface of said end of said horizontal member (7.5, 8.5), while comprising an inner flat collection mirror (7.14, 8.14) hanging from said end of said horizontal member (7.5, 8.5), such that said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3) faces partly vertically upwards, and partly away from said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) and towards a convex mirror (12.4, 13.4), such that said convex mirror (12.4, 13.4) faces partly vertically downwards, and partly towards said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) and towards said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3), such that the upper edge of said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3) is positioned closer to said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) than said concave mirror’s (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) lower edge, and that the upper edge of said mirror (12.3, 13.3) is sustained by an upper horizontal member (7.4, 8.4) which sustains said convex mirror (12.4, 13.4) which faces said concave mirror (12.3, 13.3) at said upper horizontal member’s lower end (7.4, 8.4), with the top of said end (7.4, 8.4) sustaining an outer flat collection mirror (7.6, 8.6) positioned on a vertically projecting member (7.3, 8.3), as well as a top positioned outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.9, 8.9) and a top positioned inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (7.7, 8.7) which is situated nearer to said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) than said inner reflection mirror (7.7, 8.7), such that a light rays shielding member (12.1, 13.1) which projects in parallel to said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) is comprised behind said mirrors (12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4,7.7,8.7,7.9,8.9) and said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5), comprises the same width as said oppositely
125 positioned mirrors (12.3, 12.4, 13.3, 13.4, 7.7, 8.7, 7.9, 8.9), and is sustained to said mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) by a plurality of horizontal members (12.2, 13.2).
2) A solar ray concentration system according to claim 1 which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1) which comprises a Plano concave mirror (7.11, 8.11, 9.4) at each equal position and orientation as said concave mirrors (12.3, 13.3) along said tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1), as well as a Plano convex mirror (7.10, 8.10, 9.3) comprised at each equal position and orientation as said convex mirrors (12.4, 13.4) along the tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1).
3) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 2 which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5) which comprises said concave mirrors (10.3,
11.4) projecting partly vertically upwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and partly towards said tower mast structure (10.4,
11.5) , and hence towards a convex mirror (10.5, 11.3), such that said convex mirrors (10.5, 11.3) project partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and partly away from said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5), and hence towards said concave mirrors (10.3, 11.4), such that said positioning of components is comprised at each system base level along the entire plurality of system base levels of said tower mast structure (10.4, 11.5).
4) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 3 which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) which comprises concave (9.15,
9.21) and/or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors comprised at the same positions and orientations as said Plano convex mirrors (1.6, 7.10, 8.10) and/or said convex mirrors (10.5, 11.3, 12.4, 13.4), such that said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors always face partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (9.1, 9.7, 9.13, 9.19) and partly towards said concave (9.16,
126
9.22) or Plano concave (9.4, 9.9) mirrors, such that said light rays are driven through the focal point of said concave (9.16, 9.22) or Plano concave (9.4, 9.9) mirrors prior of being reflected downwards into a coherent light ray (9.6, 9.12, 9.18, 9.23) by said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors, such that said concave (9.15, 9.21) or Plano concave (9.3, 9.10) mirrors are always positioned with the surfaces of said mirrors (9.3, 9.10, 9.15, 9.21) facing saidPlano concave mirrors (1.7, 2.4, 7.11, 8.11, 9.4, 9.9) or said concave mirrors (9.16, 9.22, 10.3, 11.4, 12.3, 13.3).
5) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 4 which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) in which the bottom area of the tower mast structure (5.1), comprises a light concentration system in which a pair of 45 degree inclined flat reflation mirrors (5.3, 5.4) reflects the light rays (5.2) to a parallel path to said tower mast structure (5.1), such that the inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3) faces partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (5.1), and partly horizontally away from said tower mast structure (5.1) towards the outer flat 45 degree inclined reflection mirror, while the outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.4) faces partly vertically downwards in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (5.1), and partly horizontally towards said tower mast structure (5.1), and hence towards said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3), such that said concave (5.7) and outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection (5.4) mirrors are positioned further from said tower mast structure (5.1) than said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (5.3).
6) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 5 which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5) in which the bottom area of the tower mast structure (6.1), comprises a light concentration system in which the lowest positioned inner Plano convex mirror (6.2) is positioned in front of the outer positioned
127
Plano concave mirror (6.3), which is in turn sustained by a horizontal member (6.4) which is sustained by said mast structure (6.1), such that a concave mirror (6.7) is positioned under said upper positioned outer Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that the light rays (6.5) reflected by said Plano convex mirror (6.2) are projected between said tower mast structure (6.1) and said outer Plano concave mirror (6.3), such that said concave mirror (6.7) reflects said light rays (6.5) towards a convex mirror (6.6) embedded inside said lower mast structure (6.1), and that said lowest positioned Plano concave (6.3) and concave (6.7) mirrors are positioned further from said tower mast structure (6.1) than said lowest positioned Plano convex mirror (6.2).
7) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 6 which comprises a vertically projecting tower mast structure (7.1, 8.1, 11.5, 12.5, 14.1) which comprises an outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) which reflects the vertically downwards projecting light rays (14.2) horizontally into said lower mast structure area (14.1), and so into a cavity until said light rays (14.7) are reflected back vertically downwards again by a tower mast structure (14.1) embedded 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4), such that said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4) faces partly vertically downwards and in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (14.1), and partly horizontally away from said tower mast structure (14.1) and towards said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3), while said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) faces partly vertically upwards and in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (14.1) and partly horizontally towards said tower mast structure (14.1) and towards said inner 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.4), such that said outer 45 degree inclined flat reflection mirror (14.3) is sustained by a vertical member (14.5) positioned at the end of a horizontal member (14.6) which attaches to said tower mast structure (14.1).
128
8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.14,
9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.10, 9.15, 9.16, 9.21, 9.22,
10.3, 10.5,
11.3,
II. 4,
12.3, 12.4,
13.3, 13.4, 23.2, 23.3,24.1,24.2) in order to avoid any icing.
14) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 13, in which said previously stated elements are made of a composite material, preferably carbon fibre reinforced plastics or glass fibre reinforced plastics, or a transparent material, preferably glass, transparent PVC or UPVC, or Plexiglas, or a plastic material, preferably UPVC, PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene, or a metallic material, preferably steel or an aluminium alloy, or cement, or concrete, or a ceramic material, or a combination of at least two of said materials, such that all of said systems and components of the above, are manufactured using extrusion and extrusion moulding processes, hot or cold die processing, forging, forging press processes, casting, plastic injection moulding processes, and machining processes such as milling, laser cutting or water jet cutting processes.
15) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 14, in which said solar ray concentration system supplies power and/or supplies heat and/or supplies water and/or is comprised in mountainous areas, high altitude places, low altitude places, lake shores, sea shores, lakes, rivers, river sides, seas, canals, channels, canal shores, channel shores, ships, boats, submarines, trains, trucks, lorries, trailers, aircraft, air cushion ground effect vehicles, ground effect vehicles, maritime vehicles, naval vehicles, helicopters, airplanes, space planes, spacecraft, satellites, space stations, buildings, houses, factories, factory buildings, telecommunication towers, communication towers, airports, airport control towers, hospitals, tower blocks, towers, skyscrapers, quarries, mines, harbours, cranes, power stations, cooling towers, antennas, oceanographic vessels, icebreakers, offshore
132 vessels, wind turbine offshore vessels, oil tankers, container vessels, solar thermal power generation offshore vessels, thermal power generation offshore vessels, offshore vessels, workboats, work vessels, tugs, marine vessels, oil rigs, oil rig towers, oil drilling towers, oil drilling vessels, industrial vessels, crane masts, cranes, wind turbines, wind turbine masts, signalling masts, signalling towers, railway signalling towers, railway signalling masts, traffic light masts, jack-up cranes, jack-up vessels, jack-up ships, jack-up rigs, rigs, barges, floating barges, sea barges, river barges, canal barges, railway catenary pillars, railway catenary masts, road traffic masts, road lighting masts, street lighting masts, pontoons, submersible pontoons, submersible barges, submersible vessels, submersible offshore vessels, bridges, bridge masts, dams, submersible wind turbine vessels, submersible solar thermal power generation vessels, desalination plants, offshore desalination plants, submersible desalination plants, semi-submersible desalination plants, semi-submersible barges, semi-submersible pontoons, semi-submersible vessels, semisubmersible offshore vessels, semi-submersible wind turbine vessels, semi-submersible solar thermal power generation vessels, icebreakers, shipyards, shipyard docks, dry docks, floating docks, semi-submersible docks, docks, harbours, ports, dockyards, airports, petrol stations, electric vehicle supply stations, space launching stations, spaceports and railway stations.
133
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1702758.2
8) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 7 which comprises a vertically projecting pipe (3.7) embedded in the lower part of the tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1,
14.1), which projects (3.7) in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1,
14.1), and which connects to a follow up pipe (3.15) which projects in parallel to the direction of projection of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1,
14.1), such that both pipes (3.7, 3.15) are located at the centre of the cross-sectional area of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and that said follow up pipe (3.15) connects to the fluid driving pipe (3.13) in which the heat of the concentrated light rays (14.7) heats up the passing fluid in said fluid driving pipe (3.13), such that a transparent lens (3.17, 5.9, 6.9, 14.8) is comprised at the bottom of said vertically projecting follow up pipe (3.15), hence separating the inner volume of said follow up pipe (3.15) from that of said fluid driving pipe (3.13), hence avoiding any fluid from entering said follow up pipe (3.15) from said fluid driving pipe (3.13) in liquid or vapour form.
9) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 8 which comprises a transparent lens along the hollow opening which is comprised through the lower mast structure area (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and hence between said inner tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) imbedded flat (14.4) or concave (3.2, 5.6, 6.6) mirrors, and said outer positioned concave (3.3, 5.7, 6.7) or flat (14.3) mirrors, hence separating the inner volume of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) embedded vertically projecting pipe (3.7) from the outer surrounding environment of said tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1), and hence avoiding any dirt or undesired materials from entering into said vertical tower mast structure (3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 14.1) embedded pipe (3.7), therefore minimising maintenance costs, and maximising system safety, reliability and power generation efficiency through a maximised energy transmission efficiency by the means of said concentrated light rays (14.7).
129
10) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 9 which comprises a heat exchanger or steam generator (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 21.4, 36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 39.2, 40.3, 40.7, 41.3, 41.7, 42.5, 43.5) which is made of a ceramic material or ceramic alloy, steel, copper or aluminium alloy, and which comprises thin cavities for the fluid or water to be driven through, and which is (3.18, 5.10, 6.10, 14.9, 21.4, 36.2, 37.2, 38.2, 39.2, 40.3, 41.3, 42.5, 43.5) comprised just at the bottom end of the concentrated solar ray driving pipe (3.15, 14.7), and hence through the heat transfer area (3.13) of the circuit pipe (3.12,
21.1) which drives the heat collecting fluid, such that said ceramic material will maximise heat transfer efficiency while being kept in its required form and positon thanks to its high melting point and high heat conductivity properties.
11) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 10 in which pure hydrogen which was previously separated from water, is driven through a pipe (21.14) to be driven under another solar ray concentrator driving pipe (21.8), on which part of the concentrated light rays are reflected by a set of mirrors (21.6, 21.9) and then driven towards the same point by a set of separate pipes (21.5, 21.7), hence projecting on the pure hydrogen gas at various angles with highly concentrated light, and therefore liquefying said pure hydrogen by the laser cooling process, with transparent lenses (21.15, 21.16) sealing said hydrogen flow while simultaneously allowing the passage of said concentrated light rays, such that said liquefied hydrogen is then driven by a pipe (21.17) to a storage tank (21.18) in a liquid state for industrial or propulsion applications.
12) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 11 which comprises a heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 37.2, 39.3, 41.7, 43.5) made of a ceramic material, steel, copper or aluminium alloy which is inclined upwards such that the cavities of said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 37.2, 39.3, 41.7, 43.5) which drive said flowing water, drives it upwards
130 after entering into contact with said heat exchanger or steam generator (25.12, 26.13, 27.12, 28.10, 29.15, 37.2, 39.3, 41.7, 43.5), an hence converting said water into steam, hence facilitating the steam driving process, in which said system can also comprise a heat exchanger (29.3, 33.4, 34.5, 35.6) which transfers the excess heat from a primary (29.12) or secondary (33.13, 34.17) circuit, to a refrigerant filled circuit after driving the required steam turbine (29.14, 33.15, 34.18) or any other applications (34.24), such that a compressor delivers said excess heat to an outer space (29.9, 33.11, 34.10) after compressing said refrigerant fluid, in which an air fan (29.8, 33.9, 34.9) finally drives said heat fully out of the system, with said system therefore avoiding the need of any water supply for heat transfer applications.
13) A solar ray concentration system according to claims 1 to 12 which comprises a steel cable (23.14, 24.6) to control the orientation of each outer collection mirror (23.3, 24.2) which connects to the upper area of said mirrors’ (23.3, 24.2) pivots (23.10), a steel cable (23.11, 24.5) to control the orientation of each inner collection mirror (23.2, 24.1) which connects to the lower area of said mirrors’ (23.2, 24.1) pivots (23.12), and a steel cable (23.16, 24.8) to control the position of the water flow control gate (23.15, 24.7) which connects to said water flow control gate (23.15, 24.7), such that the positions and orientations of these (23.2, 23.3, 23.15, 24.1, 24.2, 24.7) can be controlled from the ground either automatically or manually by the means of electromechanical actuators which connect to handles (23.30, 23.31, 23.33, 24.9, 24.10, 24.11), with said solar ray concentration system comprising a temperature sensor at the inlet of the water collection pipe (3,12) which connects to said computer to calculate the required water flow rate, and to hence control the water flow control gate (3.10, 23.15, 24.7) according to the solar ray intensity, which can be obtained from a sensor (23.1) positioned at the top of said tower mast structure (1.1, 3.1, 4.6, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 10.4, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.1), as well as
131 comprising a de-icing system which is comprised beneath said mirrors (1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7,
I. 10, 1.13, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 7.6, 7.7, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14,
GB1702758.2A 2017-02-21 2017-02-21 Thermal solar ray concentration system for a power generation system Withdrawn GB2560695A (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2592550A (en) * 2019-01-24 2021-09-08 Otegui Van Leeuw Jon Overground positioned solar ray concentration system for a power generation system

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113293738A (en) * 2020-02-24 2021-08-24 周建国 Desert water transfer channel

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WO2015161921A1 (en) * 2014-04-21 2015-10-29 Jon Otegui Van Leeuw Thermal solar power generation system
GB2541198A (en) * 2015-08-11 2017-02-15 Otegui Van Leeuw Jon Transparent shield for a thermal solar power generation system
EP3163214A1 (en) * 2015-10-27 2017-05-03 Van Leeuw, Jon Otegui Solar thermal system for a power generation system
EP3168466A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-17 Van Leeuw, Jon Otegui Solar ray concentration system
EP3176518A1 (en) * 2015-12-02 2017-06-07 Van Leeuw, Jon Otegui Solar ray concentration system for a power generation system

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WO2015161921A1 (en) * 2014-04-21 2015-10-29 Jon Otegui Van Leeuw Thermal solar power generation system
GB2541198A (en) * 2015-08-11 2017-02-15 Otegui Van Leeuw Jon Transparent shield for a thermal solar power generation system
EP3163214A1 (en) * 2015-10-27 2017-05-03 Van Leeuw, Jon Otegui Solar thermal system for a power generation system
EP3168466A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-17 Van Leeuw, Jon Otegui Solar ray concentration system
EP3176518A1 (en) * 2015-12-02 2017-06-07 Van Leeuw, Jon Otegui Solar ray concentration system for a power generation system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2592550A (en) * 2019-01-24 2021-09-08 Otegui Van Leeuw Jon Overground positioned solar ray concentration system for a power generation system

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