US20040074490A1 - Solar energy reflector array - Google Patents

Solar energy reflector array Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20040074490A1
US20040074490A1 US10/469,892 US46989203A US2004074490A1 US 20040074490 A1 US20040074490 A1 US 20040074490A1 US 46989203 A US46989203 A US 46989203A US 2004074490 A1 US2004074490 A1 US 2004074490A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
heliostat
reflector element
drive
carrier
reflector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/469,892
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Mills
Philipp Schramek
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
University of Sydney
Original Assignee
University of Sydney
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by University of Sydney filed Critical University of Sydney
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY reassignment UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SCHRAMEK, PHILIPP, MILLS, DAVID
Publication of US20040074490A1 publication Critical patent/US20040074490A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F24S30/455—Horizontal primary axis
    • 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
    • F24S2023/87—Reflectors layout
    • F24S2023/872—Assemblies of spaced reflective elements on common support, e.g. Fresnel reflectors
    • 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
    • F24S2030/10—Special components
    • F24S2030/13—Transmissions
    • F24S2030/136—Transmissions for moving several solar collectors by common transmission elements
    • 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
    • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a solar energy reflector array that incorporates a plurality of heliostats and to a heliostat for use in the array.
  • heliostat is to be understood as meaning a device which is arranged to reflect incident solar radiation to a target (which may change from time-to-time) and to be driven to follow relative movement of the sun.
  • Multi-Tower Solar Array with Ganged Heliostats; Mills, D. R. and Schramek, P.—9 th International Symposium on Solar Thermal Concentrating Technologies, Solar Paces, Font-Romeu France, June 1998.
  • heliostats within a solar array must be arranged and constructed to facilitate closely-spaced positioning of the heliostats and, at the same time, to permit non-interfering relative movement of adjacent ones of the heliostats. This latter requirement applies particularly in multi-tower solar arrays, in which adjacent heliostats may be required to reflect incident radiation to different tower mounted collectors and in which any one heliostat may need be actuated to change its orientation from one collector to another.
  • the heliostats be arranged and constructed to facilitate ganging of the heliostats and employment of common drive arrangements for groups of the heliostats within an array.
  • the meeting of these requirements is assisted by the fact that, except in those instances when a heliostat is to be re-orientated, the heliostats collectively need only be moved in dependence on the movement of the sun.
  • the present invention is directed to a heliostat which is suitable for positioning within an array and which, in a preferred form, is arranged to meet the above-mentioned requirements.
  • the present invention provides a heliostat which comprises:
  • a drive means arranged in use to impart pivotal drive to the carrier about a fixed, first axis that is, in use of the heliostat, disposed substantially parallel to the ground plane,
  • [0011] means mounting the reflector element to the carrier in a manner which permits pivotal movement of the reflector element with respect to the carrier and about a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis, and
  • a drive means arranged in use to impart pivotal movement to the reflector element about the second axis.
  • the drive means that is arranged to impart pivotal motion of the carrier preferably comprises a first drive means and the drive means that is arranged to impart pivotal movement to the reflector element preferably comprise a second drive means which is separate from the first drive means.
  • the reflector element which may be flat or curved, may be constituted by a plurality of sub-reflector elements. Also, a plurality of the reflector elements may be supported by a single carrier. However, in order to gain the full benefit of the invention with the latter arrangement, the plural reflector elements would need to be mounted to the carrier by way of non-parallel second axes.
  • the heliostat may be employed in large scale arrays, such as those that occupy ground areas in the order of 100 hectares, or in relatively small arrays such as may be located on the tops of buildings or in other confined spaces.
  • ground plane as used in this specification should be understood as designating a notional (horizontal or inclined) plane above which the heliostats are located.
  • the ground plane will comprise the ground area that is occupied by the heliostats, but it should be understood that the ground area of itself need not be planar. Topographical variations in the ground area may be accommodated by positional adjustment of individual ones of the reflector elements relative to one another. Also, at least a portion of the ground area that is occupied by the heliostats may form a part of a hill and so be inclined to the horizontal.
  • the present invention may be defined further as providing a solar energy reflector array which comprises a plurality of the above defined heliostats located in rows and arranged to reflect incident solar radiation to at least one target collector.
  • the carriers of at least some of the heliostats in each row of the array preferably are coupled to one another, and the reflector elements of at least some of the heliostats in each row of the array preferably are coupled to one another.
  • each of the first and second drive means may be employed to impart pivotal motion to a plurality of the heliostats, and control of the drive means may be shared for a large number of the heliostats within an array. This is important in terms of capital cost savings to be obtained in large area arrays.
  • the target collector or, in the case of multi-tower solar arrays, the target collectors may comprise any type of collector that is capable of receiving solar energy and converting it to another form of energy.
  • each target collector may comprise a bank of solar absorptive collector elements through which a heat exchange fluid is passed.
  • the target collector may comprise an array of photo-voltaic cells.
  • the reflector element of the heliostat preferably comprises a glass mirror that is pivotally mounted to the carrier.
  • the second axis about which the reflector element is pivotally mounted to the carrier preferably is disposed orthogonally with respect to the first axis.
  • the carrier is mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed, first axis that is disposed parallel to the ground plane and the reflector element is mounted to the carrier for pivotal movement about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis.
  • the reflector element of the heliostat preferably has a polygonal shape and, in order to achieve maximised ground coverage, most preferably is mounted to the carrier in a manner such that the second axis lies in a line that passes through two most distant points on the periphery of the reflector element.
  • the reflector element may, for example, have a square form, in which case the second axis preferably will lie in the line of a diagonal of the reflector element.
  • the reflector element may (and preferably will) have an hexagonal form. In this case, the second axis will lie in a line that intersects oppositely disposed angles of the hexagon and preferably will pass through two most distant points.
  • the reflector element most preferably has an hexagonal form comprising three pairs of substantially parallel sides.
  • the hexagon may notionally be divided into a rectangular central portion and two triangular end portions.
  • the sides of the hexagonal configuration are most preferably proportioned such that arcs of an imaginary circle that passes through the four corners of the rectangular portion will lie wholly within the triangular end portions and, in the limiting condition, will lie tangential to two adjacent sides of each of the triangular portions. It has been determined that the use of a plurality of such reflectors permits up to 100% ground coverage.
  • the first drive means preferably includes a drive shaft that is supported for rotation about an axis that lies parallel to the first axis and which is arranged to impart rotary drive to the heliostat carrier.
  • the carrier of at least some of the heliostats in each row of the array may be coupled together by a common such drive shaft.
  • the first drive means preferably incorporates a single motor for imparting drive to a plurality of the drive shafts in an array of the heliostats. Furthermore, in the case of a relatively small array, a single motor most preferably will be employed to impart drive to all of the drive shafts in the heliostat array.
  • the second drive means preferably includes a drive member which is connected to the rear (non-reflecting) side of the reflector element of the heliostat and which is arranged to be driven in a manner to impart pivotal movement to the reflector element about the second axis.
  • the drive member preferably is connected to the rear side of the reflector element by way of a lockable ball joint (or other universal joint) to permit positional adjustment of the reflector element relative to the drive member.
  • This arrangement permits adjacent reflector elements to be positioned individually during the setting-up of an array of the heliostats and permits the drive members within a given row of heliostats to be positioned parallel to one another, regardless of the relative angular positions of adjacent reflector elements within the array.
  • a plurality of the reflector elements within a given row of an array of the heliostats preferably is coupled together by connecting respective ones of the drive members to a common motion translating mechanism which forms a part of the second drive means.
  • Ganged motion translation may then be imparted to the plural drive members by either adjusting the length of the drive members or adjusting the operating plane of the motion translating mechanism to accommodate angular travel of the drive members.
  • the carrier for the reflector element of the heliostat preferably has an arcuate shape and is connected at each of its ends to the rear side of the reflector element.
  • the carrier most preferably has a semi-circular shape and, in both cases, will have its centre of radius coincident with the geometric centre of the reflecting surface of the reflector element.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a rectangular reflector element mounted to a carrier
  • FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of an array of square reflector elements
  • FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a portion of an array of hexagonal reflector elements
  • FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically a side view of a heliostat having a single reflector element mounted to an arcuate carrier
  • FIG. 5 shows a single row of the heliostats and, diagrammatically, first and second drive means for imparting pivotal movement to the carriers and reflector elements of the heliostats
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an array composed of plural rows of the heliostats shown in FIG. 5,
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show alternative ways of translating motion to a reflector element of a single heliostat, to effect pivoting of the reflector element with respect to its carrier,
  • FIG. 9 shows diagrammatically the mounting of one reflector element to a reduced size carrier
  • FIG. 10 shows three, alternative, preferred geometric configurations of the reflector elements.
  • FIG. 1 shows in plan a diagrammatic representation of a heliostat that has a rectangular reflector element 10 which is supported within a carrier 11 in the form of a rectangular frame 12 .
  • the carrier 11 functions to support the reflector element above a ground plane 13 (as shown in FIG. 4) and the carrier is itself pivotally mounted to a support structure 14 .
  • the pivot axis 15 for the carrier (herein referred to as the “first axis”) is fixed and lies parallel to the ground plane 13 .
  • the reflector element 10 is pivotally mounted to the carrier 11 about a pivot axis 16 (herein referred to as the “second axis”) that is orthogonally disposed with respect to the first axis 15 .
  • the reflector element 10 may be regarded as being supported in a gymbal mounting such that the carrier 11 and the supported reflector element may be turned about the first, fixed axis 15 whilst the reflector element is independently pivotable, relative to the carrier, about the second axis 16 .
  • a heliostat array may be constructed to provide optimised ground coverage if:
  • the first axis 15 is disposed in fixed, parallel relationship to the ground plane 13 ,
  • the second axis 16 lies in a line that passes through the most distant points of the reflector element 10 .
  • the reflector element 10 has a shape that permits close packing of the heliostats.
  • the second criterion is not met in the case of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, to the extent that the second axis 16 does not pass through the diagonal of the rectangle. Also, it will be established later in this specification that the third criterion may best be met by the employment of hexagonal reflectors having specifically defined geometrical forms.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 do show arrangements that are superior to that shown in FIG. 1, in that FIG. 2 shows an array of square reflector elements 10 which are pivotably mounted to respective carriers 11 by way of second axes 16 that pass through diagonals of the squares. Similarly, FIG. 3 shows an array of hexagonal reflector elements 10 which are pivotably mounted to respective carriers 11 by way of second axes 16 that pass through opposing angles of the hexagons.
  • At least some of the carriers 11 may shade the reflectors from incident solar radiation under certain inclinations of the carriers and/or the reflector elements within the carriers. This will reduce the performance of the array and it will be necessary to separate at least some of the heliostats within the array and thereby reduce the effective ground coverage. Moreover, the carriers may themselves preclude an arrangement that provides for optimum ground coverage.
  • the carrier 11 extends rearwardly from the reflector element 10 and has an arcuate or, more specifically, a semi-circular shape.
  • the radius centre 17 of the carrier is coincident with the geometric centre of the reflecting surface of the reflector element and is aligned with the first axis 15 .
  • End portions 18 of the carrier are connected to the reflector element by bearing-supported axles (not shown) that are positioned coincidentally with the second axis 16 .
  • the carrier 11 would normally be fabricated as a metal or plastics material frame and be mounted upon a supporting structure 19 to position the reflector element 10 at a required height above the ground plane 13 .
  • the carrier 11 is supported upon idler rollers 20 that accommodate rotary motion of the carrier about the radius centre 17 , and a drive shaft 21 is provided for imparting rotary drive to the carrier by way of a geared connection (not shown) between the drive shaft and the carrier.
  • the axis of the drive shaft 21 lies parallel with the first axis 15 and, also not shown, the drive shaft 21 is coupled to an electric or hydraulic motor which is energised when required to impart turning motion to the reflector element 10 about the first axis.
  • a drive member 22 is connected to the rear side of the reflector element 10 by way of a lockable ball joint (not shown), so that the reflector element may initially be orientated in a required direction relative to the drive member 22 .
  • a linearly movable motion translating mechanism 23 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is employed to impart pivotal movement to the drive member 22 and, so, to effect pivoting of the reflector element 10 about the second axis 16 .
  • FIG. 5 of the drawings shows a plurality of carrier-mounted reflector elements positioned in a row
  • FIG. 6 shows a number of the rows located within a small array of heliostats.
  • the heliostats within each row are coupled together by a single drive shaft 21 .
  • the plurality of parallel drive members 22 that extend rearwardly from the respective reflector elements 10 are coupled together in each row by a single motion translating shaft 23 .
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show alternative ways of translating motion to the reflector element 10 of a single heliostat, to effect pivoting of the reflector element about the second axis 16 with respect to the carrier 11 .
  • the drive member 22 will change its effective length (in a vertical direction) as it pivots to effect turning of the reflector element 10 , provision needs to be made to maintain the coupling between the drive member 22 and the motion translating shaft 23 . This may be achieved as shown in FIG. 8, by making the drive member telescopic or, as shown in FIG. 7, by raising and lowering the motion translating shaft 23 with application of pivoting drive to the drive member 22 .
  • the carrier 11 has been illustrated in most of the figures as having a length between its end portions 18 that corresponds with the length of the major axis of the reflector element 10 , in the interest of avoiding shading between adjacent heliostats, the carrier 11 may beneficially be made with a smaller dimension. This is illustrated in FIG. 9 and it will be understood that with this change in dimension, special arrangements may need to be made to facilitate application of drive to the drive members 22 .
  • the reflector element 10 should be shaped in a manner to permit optimum, close packing of the heliostats. This may be achieved by forming the reflector element in one or other of the (generalised) ways indicated in FIGS. 10A, B and C. In each case the reflector element 10 has an hexagonal configuration comprising three pairs of parallel sides and as a consequence four sides 24 having equal length. Also, in each case, the major diagonal a has a length that is greater than that of the distance b between two opposing sides 25 of each element.
  • the sides of the hexagonal configuration are proportioned such that arcs 27 of an imaginary circle that passes through the four corners of the rectangular portion lie wholly within the triangular end portions 26 and, in the limiting condition, lie tangential to two adjacent sides of each of the triangular portions.
  • the proportions of the hexagon satisfy the criteria
  • Multi-Tower Solar Array with Ganged Heliostats, Mills, D. R. and Schramek, p.—9 th International Symposium on Solar Thermal Concentrating Technologies, Solar Paces, Font-Romeu France, June 1998, and

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
  • Mounting And Adjusting Of Optical Elements (AREA)
US10/469,892 2001-03-07 2002-03-07 Solar energy reflector array Abandoned US20040074490A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPR3566 2001-03-07
AUPR3566A AUPR356601A0 (en) 2001-03-07 2001-03-07 Solar energy reflector array
PCT/AU2002/000261 WO2002070966A1 (en) 2001-03-07 2002-03-07 Solar energy reflector array

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20040074490A1 true US20040074490A1 (en) 2004-04-22

Family

ID=3827575

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/469,892 Abandoned US20040074490A1 (en) 2001-03-07 2002-03-07 Solar energy reflector array

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US20040074490A1 (es)
EP (1) EP1368598A4 (es)
JP (1) JP2004526117A (es)
CN (1) CN1630798A (es)
AU (1) AUPR356601A0 (es)
CA (1) CA2439958A1 (es)
MX (1) MXPA03008035A (es)
WO (1) WO2002070966A1 (es)
ZA (1) ZA200306717B (es)

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070070531A1 (en) * 2005-09-29 2007-03-29 Enfocus Engineering Corp Radiant Energy Conversion System
WO2007051928A3 (fr) * 2005-11-07 2007-07-05 Frederic Conchy Module solaire elementaire destine a un dispositif de recuperation du rayonnement solaire
US20090025708A1 (en) * 2007-07-24 2009-01-29 Sunpower Corporation Rolling Motion Tracking Solar Assembly
US20090038608A1 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-12 Caldwell Douglas W Multi-receiver heliostat system architecture
US20090056703A1 (en) * 2007-08-27 2009-03-05 Ausra, Inc. Linear fresnel solar arrays and components therefor
US20090071531A1 (en) * 2007-09-13 2009-03-19 Casey Dame Three Dimensional Photo Voltaic Modules In An Energy Reception Panel
US20090086348A1 (en) * 2007-10-01 2009-04-02 Jinchun Xie System for simultaneously turning and tilting an array of mirror concentrators
US20090126364A1 (en) * 2007-06-06 2009-05-21 Ausra, Inc. Convective/radiative cooling of condenser coolant
US20090133685A1 (en) * 2007-11-26 2009-05-28 Quoc Pham Heliostat array layouts for multi-tower central receiver solar power plants
US20090308379A1 (en) * 2006-05-05 2009-12-17 Rahmi Oguz Capan Hyperbolic solar trough field system
US20090322089A1 (en) * 2007-06-06 2009-12-31 Mills David R Integrated solar energy receiver-storage unit
US20100195227A1 (en) * 2009-02-03 2010-08-05 Steven Russell Green System and Method of Focusing Electromagnetic Radiation
US20110012264A1 (en) * 2009-07-20 2011-01-20 Ryan Linderman Optoelectronic device with heat spreader unit
US20110120524A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Sunpower Corporation Device and method for solar power generation
US20110132431A1 (en) * 2009-12-08 2011-06-09 Ryan Linderman Optoelectronic device with bypass diode
US20110259396A1 (en) * 2008-12-03 2011-10-27 Hoffman James T Solar energy collection system
US8336539B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2012-12-25 Sunpower Corporation Opposing row linear concentrator architecture
TWI381136B (zh) * 2009-12-01 2013-01-01 Foxsemicon Integrated Tech Inc 發光模組
US20130061845A1 (en) * 2011-09-12 2013-03-14 Zomeworks Corporation Radiant energy driven orientation system
US8528366B2 (en) 2011-12-22 2013-09-10 Sunpower Corporation Heat-regulating glass bending apparatus and method
US8563849B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2013-10-22 Sunpower Corporation Diode and heat spreader for solar module
US8604404B1 (en) 2010-07-01 2013-12-10 Sunpower Corporation Thermal tracking for solar systems
US8636198B1 (en) 2012-09-28 2014-01-28 Sunpower Corporation Methods and structures for forming and improving solder joint thickness and planarity control features for solar cells
US8739512B2 (en) 2007-06-06 2014-06-03 Areva Solar, Inc. Combined cycle power plant
US8796535B2 (en) 2011-09-30 2014-08-05 Sunpower Corporation Thermal tracking for solar systems
US8839784B2 (en) 2010-12-22 2014-09-23 Sunpower Corporation Locating connectors and methods for mounting solar hardware
US20140320990A1 (en) * 2011-06-27 2014-10-30 Sunpartner Solar concentrator including a heliostat and a fresnel lens
US8893713B2 (en) 2010-12-22 2014-11-25 Sunpower Corporation Locating connectors and methods for mounting solar hardware
US9022020B2 (en) 2007-08-27 2015-05-05 Areva Solar, Inc. Linear Fresnel solar arrays and drives therefor
US9035168B2 (en) 2011-12-21 2015-05-19 Sunpower Corporation Support for solar energy collectors
US9038421B2 (en) 2011-07-01 2015-05-26 Sunpower Corporation Glass-bending apparatus and method
US9246037B2 (en) 2010-12-03 2016-01-26 Sunpower Corporation Folded fin heat sink
US9261630B2 (en) 2008-06-07 2016-02-16 Sun Synchrony, Inc. Solar energy collection system
US9397611B2 (en) 2012-03-27 2016-07-19 Sunpower Corporation Photovoltaic systems with local maximum power point tracking prevention and methods for operating same
US9897346B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2018-02-20 Sunpower Corporation Opposing row linear concentrator architecture
US9911882B2 (en) 2010-06-24 2018-03-06 Sunpower Corporation Passive flow accelerator
WO2019106396A1 (en) * 2017-11-28 2019-06-06 Nadasi Szabo Tamas Sun-tracking solar panel array movable between an operating position and a storage position for a solar panel system

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2005164132A (ja) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-23 Dainatsukusu:Kk ソーラーヒートコレクターパネル
EP2685178B1 (en) * 2004-08-31 2017-08-02 Tokyo Institute Of Technology Sunlight collecting reflector and solar energy utilization system
DE102004044841B4 (de) * 2004-09-13 2006-08-17 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Heliostatenvorrichtung
DE102006053758A1 (de) 2006-11-13 2008-05-15 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Verfahren zur Regelung der Ausrichtung eines Heliostaten auf einen Receiver, Heliostatenvorrichtung und Solarkraftwerk
WO2008092195A1 (en) * 2007-01-29 2008-08-07 Solar Heat And Power Pty Ltd Solar energy collector field incorporating collision avoidance
WO2009000070A1 (en) * 2007-06-22 2008-12-31 The University Of British Columbia Adaptive sunlight redirector
WO2009140174A2 (en) * 2008-05-12 2009-11-19 Arizona Board Of Regents On Behalf Of University Of Arizona Solar concentrator apparatus with large, multiple, co-axial dish reflectors
ITCS20080017A1 (it) * 2008-09-19 2008-12-19 Innova Technology Solutions S R L Concentratore solare ad ottica distribuita
JP4473332B2 (ja) * 2008-10-27 2010-06-02 三井造船株式会社 太陽光集光用ヘリオスタットの制御方法及びその装置
GB2469344B (en) 2009-07-23 2011-08-24 Iain Chapman Moveable mounting
ES2369594B1 (es) * 2009-12-01 2012-09-07 Abengoa Solar New Technologies, S.A. Método de distribución de heliostatos en planta de torre.
DE102010034986A1 (de) * 2010-08-20 2012-02-23 Philipp Schramek Solares Zentralreceiversystem mit einem Heliostatenfeld
CN102466850A (zh) * 2010-11-16 2012-05-23 浙江中控太阳能技术有限公司 日光反射装置
CN102072582B (zh) * 2010-12-30 2012-09-19 皇明太阳能股份有限公司 一种太阳能槽式集热器的集热管可调支撑装置
CN102147518A (zh) * 2011-03-07 2011-08-10 何秋蓉 定日镜装置及相应的定日镜系统
EP2910868B1 (en) * 2012-10-18 2018-02-28 SolarFlame Corporation Solar heat collecting device and solar heat collecting method
CN103104427B (zh) * 2013-01-10 2016-09-07 朱华 太阳能蒸汽闭路循环发电厂
WO2015188260A1 (en) 2014-06-12 2015-12-17 SunCentral Inc. Light distribution systems and methods
CN105387638B (zh) * 2014-09-09 2019-01-18 北京兆阳光热技术有限公司 一种太阳能集热跟踪驱动单元、阵列及集热装置

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3861379A (en) * 1974-03-05 1975-01-21 Jr Henry Anderson Low profile solar ray concentrator
US4044753A (en) * 1976-04-28 1977-08-30 Nasa Solar energy collection system
US4110010A (en) * 1977-07-07 1978-08-29 Hilton Richard D Ganged heliostat
US4402582A (en) * 1982-01-28 1983-09-06 James F. Duffy Parasitic driven heliostat mirror declinator
US4459972A (en) * 1981-10-06 1984-07-17 Veda Incorporated Heliostat assembly
US4756301A (en) * 1984-11-07 1988-07-12 Dane John A Linear collector for a parabolic reflector
US4832002A (en) * 1987-07-17 1989-05-23 Oscar Medina Unified heliostat array
US5325844A (en) * 1992-02-11 1994-07-05 Power Kinetics, Inc. Lightweight, distributed force, two-axis tracking, solar radiation collector structures
US6005236A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-12-21 Phelan; John J. Automatic sun tracking apparatus
US6231197B1 (en) * 2000-03-20 2001-05-15 Mitaka Kohkico., Ltd. Heliostat for sunlight collecting system

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4110009A (en) * 1975-12-19 1978-08-29 Bunch Jesse C Heliostat apparatus
FR2354590A1 (fr) * 1976-06-11 1978-01-06 Commissariat Energie Atomique Heliostat a un seul axe principal de rotation
US4317031A (en) * 1978-08-02 1982-02-23 Max Findell Central focus solar energy system
US4343294A (en) * 1979-10-26 1982-08-10 Daniel Jack H Solar collector assembly
US4387702A (en) * 1981-03-16 1983-06-14 Mattel, Inc. Solar tracking system
US4457297A (en) * 1982-03-08 1984-07-03 Ford Aerospace & Communications Corp. Modular solar concentrator
BE897996A (fr) * 1983-10-14 1984-01-30 Loix Gilbert Capteur solaire du type heliostatique, equatorial

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3861379A (en) * 1974-03-05 1975-01-21 Jr Henry Anderson Low profile solar ray concentrator
US4044753A (en) * 1976-04-28 1977-08-30 Nasa Solar energy collection system
US4110010A (en) * 1977-07-07 1978-08-29 Hilton Richard D Ganged heliostat
US4459972A (en) * 1981-10-06 1984-07-17 Veda Incorporated Heliostat assembly
US4402582A (en) * 1982-01-28 1983-09-06 James F. Duffy Parasitic driven heliostat mirror declinator
US4756301A (en) * 1984-11-07 1988-07-12 Dane John A Linear collector for a parabolic reflector
US4832002A (en) * 1987-07-17 1989-05-23 Oscar Medina Unified heliostat array
US5325844A (en) * 1992-02-11 1994-07-05 Power Kinetics, Inc. Lightweight, distributed force, two-axis tracking, solar radiation collector structures
US6005236A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-12-21 Phelan; John J. Automatic sun tracking apparatus
US6231197B1 (en) * 2000-03-20 2001-05-15 Mitaka Kohkico., Ltd. Heliostat for sunlight collecting system

Cited By (66)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070070531A1 (en) * 2005-09-29 2007-03-29 Enfocus Engineering Corp Radiant Energy Conversion System
US7858875B2 (en) * 2005-09-29 2010-12-28 Enfocus Engineering Corp. Radiant energy conversion system
US20090133689A1 (en) * 2005-11-07 2009-05-28 Frederic Conchy Basic solar module for a device collecting solar radiation
WO2007051928A3 (fr) * 2005-11-07 2007-07-05 Frederic Conchy Module solaire elementaire destine a un dispositif de recuperation du rayonnement solaire
US8704080B2 (en) 2005-11-07 2014-04-22 Exosun Basic solar module for a device collecting solar radiation
US20090308379A1 (en) * 2006-05-05 2009-12-17 Rahmi Oguz Capan Hyperbolic solar trough field system
US8739512B2 (en) 2007-06-06 2014-06-03 Areva Solar, Inc. Combined cycle power plant
US20090126364A1 (en) * 2007-06-06 2009-05-21 Ausra, Inc. Convective/radiative cooling of condenser coolant
US8378280B2 (en) 2007-06-06 2013-02-19 Areva Solar, Inc. Integrated solar energy receiver-storage unit
US20090322089A1 (en) * 2007-06-06 2009-12-31 Mills David R Integrated solar energy receiver-storage unit
US20090025708A1 (en) * 2007-07-24 2009-01-29 Sunpower Corporation Rolling Motion Tracking Solar Assembly
US8365719B2 (en) 2007-08-07 2013-02-05 Angeles Technologies, Inc. Multi-receiver heliostat system architecture
US20090038608A1 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-12 Caldwell Douglas W Multi-receiver heliostat system architecture
US8807128B2 (en) 2007-08-27 2014-08-19 Areva Solar, Inc. Linear fresnel solar arrays
US20090056703A1 (en) * 2007-08-27 2009-03-05 Ausra, Inc. Linear fresnel solar arrays and components therefor
US9022020B2 (en) 2007-08-27 2015-05-05 Areva Solar, Inc. Linear Fresnel solar arrays and drives therefor
US7847183B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2010-12-07 Casey Dame Three dimensional photo voltaic modules in an energy reception panel
US20100224233A1 (en) * 2007-09-13 2010-09-09 Casey Dame Three dimensional photo voltaic modules in an energy reception panel
US8404965B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2013-03-26 Casey Dame Three dimensional photo voltaic modules in an energy reception panel
US20090071531A1 (en) * 2007-09-13 2009-03-19 Casey Dame Three Dimensional Photo Voltaic Modules In An Energy Reception Panel
US20090086348A1 (en) * 2007-10-01 2009-04-02 Jinchun Xie System for simultaneously turning and tilting an array of mirror concentrators
US10041700B1 (en) 2007-11-26 2018-08-07 Esolar, Inc. Heliostat array layouts for multi-tower central receiver solar power plants
US20090133685A1 (en) * 2007-11-26 2009-05-28 Quoc Pham Heliostat array layouts for multi-tower central receiver solar power plants
US8656907B2 (en) 2007-11-26 2014-02-25 Esolar, Inc. Heliostat array layouts for multi-tower central receiver solar power plants
US9261630B2 (en) 2008-06-07 2016-02-16 Sun Synchrony, Inc. Solar energy collection system
US9065371B2 (en) * 2008-12-03 2015-06-23 Sun Synchrony, Inc. Solar energy collection system
US20110259396A1 (en) * 2008-12-03 2011-10-27 Hoffman James T Solar energy collection system
US8162495B2 (en) 2009-02-03 2012-04-24 Steven Russell Green System and method of focusing electromagnetic radiation
US20100195227A1 (en) * 2009-02-03 2010-08-05 Steven Russell Green System and Method of Focusing Electromagnetic Radiation
US20110012264A1 (en) * 2009-07-20 2011-01-20 Ryan Linderman Optoelectronic device with heat spreader unit
US8860162B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2014-10-14 Sunpower Corporation Optoelectronic device with heat spreader unit
US9466748B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2016-10-11 Sunpower Corporation Optoelectronic device with heat spreader unit
US8530990B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2013-09-10 Sunpower Corporation Optoelectronic device with heat spreader unit
US8304644B2 (en) 2009-11-20 2012-11-06 Sunpower Corporation Device and method for solar power generation
US20110120524A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Sunpower Corporation Device and method for solar power generation
US8946541B2 (en) 2009-11-20 2015-02-03 Sunpower Corporation Device and method for solar power generation
US9252314B2 (en) 2009-11-20 2016-02-02 Sunpower Corporation Device and method for solar power generation
US8546681B2 (en) 2009-11-20 2013-10-01 Sunpower Corporation Device and method for solar power generation
TWI381136B (zh) * 2009-12-01 2013-01-01 Foxsemicon Integrated Tech Inc 發光模組
US20110132431A1 (en) * 2009-12-08 2011-06-09 Ryan Linderman Optoelectronic device with bypass diode
US8809671B2 (en) 2009-12-08 2014-08-19 Sunpower Corporation Optoelectronic device with bypass diode
US9911882B2 (en) 2010-06-24 2018-03-06 Sunpower Corporation Passive flow accelerator
US8604404B1 (en) 2010-07-01 2013-12-10 Sunpower Corporation Thermal tracking for solar systems
US9281431B2 (en) 2010-07-01 2016-03-08 Sunpower Corporation Thermal tracking for solar systems
US8563849B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2013-10-22 Sunpower Corporation Diode and heat spreader for solar module
US9685573B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2017-06-20 Sunpower Corporation Diode and heat spreader for solar module
US8336539B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2012-12-25 Sunpower Corporation Opposing row linear concentrator architecture
US9897346B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2018-02-20 Sunpower Corporation Opposing row linear concentrator architecture
US9322963B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2016-04-26 Sunpower Corporation Opposing row linear concentrator architecture
US8584667B2 (en) 2010-08-03 2013-11-19 Sunpower Corporation Opposing row linear concentrator architecture
US9246037B2 (en) 2010-12-03 2016-01-26 Sunpower Corporation Folded fin heat sink
US8893713B2 (en) 2010-12-22 2014-11-25 Sunpower Corporation Locating connectors and methods for mounting solar hardware
US9746655B2 (en) 2010-12-22 2017-08-29 Sunpower Corporation Locating connectors and methods for mounting solar hardware
US8839784B2 (en) 2010-12-22 2014-09-23 Sunpower Corporation Locating connectors and methods for mounting solar hardware
US20140320990A1 (en) * 2011-06-27 2014-10-30 Sunpartner Solar concentrator including a heliostat and a fresnel lens
US9249044B2 (en) 2011-07-01 2016-02-02 Sunpower Corporation Glass bending method and apparatus
US9038421B2 (en) 2011-07-01 2015-05-26 Sunpower Corporation Glass-bending apparatus and method
US20130061845A1 (en) * 2011-09-12 2013-03-14 Zomeworks Corporation Radiant energy driven orientation system
US8796535B2 (en) 2011-09-30 2014-08-05 Sunpower Corporation Thermal tracking for solar systems
US9455664B2 (en) 2011-12-21 2016-09-27 Sunpower Corporation Support for solar energy collectors
US9035168B2 (en) 2011-12-21 2015-05-19 Sunpower Corporation Support for solar energy collectors
US8528366B2 (en) 2011-12-22 2013-09-10 Sunpower Corporation Heat-regulating glass bending apparatus and method
US9397611B2 (en) 2012-03-27 2016-07-19 Sunpower Corporation Photovoltaic systems with local maximum power point tracking prevention and methods for operating same
US8636198B1 (en) 2012-09-28 2014-01-28 Sunpower Corporation Methods and structures for forming and improving solder joint thickness and planarity control features for solar cells
US8991682B2 (en) 2012-09-28 2015-03-31 Sunpower Corporation Methods and structures for forming and improving solder joint thickness and planarity control features for solar cells
WO2019106396A1 (en) * 2017-11-28 2019-06-06 Nadasi Szabo Tamas Sun-tracking solar panel array movable between an operating position and a storage position for a solar panel system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA200306717B (en) 2004-05-06
AUPR356601A0 (en) 2001-04-05
EP1368598A4 (en) 2006-05-17
CA2439958A1 (en) 2002-09-12
CN1630798A (zh) 2005-06-22
MXPA03008035A (es) 2004-12-06
JP2004526117A (ja) 2004-08-26
EP1368598A1 (en) 2003-12-10
WO2002070966A1 (en) 2002-09-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20040074490A1 (en) Solar energy reflector array
US8490396B2 (en) Configuration and tracking of 2-D “modular heliostat”
US8188413B2 (en) Terrestrial concentrator solar tracking photovoltaic array
US6302099B1 (en) Modular solar tracking frame
US4597377A (en) Solar reflector system
US7950386B2 (en) Carrier for a solar energy reflector element
EP1644669B1 (en) Carrier and drive arrangement for a solar energy reflector system
US8807128B2 (en) Linear fresnel solar arrays
US4091798A (en) Non-tracking solar energy collector system
US20100218807A1 (en) 1-dimensional concentrated photovoltaic systems
US20030037814A1 (en) Multiple reflector solar concentrators and systems
US4291677A (en) Solar energy collector
WO2011008304A1 (en) Advanced tracking concentrator employing rotator input arrangement and method
US20110259397A1 (en) Rotational Trough Reflector Array For Solar-Electricity Generation
ES2210300T3 (es) Colector solar mejorado.
US4295462A (en) Energy concentrator system
US4137902A (en) Energy concentrator system
JP2000146310A (ja) 太陽光集光システム用のヘリオスタット
AU2002238277A1 (en) Solar energy reflector array
US4342501A (en) Radiant energy collector with focal point between the plane of the frame and earth
KR102271954B1 (ko) 각도 조절이 가능한 태양전지 지지대
CN117751263A (zh) 水平双轴太阳能跟踪系统
MXPA97000491A (es) Colectores solares mejorados
AU2004254282B2 (en) Carrier and drive arrangement for a solar energy reflector system
AU2918895A (en) Improved solar collectors

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MILLS, DAVID;SCHRAMEK, PHILIPP;REEL/FRAME:014940/0979;SIGNING DATES FROM 20030925 TO 20030930

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION