WO2000007055A1 - Solar energy systems and related hardware - Google Patents
Solar energy systems and related hardware Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000007055A1 WO2000007055A1 PCT/US1998/015385 US9815385W WO0007055A1 WO 2000007055 A1 WO2000007055 A1 WO 2000007055A1 US 9815385 W US9815385 W US 9815385W WO 0007055 A1 WO0007055 A1 WO 0007055A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- solar
- projections
- refractive
- collector according
- concentrator
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- 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
- F03G6/003—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy having a Rankine cycle
-
- 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
- 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
- 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
- F03G6/062—Parabolic point or dish 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
- F03G6/068—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means having other power cycles, e.g. Stirling or transcritical, supercritical cycles; combined with other power sources, e.g. wind, gas or nuclear
-
- 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
-
- 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
- F24S23/30—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with lenses
- F24S23/31—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with lenses having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
-
- 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
- F24S23/80—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors having discontinuous faces
-
- 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
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- 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
- Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
-
- 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
Definitions
- SOLAR CONCENTRATORS HAVE HISTORICALLY RELIED ON FRESNEL LENSES AND CURVED REFLECTORS WHICH ARE NOTORIOUSLY SENSITIVE TO THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE OF THE SUN (OFTEN WITHIN 1 DEGREE).
- VARIOUS MECHANISMS SUCH AS BY ARCHING THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFRACE
- a system of vectors is used in all design possibilities for directional control of the collected solar beam s unit vector for describing solar angular position n unit vector perpendicular (normal) to a patch of optical material, this vector determines the orientation of the interface in the coordinate system t unit vector indicating direction of refraction of solar beam r unit vector in the direction of specular reflection of s from n
- spherical position angles for s are shown as ⁇ s , solar zenith and ⁇ s , solar azimuth respectively
- the direction of a unit vector can be specified by direction cosine values within the coordinate system shown in Figure 4
- the variable L in Equations (4), (5), (7) and (8) is site latitude
- Solar time t in Equation (10) ranges from 0 hours to 24 hours. Solar noon is defined as 12:00 hours.
- Eqns. (11 ) and (12) are mathematical statements of Snell's law, keeping in mind that the dot product requires the vectors to meet at their tails.
- a third physical principle is invoked in Eqn. (13): All three vectors shown in Figure 5 must lie in the same plane.
- the vector cross product. s x n (nz sy - ⁇ y sz)i + (nx sz - nz sx)j + (ny sx - nx sy)k (16) is a vector perpendicular to that plane; its dot product with the vector t is thus zero.
- Eqns. (11 ) - (13) form a system of three equations in the three unknowns of the components of the vector t.
- a matrix form of these equations allows for easy computation, hence, they comprise a refraction matrix used to solve the design problems for the present invention.
- the desired direction of the solar beam can be represented by a vector v t .
- the starting direction of a source ray is also known and called v Sl the components of the normal to the contour v n may be computed.
- the goal is to control the directions of the rays of sunlight refracted by a collection medium, which is the t vector introduced above.
- the vector v s in Figure 6 may be taken as (-t).
- the vector v t may be taken as the ray that emerges from the refractive medium. The following two-step method was developed to solve this problem.
- Step 1 Compute the specular version of the vector v n .
- Step 2 Modify the vector v n according to Snell's law.
- FIG. 1 A IS A LINE FOCUS CONCENTRATOR WHICH ARCHES A REFRACTIVE
- FIG. 1 B HAS THE AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS REMOVED AND SECONDARY
- FIG. 1 BETTER SHOWS THE METHOD OF FORMING THE FOCUS.
- FIG. 1 D SHOWS TOLERABLE EXIT SPREADS LEAVING THE BOTTOM SURFACE
- FIG. 2A SHOWS A LINE FOCUS DESIGN WITH A FLAT REFRACTIVE INTERFACE THAT
- FIG. 2B IS A SIDE ELEVATION WITH THE CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS REMOVED.
- FIG. 2C BETTER SHOWS THE METHOD OF LINE FOCUS FORMATION WITH A FLAT
- FIG. 3A SHOWS TWO REFLECTORS FEEDING A REFRACTIVE INTERFACE WHICH
- FIG. 3B SHOWS A SIMILAR DESIGN WITH AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS ON ALL
- FIG. 3C SHOW A SIMPLE SECONDARY OPTICS PIECE THAT WOULD FOCUS LIGHT
- FIG. 4A SHOWS A SIMPLE STRAIGHT BEAM SPUTTER (PRISMATIC SURFACE).
- FIG. 4B SHOWS A TOP VIEW OF THE BEAM SPLITTER WHICH IS ARCHED TO
- FIG. 4C SHOWS THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE SAME ARCHED BEAM SPLITTER
- FIG. 5A SHOWS AN EMBODIMENT WHERE REFLECTORS FEED A REFRACTIVE
- FIG. 5B SHOWS AN EXPLODED VIEW WHERE THE REFRACTIVE PROJECTIONS ARE
- FIG. 5C SHOWS AN EXPLODED VIEW WHERE THE REFRACTIVE PROJECTIONS ARE
- FIG. 5D -SHOWS A PASSIVE SKYLIGHT APPLICATION OF THE POINT FOCUS DESIGN.
- FIG. 5E SHOWS A WATER HEATING APPLICATION OF THE POINT FOCUS DESIGN.
- FIG. 6A SHOWS AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF POINT FOCUS FORMATION.
- FIG. 6B SHOWS A BLOW-UP OF THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF THE
- FIG. 7 SHOWS A VACUUM RECEPTOR FOR A POINT FOCUS DESIGN. SECONDARY
- FIG. 8A SHOWS A STIRLING ENGINE WITH A THERMAL GRADIENT COLLAR FEEDING A SECOND STIRLING ENGINE (THAT USES WASTE HEAT AND INCREASES DELTA T OF
- FIG. 8B SHOWS A STIRLING ENGINE WITH A STEAM ENGINE USING THE WASTE
- FIG. 9A SHOWS A BLOW-UP OF THE WEDGE-SHAPED T.I.R. PROJECTIONS.
- FIG. 9B SHOWS A VARIATION ON A WEDGE-SHAPED T.I.R. PROJECTION.
- FIG. 9C SHOWS REPRESENTATIVE RAY TRACINGS.
- FIGS. 9D,E,F&G SHOW ALTERNATIVE TIP SHAPES FOR THE T.I.R. PROJECTIONS.
- FIGS. 10 A&B SHOW ONE LAYER POINT FOCUS FORMATION.
- FIGS. 10C,D,E&F SHOW VARIATIONS ON THE REFRACTIVE INPUT GEOMETRY.
- FIG. 10G SHOWS A SOUTH FACING REFLECTOR FEEDING A POINT FOCUS DESIGN
- FIG. 10H SHOWS A ONE LAYER POINT FOCUS MANUFACTURING SCHEME.
- FIG. 1 SHOWS REFLECTIVE ULTRASTRUCTURAL CORRECTION OF A REFRACTIVE
- FIG. 12 SHOWS A TWO-SIDED REFLECTOR USED FOR EAST/WEST AUGMENTATION.
- FIG. 13 SHOWS A PARTICULARLY EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONER WHICH UTILIZES
- FIG. 14 SHOWS AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL COUPLED TO AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FIG. 15 SHOWS A LOW INTENSITY "GRID” STYLE CONCENTRATOR WHICH APPROXIMATES THE THICKNESS OF A CONVENTIONAL SOLAR PANEL. REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST:
- FIG I A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG I A.
- FIG I B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG I B.
- FIG 1 C is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 1 C.
- FIG I D is a diagrammatic representation of FIG I D.
- FIG 2A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 2A.
- FIG 2B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 2B.
- FIG 2C is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 2C.
- FIG 3A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 3A.
- FIG 3C is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 3C.
- FIG 4A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 4A.
- FIG 4B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 4B.
- FIG 4C is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 4C.
- FIG 5A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 5A.
- FIG 5B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 5B.
- FIG 5C is a diagrammatic representation of FIG.
- FIG 5D is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 5D.
- FIG6A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 1
- FIG 6B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 6B.
- FIG 7 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 7
- FIG 8A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 8A.
- FIG 8B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 8B.
- FIG 9A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 9A.
- FIG 9C AND 9C" are identical to FIG 9C AND 9C":
- FIG 9D is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 9D.
- FIG 9F is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 9F.
- FIG 9G is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 9G.
- FIG 10A is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 10A.
- FIG 10B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 10B.
- FIGS 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F are identical to FIGS 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F:
- FIGS 10G AND 10G' are identical to FIGS 10G AND 10G'.
- FIG 10H is a diagrammatic representation of FIG.
- FIG 1 1 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 1 :
- FIG 12 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 12
- FIG 13 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 13
- FIG 14 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 14
- FIG 15 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG 15
- FIGURE 1 A REFLECTORS 1 AND 3 FEED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE 2 WHICH GUIDES
- FIGURE 1 B DEMONSRATES THAT LIGHT FROM DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY MAY
- FIGURE 1 JUST SHOWS AGAIN HOW THE ARCHED REFRACTIVE SURFACE TENDS TO FORM A LINE FOCUS AND FIGURE I D HAS
- FIGURE 2A IS A CRACKED FRONT VIEW OF ANOTHER NON-TRACKING
- FIGURE 2B IS A SIDE ELEVATION WITH ALL REFLECTORS REMOVED WHERE
- FIGURE 2C SHOWS PROJECTIONS 23, 24 AND 25 LEAVING THE BOTTOM
- FIGURE 3A SHOWS REFLECTOR 26 FEEDING REFRACTIVE INTERFACE 27 WHICH
- FIGURE 3B SHOWS AN
- FIGURE 3C SHOWS A TRACKING COLLECTOR
- FIGURE 4A SHOWS A SIMPLE PRISMATIC BEAM SPLITTER WITH CORRECTION
- FIGURE 4B SHOWS THE PRISMATIC SURFACE ARCHED TO
- FIGURE 5A SHOWS REFLECTORS (43) FEEDING A PRIMARY REFRACTIVE
- FIGURE 5B SHOWS AN
- FIGURE 5D SHOWS AN ALTERNATIVE
- FIGURE 5E SHOWS AN EMBODIMENT FOR WATER
- FIGURE 6A SHOWS AN ALTERNATIVE POINT FOCUS DESIGN. LIGHT FROM
- FIGURE 6B THE REFLECTORS MAY LIKEWISE BE CIRCULAR, RECTANGULAR OR
- FIGURE 6B IS A BLOW-UP OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
- FIGURE 7 SHOWS A VACUUM RECEPTOR FOR A POINT FOCUS. CONVEX
- REFRACTIVE LAYER 70 MAY FEED VACUUM CHAMBER 71 WITH RAYS ULTIMATELY
- FIGURE 8A SHOWS A STIRLING ENGINE INTENDED TO BE AT THE POINT FOCUS
- a THIRD STIRLING ENGINE MAY BE ATTACHED TO THE SECOND IN A SIMILAR MANNER OR A MULTIPLICITY OF ENGINES MAY BE
- FIGURE 8B SHOWS A STIRING ENGINE MAIN CYLINDER 78 WHICH FEEDS A
- FIGURE 9A SHOWS A BLOW-UP OF THE MAIN ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
- FIGURE 9C AND 9C" SHOW REPRESENTATIVE RAY TRACINGS FOR
- FIGURE 9C DEMONSTRATES THAT MUCH OF THAT "SPRAY” TENDS TO
- FIGURE 9F SHOWS MICRO-SCORING OF THE BOTTOM OF PROJECTION 95.
- FIGURE 9G SHOWS VARYING MICRO-TIP TAPERS 96 AND 97.
- FIGURE 10A SHOWS A SCHEMATIC OF A REFLECTIVELY AUGMENTED ONE-LAYER
- FIGURE 10B IS ANOTHER
- FIGURES I OC, D, E AND F SHOW POSSIBLE SHAPES OF
- FIGURE 10H SHOWS A SCHEMATIC FLOW CHART
- FIGURE 1 SHOWS HOW A REFLECTIVE SURFACE 1 19 CAN COLLIMATE DIVERGENT
- FIGURE 12 SHOWS A TWO SIDED REFLECTOR (120 IN A.M./122 IN P.M.) WHICH AUGMENTS A RECEPTOR 121. THE REFLECTORS COULD MOVE ONCE PER DAY
- FIGURE 13 SHOWS AN EXTREMELY EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WHICH
- FIGURE 14 SHOWS A SYSTEM BY WHICH ELECTROLYTIC HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN CAN BE FED INTO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, EITHER ABOVE THE
- FIGURE 15 SHOWS A "GRID” STYLE SOLAR CONCENTRATOR WHERE A HIGH INDEX
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- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
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Abstract
Wide angle of acceptance solar concentrators are presented which have numerous advantages over the current state of the art. Reduced sensitivity to angle of incidence allows light from cheap reflectors to be harnessed while the need to accurately track is eliminated. Practical manufacturing methods are suggested which should result in logarithmic reductions in the cost of solar electricity. Applications for passive lighting and water heating are demonstrated as are efficient hybrid receptors and end loads.
Description
TITLE: SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AND RELATED HARDWARE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION: THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO SOLAR CONCENTRATORS, MORE PARTICULARLY TO CONCENTRATORS CAPABLE OF HARNESSING LIGHT WITHOUT ACCURATE TRACKING DUE TO THE USE OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION (FIBER OPTIC PRINCIPLES).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(S):
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS HAVE HISTORICALLY RELIED ON FRESNEL LENSES AND CURVED REFLECTORS WHICH ARE NOTORIOUSLY SENSITIVE TO THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE OF THE SUN (OFTEN WITHIN 1 DEGREE). SYSTEMS USING THESE REQUIRE ACCURATE AND EXPENSIVE TRACKING DEVICES. THEY ARE ALSO UNABLE TO USE DIFFUSE LIGHT, HARNESS LIGHT FROM CHEAP REFLECTORS OR ACHIEVE THE CONCENTRATION RATIOS NECESSARY TO COMPETE WITH CONVENTIONAL UTILITIES. (AS CONCENTRATION RATIOS GO UP, COSTS GENERALLY GO DOWN).
THUS THE CHIEF DRAWBACK OF THE PRIOR ART CAN BE SUMMED UP AS FOLLOWS: A SYSTEM WHICH COLLECTS, COLLIMATES AND FOCUSES SUNLIGHT, WITH WIDE ANGLE OF ACCEPTANCE AND LOW LOSS, HAS YET TO BE REDUCED TO PRACTICE. COST-EFFECTIVENESS COMPARED TO STATE OF THE ART CONVENTIONAL UTILITIES
HAS ALSO NOT BEEN DEMONSTRATED.
SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION:
STATIONARY REFLECTORS FEED SUNLIGHT TO ARCHED CLEAR REFRACTIVE INTERFACES. THESE REFRACTIVE INTERFACES, UTILIZING T.I.R. (FIBER OPTIC PRINCIPLES) FOCUS THE LIGHT ONTO SEMICONDUCTORS, BLACK PIPES FOR WATER HEATING OR OTHER APPLIANCES. THE GROSS AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VARIOUS REFRACTIVE AND REFLECTIVE INTERFACES ARE VARIABLE - - DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC DESIGN OBJECTIVES, THE LOCATION (ANGLES OF INCIDENCE OF THE SUNLIGHT), ETC. ETC. ETC.
IT IS THUS THE OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION(S) TO DESCRIBE
SYSTEM INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE COLLECTING, COLLIMATING,
FOCUSING AND RECEPTOR MECHANISMS. THE COMPONENTS MUST BE CHEAP
AND EASY TO MANUFACTURE, WITH THE CONCENTRATORS SUITABLE FOR RAPID
MOUNTING ON A COMMERCIAL ROOFTOP USING CONVENTIONAL METHODS.
WITH THE MATERIALS AND METHODS DESCRIBED, SOLAR ELECTRICITY WILL
BECOME CHEAPER THAN CONVENTIONAL UTILITIES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.
SYSTEM INTERACTIONS WITH ALTERNATIVE RECEPTORS, SUCH AS LIGHT PIPES AND
WATER HEATERS, WILL ALSO BE DESCRIBED. MATHEMATICAL GENERALIZATIONS
FOR SOLVING SPECIFIC DESIGN PROBLEMS AS WELL AS MORE ADVANCED
VERSIONS OF OUR MARKET ENTRY PRODUCTS (LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLANS)
ARE LIKEWISE INCLUDED. THESE LONG-TERM PLANS MIGHT INCLUDE REDUCTION
IN THE NUMBER OF LAYERS/PROCESSES OR TRANSITION INTO THREE DIMENSIONAL
MODELS FROM TWO DIMENSIONAL BLUE PRINTS.
ONE KEY OBJECT OF THE INVENTION(S) IS TO FULLY DEVELOP THE PRINCIPLE OF
"OPTICAL SYNERGY." I.E. THE INTERACTION OF CHEAP REFLECTIVE COMPONENTS
WITH WIDE ANGLE OF ACCEPTANCE REFRACTIVE INTERFACES. ANOTHER KEY
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION(S) IS TO PROVIDE THE MOST EFFICIENT HYBRID
RECEPTOR SYSTEMS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY FOR BIG POWER PLANT MODELS.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION(S):
RESULTS FROM EXPERIMENTS I CONDUCTED CIRCA 1992 SHOWED THAT
LIGHT ENTERING A CLEAR WEDGE OR CONICAL ROD (OF HIGH REFRACTIVE
INDEX) TENDED TO REMAIN IN T.I.R. UNTIL SOME CRITICAL ANGLE WAS REACHED,
AT WHICH POINT AN "EXIT CONE" OF LIGHT FORMED - - GENERALLY POINTING
IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FOCUS AND HAVING A "SPREAD" DETERMINED BY THE
INDEX OF REFRACTION OF THE MATERIAL ITSELF. I.E. HIGHER INDECIES OF
REFRACTION YIELDED NARROWER "SPREADS" ACCORDING TO SNELL'S LAW.
IN THEORY, A MATERIAL OF INDEX 1.7 WOULD HAVE A CRITICAL ANGLE OF ABOUT
36 DEGREES AND AN EXIT ANGLE OF ABOUT 88 DEGREES, POINTING THE EXITING
RAYS ALMOST EXACTLY TOWARD THE FOCUS. (SAID LIGHT HAVING BEEN
ACCEPTED FROM VERY WIDE ANGLES). IN PRACTICE, A "SPREAD" IS OBSERVED.
WE REFER TO A NARROW EXIT SPREAD AS "ROUGH COLLIMATION." A GIVEN
CONDITION IS THAT "ROUGHLY COLLIMATED" LIGHT CAN BE FOCUSED BY
VARIOUS MECHANISMS. SUCH AS BY ARCHING THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFRACE
OR USING SECONDARY LENSES/REFLECTORS. THUS A MAIN REFRACTIVE
INTERFACE USING T.I.R. AND "ROUGHLY COLLIMATING" THE LIGHT, CAN ACCEPT
AND CONCENTRATE AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY (OR YEAR) WITHOUT
TRACKING. IT CAN ALSO ACCEPT LIGHT FROM CHEAP REFLECTORS AND EVEN USE
DIFFUSE LIGHT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL PAGES DESCRIBE THE MATHEMATICAL METHODS USED TO DESIGN THE FACETS FOR THE REFRACTIVE COLLIMATING SURFACES.
FOUR BASIC FUNCTIONS ARE GIVEN PRIORITY:
1 ) RAYS ALREADY HEADING TOWARD THE FOCUS SHOULD PASS UNDEVIATED.
2) SOME PORTION OF THE COLLECTABLE RAYS ARE REFRACTED
(I.E. THEY EXIT THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFACE ON THEIR FIRST "BOUNCE.")
3) THOSE RAYS ENTERING T.I.R. WILL REFLECT A MINIMUM NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE EXITING THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFACE.
4) THOSE RAYS EXITING THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE BUT NOT HEADING TOWARD THE FOCUS WILL BE REDIRECTED WITH REFLECTORS.
THE 3D REPRESENTATIONS BELOW ARE USED FOR NOMENCLATURE.
Standard vector algebra was invoked to derive the mathematical formulation of this method The results are an application of Fer at's principle, the foundation of all geometrical optics
The formulae of this section are intended for computer software applications, whereby large numbers of ray-paths and contours may be evaluated quickly The result of this analysis is a numerical file of contour specifications for a mold This file may be, for example, accepted and executed by a computer-controlled machining facility
The computations must be performed in the context of a 3D coordinate system, such as the one depicted in Figure 4 A system of vectors is used in all design possibilities for directional control of the collected solar beam s unit vector for describing solar angular position n unit vector perpendicular (normal) to a patch of optical material, this vector determines the orientation of the interface in the coordinate system t unit vector indicating direction of refraction of solar beam r unit vector in the direction of specular reflection of s from n
In the figure, spherical position angles for s are shown as θs, solar zenith and φs, solar azimuth respectively
The direction of a unit vector can be specified by direction cosine values within the coordinate system shown in Figure 4 For the unit vector s, for example, direction is specified as s = sx i + syj + sz k (1)
The direction cosine values can be expressed in terms of a vector's zenith (θ) and azimuth (φ) angles, which for the example of the vector s are sx = sιn(θs) cos(φs) (2a) sy = sιn(θs) sιn(φs) (2b) sz = cos(θs) (2c)
Analogous expressions apply to the vectors n, t, and r
The time-varying components of the solar vector can be deπved from the standard equations for the position of the sun, see, for example, DiLaura, D L , et al , "Recommended Practice for the Calculation of Daylight Availability," Journal of the Illuminating Enαineeπnα Society, July 1984, 381- 392 They are sx = D + E cos(w) (3a) sy = C sιn(w) (3b) sz = A - B cos(w) (3c) where
A = sιn(L) sιn(d) (4)
B = cos^L) cos(d) (5)
C = cos(d) (6)
D = cos(L) sιn(d) (7)
E = sιn(L) cos(d) (8)
The variable L in Equations (4), (5), (7) and (8) is site latitude The variable d in Equations (4) - (8) is the declination and is computed as follows
d = 0.4093 sin [( (2π) (J - 81 ) / 368 )] (9) where J is the Julian day of the year. Thus, the values of A through E will be constant for a given day of the year at a given site. The variable w in Equations (3a) - (3c) is the hour angle and is defined as: w = (π t) / 12 (10)
Solar time t in Equation (10) ranges from 0 hours to 24 hours. Solar noon is defined as 12:00 hours.
An original mathematical method of computation was developed to determine the change in direction of beam sunlight collected by a refractive interface. It is based on the geometry sketched in Figure 5.
In design problems involving a refractive interface, the components of the solar vector, s. and the normal to the interface, n, are known. The problem becomes one of computing the components of the vector t. From the figure: t • (- n) = cos α2 (11 ) t • (- s) = cos (αi - α2) (12) t • (s x n) = 0 (13) where
C = Cos"1 (s • n) (14) α2 = Sin"1 [ (n1/n2) sin a! ] (15)
Eqns. (11 ) and (12) are mathematical statements of Snell's law, keeping in mind that the dot product requires the vectors to meet at their tails. A third physical principle is invoked in Eqn. (13): All three vectors shown in Figure 5 must lie in the same plane. The vector cross product. s x n = (nz sy - πy sz)i + (nx sz - nz sx)j + (ny sx - nx sy)k (16) is a vector perpendicular to that plane; its dot product with the vector t is thus zero.
Eqns. (11 ) - (13) form a system of three equations in the three unknowns of the components of the vector t. A matrix form of these equations allows for easy computation, hence, they comprise a refraction matrix used to solve the design problems for the present invention.
The equations developed above tell how refraction changes the direction of sunlight at an interface. Given that information, it is possible to establish the parameters of a piece of contour that re-directs the sunlight . In this method, a piece of contour is represented as a small patch of material with its own normal vector, vn.
If the desired direction of the solar beam is known, it can be represented by a vector vt. Additionally, if the starting direction of a source ray is also known and called vSl the components of the normal to the contour vn may be computed. These vector quantities are sketched in Figure 6.
The goal is to control the directions of the rays of sunlight refracted by a collection medium, which is the t vector introduced above. In fact, the vector vs in Figure 6 may be taken as (-t). Further, the vector vt may be taken as the ray that emerges from the refractive medium.
The following two-step method was developed to solve this problem.
Step 1. Compute the specular version of the vector vn.
The difficulty with refraction is that the angle between the incident ray and the vector normal to an interface is not the same as that between the refracted ray and the normal. This is not the case for specular reflection. It can be shown that the solution for the normal vector can be found for the case of specular reflection as: vn • vs = cos(β/2) (17) v„ • v, = cos(β/2) (18) n • (Vs X V,) = 0 (19) where β is the angle between vs and vt, as shown in Figure 6. This angle may be found from the dot product of those two vectors.
Step 2. Modify the vector vn according to Snell's law.
There are a number of ways to accomplish this. The simplest is to notice that in the coordinate system of choice, the desired direction of vt is parallel to a z-axis (rotational transformations hold without a loss of generality). In this case, the β-related angles in Figure 6 correspond to the zenith angles of a spherical coordinate system.
Starting with Snell's law and the angles as depicted in Figure B-2,
n.
- 1 sm ( β ! 2 ) «2
Aβ Tan -\
(21) n
— + 1 cos( y0/ 2 ) Λ,
The specular vn vector's zenith angle can then be simply decreased by the quantity Δβ to obtain the refractive version of vn. Note that Eqns. (17)-(19) can also be used to quantify TIR within the refractive medium.
The foregoing information serves as the foundation for a design algorithm for minimizing the aiming errors of the present invention.
BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS:
FIG. 1 A IS A LINE FOCUS CONCENTRATOR WHICH ARCHES A REFRACTIVE
INTERFACE THAT HAS UNIFORM PROJECTIONS TO FORM THE FOCUS.
FIG. 1 B HAS THE AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS REMOVED AND SECONDARY
CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS INTACT.
FIG. 1 C BETTER SHOWS THE METHOD OF FORMING THE FOCUS.
FIG. 1 D SHOWS TOLERABLE EXIT SPREADS LEAVING THE BOTTOM SURFACE
OF THE ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE.
FIG. 2A SHOWS A LINE FOCUS DESIGN WITH A FLAT REFRACTIVE INTERFACE THAT
HAS VARYING PROJECTIONS. AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS ARE NOT DRAWN BUT
CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS ARE. THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE IS TORN/CRACKED.
FIG. 2B IS A SIDE ELEVATION WITH THE CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS REMOVED.
FIG. 2C BETTER SHOWS THE METHOD OF LINE FOCUS FORMATION WITH A FLAT
INTERFACE BY DEMONSTRATING THE ROUGH ANGLES OF THE PROJECTIONS.
FIG. 3A SHOWS TWO REFLECTORS FEEDING A REFRACTIVE INTERFACE WHICH
FOCUSES ON A BEAM SPLITTER (THAT CONCENTRATES AND SPLITS THE LIGHT).
FIG. 3B SHOWS A SIMILAR DESIGN WITH AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS ON ALL
FOUR SIDES OF THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE.
FIG. 3C SHOW A SIMPLE SECONDARY OPTICS PIECE THAT WOULD FOCUS LIGHT
WITHOUT SPLITTING THE BEAM(S). HIGH INDEX SLATS WITH VIRTUAL AIR SPACES.
N.B.: THE TERMS "LINE" AND "POINT" FOCUS ARE USED AS GENERALITIES. OBVIOUSLY. SOME OF THE "LINES" COULD BETTER BE CALLED RECTANGULAR ZONES AND SOME OF THE "POINTS" COULD BE CALLED CIRCLES/SQUARES.
FIG. 4A SHOWS A SIMPLE STRAIGHT BEAM SPUTTER (PRISMATIC SURFACE).
FIG. 4B SHOWS A TOP VIEW OF THE BEAM SPLITTER WHICH IS ARCHED TO
FURTHER CONCENTRATE THE LIGHT.
FIG. 4C SHOWS THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE SAME ARCHED BEAM SPLITTER
WITH THE PROJECTIONS THAT GUIDE THE LIGHT. THE CORRECTIONAL
REFLECTORS ARE NOT DRAWN.
FIG. 5A SHOWS AN EMBODIMENT WHERE REFLECTORS FEED A REFRACTIVE
INTERFACE SYSTEM TO FORM A POINT FOCUS.
FIG. 5B SHOWS AN EXPLODED VIEW WHERE THE REFRACTIVE PROJECTIONS ARE
UNIFORM AND THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACES ARCHED.
FIG. 5C SHOWS AN EXPLODED VIEW WHERE THE REFRACTIVE PROJECTIONS ARE
VARIED AND THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACES ARE FLAT.
FIG. 5D -SHOWS A PASSIVE SKYLIGHT APPLICATION OF THE POINT FOCUS DESIGN.
FIG. 5E SHOWS A WATER HEATING APPLICATION OF THE POINT FOCUS DESIGN.
FIG. 6A SHOWS AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF POINT FOCUS FORMATION.
FIG. 6B SHOWS A BLOW-UP OF THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF THE
REFRACTIVE INTERFACES.
FIG. 7 SHOWS A VACUUM RECEPTOR FOR A POINT FOCUS DESIGN. SECONDARY
REFRACTIVE OPTICS MAY BE INTEGRATED INTO THE VACUUM CHAMBER.
FIG. 8A SHOWS A STIRLING ENGINE WITH A THERMAL GRADIENT COLLAR FEEDING
A SECOND STIRLING ENGINE (THAT USES WASTE HEAT AND INCREASES DELTA T OF
THE FIRST CYLINDER).
FIG. 8B SHOWS A STIRLING ENGINE WITH A STEAM ENGINE USING THE WASTE
HEAT (AND THUS INCREASING DELTA T OF THE MAIN STIRLING CYLINDER).
FIG. 9A SHOWS A BLOW-UP OF THE WEDGE-SHAPED T.I.R. PROJECTIONS.
FIG. 9B SHOWS A VARIATION ON A WEDGE-SHAPED T.I.R. PROJECTION.
FIG. 9C SHOWS REPRESENTATIVE RAY TRACINGS.
FIGS. 9D,E,F&G SHOW ALTERNATIVE TIP SHAPES FOR THE T.I.R. PROJECTIONS.
FIGS. 10 A&B SHOW ONE LAYER POINT FOCUS FORMATION.
FIGS. 10C,D,E&F SHOW VARIATIONS ON THE REFRACTIVE INPUT GEOMETRY.
FIG. 10G SHOWS A SOUTH FACING REFLECTOR FEEDING A POINT FOCUS DESIGN
WHICH USES A BEAM SPUTTER TO SEPARATE RED-RICH FROM BLUE-RICH LIGHT.
FIG. 10H SHOWS A ONE LAYER POINT FOCUS MANUFACTURING SCHEME.
FIG. 1 1 SHOWS REFLECTIVE ULTRASTRUCTURAL CORRECTION OF A REFRACTIVE
OPTICAL WAVE GUIDE.
FIG. 12 SHOWS A TWO-SIDED REFLECTOR USED FOR EAST/WEST AUGMENTATION.
(THE REFLECTOR MOVES BASED ON FEEDBACK MECHANISMS).
FIG. 13 SHOWS A PARTICULARLY EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONER WHICH UTILIZES
HEAT OF VAPORIZATION ON THE WARM SIDE OF THE COMPRESSION CIRCUIT.
FIG. 14 SHOWS AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL COUPLED TO AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHICH RELEASES ELECTROLYTIC GASES FROM WATER.
FIG. 15 SHOWS A LOW INTENSITY "GRID" STYLE CONCENTRATOR WHICH APPROXIMATES THE THICKNESS OF A CONVENTIONAL SOLAR PANEL.
REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST:
FIG I A:
1 ) REFLECTOR
2) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
3) REFLECTOR 5) FOCAL ZONE
FIG I B:
9) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
10) REFLECTOR
1 1 ) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 1 C:
12) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
13) FOCAL ZONE
FIG I D:
14) HOUSING
15) EXIT SPRAYS (LIGHT RAYS00
16) SECONDARY REFLECTIVE TROUGH
17) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 2A:
18) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE (PARTIALLY TORN AWAY)
19) REFLECTOR
20) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 2B:
21 ) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
22) FOCAL APPLIANCE
FIG 2C:
23, 24, 25) REFRACTIVE PROJECTIONS (T.I.R.)
FIG 3A:
26) REFLECTOR
27) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
28) PRISMATIC BEAM SPLITTER 29, 30) FOCAL ZONES
FIG 3B:
31 , 32, 33) REFLECTORS
ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE AND BEAM SPLITTER ARE NOT NUMBERED
FIG 3C:
34) ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
35) ARCHED SECONDARY INTERFACE (REFRACTIVE SLATS WITH AIR INTERSTICES)
36) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 4A:
37) CLEAR PRISMATIC SURFACE
38) REFLECTIVE CORRECTION PIECE
39, 40) RED AND BLUE-RICH FOCAL ZONES
FIG 4B:
41 ) ARCHED CLEAR PRISMATIC PIECE
FIG 4C:
42) BOTTOM SURFACE OF ARCHED PRISMATIC PIECE WITH FRESNEL OR T.I.R. LINES
FIG 5A:
43) REFLECTORS
44) FIRST REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
FIG 5B:
(EXPLODED VIEW OF POINT FOCUS FORMATION)
45) REFLECTORS
46) ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
47) ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE ROTATED 90 DEGREES
48) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 5C:
49) REFLECTORS
50) FLAT REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
51 ) FLAT REFRACTIVE INTERFACE ROTATED 90 DEGREES
52) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 5D:
53) POINT FOCUS DESIGN, REFLECTORS REMOVED
54) LIGHT PIPE
FIG 5E:
55) POINT FOCUS DESIGN(S)
56) LIGHT PIPE(S)
57) HOLDING/PREHEATING TANK
58) BOILER
FIG6A:
59) REFLECTORS
60) REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
61 ) TIPS OF REFRACTIVE FACETS
62) CONVEX COLUMATOR FACETS
63) FRESNEL/FOCUSING LAYER
64) CORRECTION REFLECTOR
65) FOCAL ZONE
FIG 6B:
66) REFRACTIVE FACET WITH CONVEX TOP SURFACE
67) TIP OF REFRACTIVE FACET WITH MULTIPLE PROJECTIONS - - A SINGLE PROJECTION COULD ALSO SUFFICE.
68) CONVEX COLLIMATOR FACET
69) FRESNEL/FOCUSING LAYER WITH RAYS EXITING TOWARD FOCUS
FIG 7:
70) CONVEX SECONDARY LENS INTEGRATED
71 ) VACUUM CHAMBER
72) THIN METALLIC RECEPTOR OR HEAT ACCEPTING PV DEVICE (TPV)
73) HEAT ENGINE
74) HEAT DISSIPATING MECHANISM TO AMBIENT AIR
FIG 8A:
75) MAIN STIRLING CYLINDER WITH PISTON
76) THERMAL GRADIENT COLLAR
77) RECAPTURE STIRLING CYLINDER WITH PISTON
FIG 8B:
78) MAIN STIRLING CYLINDER WITH PISTON
79) WATER JACKET
80) STEAM ENGINE WHICH DISSIPATES HEAT FROM STIRLING ENGINE
FIG 9A:
81 , 82, 83) WDGE-SHAPED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE BLOW-UPS
84) NOTCH FOR REFRACTION OF EXTREMELY ANGULAR RAYS TOWARD FOCUS
FIG 9B:
85) CHEVRON OR CONCAVITY
86) MAIN REFRACTIVE FACET
87) ULTRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTIONS
FIG 9C AND 9C":
88) REPRESENTATIVE REFRACTIVE INDEX 1.7 HAS CRITICAL ANGLE OF 36 DEGREES WITH EXIT ANGLE 88 DEGREES (IN THEORY).
89, 90) REFLECTIVE CORRECTION OFF ADJACENT PROJECTION IS DEMONSTRATED
FIG 9D:
91 , 92) SURFACES WITH CURVED TAPERS
93) SURFACE WITH CURVED TAPER
94) STRAIGHT SURFACE WHICH COUL BE SILVERED
FIG 9F:
95) ULTRASRUCTURAL POLYGONAL SHAPES ON BOTTOM OF PROJECTION
FIG 9G:
96, 97) ULTRASTRUCTURAL POLYGONAL SHAPES WITH VARYING TAPERS ON BOπOM OF PROJECTION
FIG 10A:
98) REFLECTOR
99) DOME-SHAPED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
FIG 10B:
100) DOME-SHAPED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE WITH REPRESENTATIVE SPACE-OBLITERATING INPUTS.
101 ) CORRECTING REFLECTOR
102) FOCAL ZONE
FIGS 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F:
103, 104, 105, 106) VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVE INPUT SHAPES.
RADIAL WEDGE SHAPES WOULD ALSO BE FEASIBLE.
CONCENTRIC CIRCULAR WEDGE SHAPES WOULD BE TOO.
FIGS 10G AND 10G':
107) SOUTH FACING REFLECTOR (NORTHERN AREAS SUCH AS NEW YORK)
108) REPRESENTATIVE DOME-SHAPED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
109) SCHEMATIC PRISMATIC SURFACE (CIRCULAR)
1 10) HYBRID RECEPTOR
1 1 1 ) LIGHT EXITING PRISM
FIG 10H:
1 12) INJECTION MOLD
1 13) FINE PROJECTIONS WHICH MUST BE PULLED STRAIGHT FROM MOLD
1 14) VACUFORM STEP WITH
1 1 ) COOLING OF TIPS OF FINE PROJECTIONS
1 16) RESULTINGIN DOME-SHAPED POINT FOCUS
1 17) SECPNDARY REFLECTORS LEADING TO FOCUS
FIG 1 1 :
1 18) REPRESENTATIVE REFRACTIVE FACET
1 19) REFLECTIVE COLLIMATION (WHICH COULD BE FOLLOWED BY A FOCUSING FRESNEL SURFACE)
FIG 12:
120, 122) TWO-SIDED REFLECTOR
121 ) REPRESENTATIVE FOCUS
FIG 13:
122) WATER FROM CITY
123) FLOAT SENSOR 124, 125) FANS
126) WARM COILS IN LONG, NARROW ENCLOSURE
127) COLD COILS
128) COMPRESSOR
129) CONTROLS, PLUMBING AND WIRING
130) VALVE FOR COOLING WATER OVER WARM SIDE COILS/FIN TUBES
FIG 14:
131) ELECTRICAL INPUT
132) ELECTRICAL STORAGE
133) WATER TANK FOR ELECTROLYTIC GAS PRODUCTION
134) CONDUIT
135) FOSSIL FUEL OR NATURAL GAS TANK
136) COMBUSTION ENGINE
137) SWITCH
138, 139) FUEL DISTRIBUTOR PEDAL AND ELECTROLYTIC GAS DISTRIBUTOR PEDAL
140) MAIN PEDAL
FIG 15:
141 ) REPRESENTATIVE REFRACTIVE FACET
142) CONVEX TOP SURFACE
143) SEMICONDUCTOR
SPECIFIC OPERATIVE DESCRIPTIONS:
IN FIGURE 1 A, REFLECTORS 1 AND 3 FEED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE 2 WHICH GUIDES
LIGHT TOWARD FOCUS 5, SAID LIGHT BEING CORRECTED BY REFLECTOR 4.
REFLECTORS 1 AND 3 MAY BE STRAIGHT OR CURVED AND SHOULD BE COVERED
WITH A THIN LAYER OF CLEAR REFRACTIVE MATERIAL SO THAT THE UV LOAD IS
DISTRIBUTED EVENLY OVER THE CONCENTRATOR. THE RADIUS OF CURVATURE,
REFRACTIVE INDEX AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE BOTTOM SURFACE MAY VARY
ACCORDING TO A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT, ALTHOUGH THE PROJECTIONS FROM
THE BOTTOM SURFACE GENERALLY TAPER (AND ARE LONG/THIN) AND ARE OF
APPROPRIATELY HIGH INDEX. THE TAPERS MAY BE UNIFORM OR ASYMMETRIC AND
THE INDECIES OF REFRACTION MAY BE GRADED, THE HIGHER INDECIES GENERALLY
CLOSER TO THE TIPS. MICRO-POLYGONAL SHAPES MAY BE ADDED TO THE
PROJECTIONS TO FURTHER DIRECT THE LIGHT. THE PROJECTIONS MAY ALSO BE
FILLED WITH A HIGH INDEX SUBSTANCE, SUCH AS A CLEAR OIL. IN THE CASE
WHERE THE PROJECTIONS ARE WEDGE-SHAPED, ANGULAR BREAKS IN THE WEDGES
AT MEASURED INTERVALS MAY ALSO ACT TO REFRACT LIGHT TO THE FOCUS - -
ESPECIALLY AT THE SOLSTICES. THE CONCENTRATOR IN FIGURE 1 A DOES NOT
TRACK AND WOULD FACE SOUTH IF IN A NORTHERN AREA (SUCH AS NEW YORK).
FIGURE 1 B DEMONSRATES THAT LIGHT FROM DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY MAY
STRIKE THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE AT DIFFERENT ANGLES AND STILL BE REFRACTED
TOWARD THE FOCUS. FIGURE 1 C JUST SHOWS AGAIN HOW THE ARCHED
REFRACTIVE SURFACE TENDS TO FORM A LINE FOCUS AND FIGURE I D HAS
ENOUGH OF THE HOUSING REMOVED TO SHOW A REALISTIC REPRESENTATION
OF THE EXIT SPREADS LEAVING THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE AND HOW THESE
RAYS ARE ULTIMATELY COLLECTED. IN GENERAL, HIGHER INDECIES OF
REFRACTION IN THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTIONS ON THE BOTTOM OF
THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFACE WILL RESULT IN NARROWER EXIT SPREADS.
THE SYSTEM SHOWN, MAY HAVE THE ANGLES OF ITS AUGMENTATION
REFLECTORS CHANGED TO OPTIMIZE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REFRACTIVE
SURFACE AND MAY USE AUXILLARY EAST-WEST AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS
WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER. THE RECEPTOR MAY BE A PHOTOVOLTAIC
APPLIANCE (SEMICONDUCTOR, ETC.), PHOTOTHERMAL APPLIANCE SUCH AS A
BLACK PIPE OR SOME OTHER DEVICE, SUCH AS A LIGHT PIPE.
FIGURE 2A IS A CRACKED FRONT VIEW OF ANOTHER NON-TRACKING
CONCENTRATOR, WHICH WE CALL THE "CHIPMUNK UNIT." THE AUGMENTATION
REFLECTORS ARE NOT INCLUDED AND THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFACE IS
PARTIALLY TORN AWAY TO REVEAL SECONDARY REFLECTOR 19 AND FOCUS 20.
ALL OF THE SAME POTENTIAL VARIATIONS APPLY TO FIGURE 2A AS TO FIGURE 1 A
EXCEPT THAT THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFACE IS FLAT, WITH PROJECTIONS THAT
LEAVE THE BOTTOM SURFACE AT VARYING ANGLES POINTING TOWARD THE
FOCUS. FIGURE 2B IS A SIDE ELEVATION WITH ALL REFLECTORS REMOVED WHERE
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REFRACTIVE SURFACE 21 AND RECEPTOR 22 IS
OBVIOUS. FIGURE 2C SHOWS PROJECTIONS 23, 24 AND 25 LEAVING THE BOTTOM
SURFACE AT REPRESENTATIVE VARYING ANGLES. THE PROJECTIONS MAY INCLUDE
ALL THE VARIATIONS DESCRIBED FOR FIGURE 1 A. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE SHOWN
HERE AS WHAT APPEAR TO BE TWO DIMENSIONAL WEDGES, IN THREE DIMENSIONS
THEY MAY TAPER TO POINTS, SIMILAR TO LONG CONES. THE INPUT SIDES OF SAID
"CONES" MAY BE HEXAGONAL, SQUARE, TRIANGULAR (SPACE OBLITERATING) OR
PLAIN CIRCLES. IN ALL INSTANCES, A SUPPORTING LAYER IS NEEDED ABOVE THE
PROJECTIONS TO HOLD THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE TOGETHER. AS FOR FIGURE
1 A, THE CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS FOR FIGURE 2A MAY BE STRAIGHT OR CURVED
AND CAN BE ADJUSTED FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE ACCORDING TO THE RAYS
RECEIVED FROM THE MAIN REFRACTIVE INTERFACE.
FIGURE 3A SHOWS REFLECTOR 26 FEEDING REFRACTIVE INTERFACE 27 WHICH
CONCENTRATES LIGHT ON PRISMATIC BEAM SPUTTER 28. FIGURE 3B SHOWS AN
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT WHERE REFLECTORS 31 , 32, 33 AND A HIDDEN
REFLECTOR COVER ALL FOUR SIDES OF AN ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE.
AGAIN, THE LIGHT IS FOCUSED ON A PRISMATIC BEAM SPLITTER WHICH SEPARATES
RED-RICH FROM BLUE-RICH LIGHT AND FURTHER CONCENTRATES. CORRECTIONAL
REFLECTORS ARE NOT SHOWN. FIGURE 3C SHOWS A TRACKING COLLECTOR
SIMILAR TO FIGURE 3B WHICH FOCUSES ON A SECONDARY OPTICS PIECE (35)
CONSISTING OF CLEAR REFRACTIVE SLATS SEPARATED BY VIRTUAL AIR SPACES.
I.E. THE LIGHT IS FURTHER CONCENTRATED USING T.I.R., BUT THE BEAMS ARE
NOT SPLIT. THE CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS AGAIN ARE NOT SHOWN. THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DESIGN IS THAT IT USES A MINIMUM OF REFRACTIVE
RAW MATERIAL TO FORM A POINT FOCUS (36) FROM A LARGE INTAKE AREA.
ALL OF THE AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS IN 3A, 3B AND 3C CAN BE STRAIGHT
OR CURVED, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT.
FIGURE 4A SHOWS A SIMPLE PRISMATIC BEAM SPLITTER WITH CORRECTION
REFLECTORS. THE ADVANTAGE OF BEAM SPLITTING IS THAT CERTAIN
SEMICONDUCTORS HAVE EFFICIENCIES THAT PEAK AT VARIOUS WAVELENGTHS.
SILICON, FOR INSTANCE, PEAKS IN THE BLUE/GREEN RANGE WHILE GERMANIUM
PEAKS CLOSER TO RED. FIGURE 4B SHOWS THE PRISMATIC SURFACE ARCHED TO
FURTHER CONCENTRATE AS IT SPLITS AND 4C SHOWS THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF
THAT ARCH. THE LINES MAY BE T.I.R. PROJECTIONS OR FRESNEL LENS LINES (42).
FIGURE 5A SHOWS REFLECTORS (43) FEEDING A PRIMARY REFRACTIVE
INTERFACE 44 TO FORM A POINT FOCUS. THE REFLECTORS MAY BE STRAIGHT
OR CURVED AND MAY HAVE THEIR ANGLES ADJUSTED WITH RESPECT TO THE
REFRACTIVE INTERFACE FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE. FOR ELECTRICAL
PRODUCTION, THIS SYSTEM MAY TRACK CRUDELY. FIGURE 5B SHOWS AN
EXPLODED VIEW OF POINT FOCUS FORMATION WHERE THE REFRACTIVE
INTERFACES ARE ARCHED. LIGHT IS HARNESSED BY THE REFLECTORS AND FED TO
THE FIRST REFRACTIVE INTERFACE(46). THE SECOND REFRACTIVE INTERFACE (47) IS
ROTATED 90 DEGREES TO FORM THE FOCUS. ALL THE VARIATIONS APPLYING TO
THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACE IN 1 A ALSO APPLY HERE. FIGURE 5C SHOWS THE
ANALOGOUS SITUATION WITH FLAT REFRACTIVE INTERFACES 50 AND 51 ROTATED
90 DEGREES TO FORM THE FOCUS (52). ALL THE SAME VARIATIONS APPLYING TO
FLAT REFRACTIVE INTERFACES APPLY HERE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE PROJECTIONS
MUST VARY (POINTING TOWARD THE FOCUS) AND TAPER, SIMILAR TO WEDGES.
AGAIN, A THIN LAYER OF REFRACTIVE SUBSTANCE COATING THE REFLECTORS
TENDS TO SPREAD THE UV LOAD. FIGURE 5D SHOWS AN ALTERNATIVE
EMBODIMENT WITH THE REFLECTORS REMOVED FOR PASSIVE LIGHTING. STRAIGHT
OR ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACES COULD BE USED. CORRECTIVE REFLECTORS
(53) FEED A LIGHT PIPE (54). FIGURE 5E SHOWS AN EMBODIMENT FOR WATER
HEATING WITH ONE AUGMENTATION REFLECTOR. LIGHT PIPES (56) LEAD DIRECTLY
TO THE HOLDING/PRE-HEATING TANK [57) SO THAT THERE ARE NO MOVING PARTS
AT ALL. THE AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS MAY BE STRAIGHT OR CURVED AS MAY
THE REFRACTIVE INTERFACES (DEPENDING ON THE BOTTOM PROJECTIONS). EAST-
WEST AUGMENTATION SYSTEMS, SUCH AS THOSE THAT WILL BE DESCRIBED LATER,
MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED FOR LARGER COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS.
FIGURE 6A SHOWS AN ALTERNATIVE POINT FOCUS DESIGN. LIGHT FROM
REFLECTORS (59) ENTER REFRACTIVE CONICAL SHAPES (60/61 ) FROM WHICH
A CONE OF LIGHT EXITS AND IS COLLIMATED BY A CONVEX SURFACE (62) AND
FOCUSED BY A LARGER FRESNEL LAYER (63). THE FRESNEL LAYER IS ONE PIECE
WITH THE GRID OF CONVEX COLLIMATORS. THE TIPS OF THE REFRACTIVE
CONICAL SHAPES MAY BE SINGLE POINTS, OR MULTIPLE PROJECTIONS, AS IN
FIGURE 6B. THE REFLECTORS MAY LIKEWISE BE CIRCULAR, RECTANGULAR OR
HEXAGONAL AND MAY TAPER TOWARD THE REFRACTIVE SURFACE IN A STRAIGHT
OR CURVED FASHION. FIGURE 6B IS A BLOW-UP OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE REFRACTIVE CONES AND THE COLLIMATING/FRESNEL SURFACE. INDEX 1.8 IS
ONLY CHOSEN FOR THE EXAMPLE. THE KEY FEATURE OF THE REFRACTIVE INDEX IS
ONLY THAT IT IS "HIGH." THE TOP PART OF REFRACTIVE CONICAL SHAPES MAY BE
CONVEX, SO AS TO TEND TO GUIDE LIGHT TO THE POINT FROM WHERE IT
DIVERGES TO HIT THE CONVEX COLLIMATION LAYER (68) AND THEN THE FRESNEL
LAYER (69).
FIGURE 7 SHOWS A VACUUM RECEPTOR FOR A POINT FOCUS. CONVEX
REFRACTIVE LAYER 70 MAY FEED VACUUM CHAMBER 71 WITH RAYS ULTIMATELY
CONVERGING ON A THIN BLACK METAL PIECE 72. A THERMAL GRADIENT MAY
THEN GUIDE THE HEAT TO A STIRLING OR OTHER HEAT ENGINE 73, SAID HEAT
EVENTUALLY DISSIPATED TO THE AMBIENT AIR 74.
FIGURE 8A SHOWS A STIRLING ENGINE INTENDED TO BE AT THE POINT FOCUS
OF A BIG SYSTEM. MAIN CYLINDER 75 IS ATTACHED TO A THERMAL GRADIENT
JACKET 76 WHICH FEEDS THE WASTE HEAT TO A SECOND ENGINE 77. THUS DELTA
T OF THE FIRST CYLINDER (AND ITS EFFICIENCY) IS ALSO INCREASED. THE THERMAL
GRADIENT JACKET MAY BE OPTIMIZED VIA INFRARED STUDIES TO TRANSFER HEAT
WITH MAXIMAL BENEFIT. A THIRD STIRLING ENGINE MAY BE ATTACHED TO THE
SECOND IN A SIMILAR MANNER OR A MULTIPLICITY OF ENGINES MAY BE
ATTACHED TO THE MAIN CYLINDER OF THE MAIN ENGINE. OTHER "STICK"
ENGINES, "V" SHAPED AND "SIDE BY SIDE" CYLINDER DESIGNS CAN USE
THIS SAME HEAT RECAPTURE PRINCIPLE RATHER THAN A WATER JACKET TO
INCREASE DELTA T AND DISSIPATE HEAT. THERE ARE LOW DELTA T STIRLING
ENGINES WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY WELL-SUITED FOR THIS.
FIGURE 8B SHOWS A STIRING ENGINE MAIN CYLINDER 78 WHICH FEEDS A
WATER JACKET THAT CONNECTS TO A STEAM ENGINE (THE WATER FROM THE
WATER JACKET ULTIMATELY PROVIDING VAPOR PRESSURE). AGAIN, THE HEAT
GRADIENT MAY BE OPTIMIZED USING INFRARED STUDIES. THE IDEAL POSITION
OF THE WATER JACKET AND RELATIVE SIZING OF THE ENGINES CAN ALSO BE
OPTIMIZED.
FIGURE 9A SHOWS A BLOW-UP OF THE MAIN ARCHED REFRACTIVE INTERFACE
FROM FIGURE I A (WITH PROJECTIONS 81 , 82 AND 83). OBVIOUSLY, THE WEDGES
CANNOT SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND SO NEED A CONTINUOUS CLEAR LAYER
ABOVE THEM. THEY MAY BE FILLED WITH A HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX OIL, HAVE
A HIGHER REFRACTIVE INDEX NEAR THE TIP OR USE MICRO-POLYGONAL SHAPES
TO REDIRECT THE LIGHT TOWARD THE FOCUS. NOTCH 84 TENDS TO REFRACT RAYS
TOWARD THE FOCUS THAT COME IN AT SHALLOW ANGLES (AROUND THE
SOLSTICES). FIGURE 9C AND 9C" SHOW REPRESENTATIVE RAY TRACINGS FOR
A REFRACTIVE INDEX OF 1.7. AGAIN, WE ARE NOT SPECIFYING THAT AS THE
INDEX OF CHOICE, THE ONLY ABSOLUTE BEING THAT THE INDEX IS "HIGH."
ALTHOUGH THE CRITICAL ANGLE OF 36 DEGREES YIELDS AN EXIT ANGLE OF
88 DEGREES IN THEORY, IN PRACTICE A "SPRAY" OF LIGHT EMERGES. FIGURE 9B
SHOWS A "STAGED CHEVRONED" WEDGE. CHEVRON 85 TENDS TO LATERAUZE
THE INCIDENT LIGHT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INTERNAL REFLECTIONS.
MICRO-WEDGES 87 THEN TAKE THE LIGHT THROUGH T.I.R. AND TOWARD THE
FOCUS. FIGURE 9C" DEMONSTRATES THAT MUCH OF THAT "SPRAY" TENDS TO
AUTO-CORRECT BY GLANCING OFF AN ADJACENT STRATA 90 (WEDGE/LAYER).
THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FED INTO A COMPUTER FOR DESIGN OPTIMAUZATION.
CLEARLY, LIGHT WHICH EXITS THE TIP WITH A WIDE "SPRAY" IS THE MOST
TROUBLESOME AND THAT SPRAY MAY BE NARROWED WITH HIGHER INDECIES,
MICRO-POLYGONAL SHAPES AND VARIED TAPERS. FIGURES 9D AND 9E SHOW
ALTERNATIVE TAPERS. SINGLE SIDES, SUCH AS SIDE 94, CAN BE SILVERED - - THUS
FORCING THE LIGHT TO EXIT FROM A DESIRED TAPER IN A KNOWN DIRECTION.
FIGURE 9F SHOWS MICRO-SCORING OF THE BOTTOM OF PROJECTION 95.
FIGURE 9G SHOWS VARYING MICRO-TIP TAPERS 96 AND 97.
FIGURE 10A SHOWS A SCHEMATIC OF A REFLECTIVELY AUGMENTED ONE-LAYER
POINT FOCUS DESIGN. THE FRONT OF THE REFLECTIVE CONE 98 HAS BEEN
TORN AWAY TO REVEAL THE REFRACTIVE DOME 99. FIGURE 10B IS ANOTHER
ONE-LAYER SCHEMATIC WHERE THE REFRACTIVE DOME 100 IS SHOWN WITHOUT
AUGMENTATION REFLECTORS BUT FEEDING SECONDARY REFLECTORS 101
LEADING TO A FOCUS 102. FIGURES I OC, D, E AND F SHOW POSSIBLE SHAPES OF
THE INPUTS OF THE PROJECTIONS. THE PROJECTIONS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE
REFRACTIVE INTERFACE ARE OF HIGH INDEX AND POINT TOWARD THE FOCUS.
THEIR EXACT GEOMETRY IS INDEX-DEPENDENT AND ALL THAT CAN BE SAID AT THIS
TIME IS THAT THEY ARE LONG, THIN AND TAPERED. FIGURE 10G AND 10G' SHOW
A REFLECTIVELY AUGMENTED DOME SHAPED POINT FOCUS DESIGN (ONE LAYER).
THE LIGHT IS SPLIT BY A POINT FOCUS PRISMATIC DEVICE INTO A RED INNER ZONE
AND A BLUE OUTER ZONE. HYBRID RECEPTOR 1 10 HAS DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SEMICONDUCTORS AT THE CENTER AND PERIPHERY, ACCORDING TO THEIR
WAVELENGTH PREFERENCES. FIGURE 10H SHOWS A SCHEMATIC FLOW CHART
WHICH SOLVES THE PROBLEM OF GETTING LONG THIN PROJECTIONS OUT OF THE
MOLD AND THEN POINTING THEM TOWARD THE FOCUS. A VACUFORM STEP 1 14
IS ADDED AFTER THE INJECTION MOLDING STEP WITH A COOL FLUID PROTECTING
THE FINE PROJECTION TIPS. THE RESULT IS A ONE LAYER DOME THAT FORMS A
POINT FOCUS (ZONE) AFER SECONDARY REFLECTORS 1 17.
FIGURE 1 1 SHOWS HOW A REFLECTIVE SURFACE 1 19 CAN COLLIMATE DIVERGENT
FROM A REFRACTIVE INPUT FACET 1 18. THE SPECIFIC SHAPES OF THE REFLECTIVE
AND REFRACTIVE FACETS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE REPRESENTED BY THE
DRAWING. SUCH A DEVICE MIGHT BE USED TO CONCENTRATE LIGHT OR AS A
PASSIVE SKYLIGHT, PERHAPS FED BY CHEAP REFLECTORS.
FIGURE 12 SHOWS A TWO SIDED REFLECTOR (120 IN A.M./122 IN P.M.) WHICH
AUGMENTS A RECEPTOR 121. THE REFLECTORS COULD MOVE ONCE PER DAY
SUCH AS AT NOON BASED ON A SEMICONDUCTOR EMERGING FROM A SHADOW,
OR ON DEMAND, SUCH AS TO AUGMENT THE TAIL OF A SOLAR ELECTRIC BOAT.
FIGURE 13 SHOWS AN EXTREMELY EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WHICH
MIGHT WELL BE PAIRED WITH A SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM. COLD WATER IS PIPED
TO A HOLDING TANK WHICH IS REGULATED BY A FLOAT SENSOR. WHEN THE
THERMOSTAT TRIPS THE COMPRESSOR 128, VALVE 130 OPENS AND DRIPS WATER
ONTO THE WARM SIDE OF THE COMPRESSION CIRCUIT. A LONG, THIN COIL
SYSTEM FROM THE WARM SIDE EXTENDS DOWN A TUBE INTO WHICH HIGH SPEED
TURBULENT AIR IS PUMPED VIA FAN 124. THE LONG, THIN COIL SYSTEM 126 CAN BE
A STANDARD COPPER/ALUMINUM FIN TUBE BUT MUST BE PROTECTED FROM
CORROSION. A SEPARATE FAN 125 BLOWS COOL AIR INTO THE BUILDING.
THE AMOUNT OF WATER USED AND ENERGY TO "SWAMP COOL" THE WARM SIDE
OF THE COMPRESSION CIRCUIT ALONE SHOULD BE MUCH LESS THAN IN OTHER
EVAPORATIVE COOLERS WHICH DUNK FIN TUBES INTO WATER, ETC. ETC.
IN ADDITION, IT SHOULD BE SYNERGISTICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS TO USE HEAT
OF VAPORIZATION SOMEWHERE THAT IT IS WARM ALREADY. THE DESIGN SHOWN
IS FOR BIG SYSTEMS, BUT SMALLER INDOOR MODELS COULD BE SIMILARLY
PRODUCED WITH DUCTS TO BLOW OFF THE MOIST HEAT, SUCH AS THROUGH A
WINDOW.
FIGURE 14 SHOWS A SYSTEM BY WHICH ELECTROLYTIC HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN
CAN BE FED INTO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, EITHER ABOVE THE
INTAKE VALVES OR DIRECTLY INTO THE CYLINDERS. ELECTRICITY, EITHER FROM
SOLAR ENERGY OR BRAKING REGENERATORS IS STORED - - SUCH AS VIA
BATTERIES OR CAPACITORS (132). WHEN THE PEDAL 140 IS DEPRESSED TO RELEASE
FUEL TO THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, A SWITCH IS ALSO ACTIVATED THAT
RELEASES ELECTRICITY (CATHODE/ANODE) INTO WATER CHAMBER 130.
ELECTROLYTIC GASES ARE THUS PRODUCED AND PIPED INTO THE INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINE, BURNING CLEANLY AND INCREASING ITS EFFICIENCY.
BECAUSE THE ENERGY TO MAKE THE ELECTROLYTIC GASES IS STORED AS
ELECTRICITY, THERE IS NO STORAGE TANK FOR HYDROGEN/OXYGEN THAT
COULD EXPLODE. AND THE RELEASE OF THE GASES IS AUTOMATICALY TIMED
TO COINCIDE WITH ACCELERATION. SUCH A SYSTEM COULD BE RETROFITTED
ONTO EXISTING VEHICLES. IT MIGHT ALSO BE USED TO AUGMENT A
CONVENTIONAL BOILER FOR A HOME OR EVEN A WOOD STOVE. A FUEL CELL
FED WITH THESE ELECTROLYTIC GASES WOULD HAVE ITS EFFICIENCY SKYROCKET.
FIGURE 15 SHOWS A "GRID" STYLE SOLAR CONCENTRATOR WHERE A HIGH INDEX
SUBSTANCE BRINGS LIGHT TO A SHORT FOCUS. HEXAGONAL INPUTS ARE SHOWN,
ALTHOUGH OTHER SHAPES SUCH AS SQUARES AND CIRCLES CAN BE USED. THE
TOP SURFACE SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY CONVEX ( 142) SO AS TO GUIDE LIGHT TO THE
FOCUS, WHERE TINY SEMICONDUCTORS ARE PLACED DIRECTLY (143). THESE
SEMICONDUCTORS MIGHT SIT ON A METAL GRID (THEIR BACK SIDE) AND HAVE
A THIN WIRE GRID ON THEIR TOP SURFACE. THE HIGH INDEX SUBSTANCE
COULD HAVE STRAIGHT OR CURVED TAPERS, SAID TAPERS BEING UNIFORM
OR ASYMMETRIC DEPENDING ON THE EMBODIMENT. THE OUTER WALLS OF
THE REFRACTIVE FACETS COULD ALSO BE SILVERED. SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD
HAVE A WIDE ENOUGH ANGLE OF ACCEPTANCE TO ACCEPT LIGHT FROM
CHEAP REFLECTORS. IN PRACTICE, CONCENTRATION RATIOS OF 9 SUNS HAVE
BEEN REACHED. IN THEORY, SLIGHTLY HIGHER CONCENTRATION RATIOS ARE
POSSIBLE, BUT ONLY AT VERY HIGH INDECIES OF REFRACTION AND WITH THE
ANGLE OF ACCEPTANCE COMPROMISED.
Claims
1. A .solar collector comprising a set of convergent tapering projections of a high refractive index bounded by a wall and extending along an axis into a region of lower refractive index, each convergent tapering projection comprising a main refractive interface disposed intersecting the axis and being adapted for wide angle reception of solar radiation into a respective convergent tapering projection, each convergent tapering projeeiiυn being adapted to totally internally reflect at least a portion υf the solar radiation received through the main refractive interface, and allowing at least a portion υf the internally reflected solar radiation to exit Lhrough Lhe wall from the convergent tapering projection inlo the region of lower refractive index.
2. The solar collector according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the solar radiation received through the main refractive interface over a range of aperture angles with respect to the axis is generally directed toward a focus along the axis.
3. The solar collector according 10 any of claims 1 and 2, wherein each convergent tapering projection is configured such that at a wide angle of solar radiation incidence, a portion of solar radiation received Lhrough the main refractive interface undergoes at least two successive internal reflections, each successive reflection having a monotonically increasing angle of incidence on the wall until a critical angle is reached, whereupon the solar radiation exits the convergent tapering projection through the wall al a smaller angle with respect to the axis than the wide angle of incidence.
4. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein incident solar radiation varies in angle with respect to the axis over a range during the course of a day, and on average over the course of a day, an average exit spread of solar radiation exiting through the wall of the convergent tapering projection is smaller than the range of incident angles υf solar radiation.
5. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the projections are optimized so that solar radiation incident on the main refractive interface generally parallel to the axis exits through the wall of the convergent tapering portions with minimal deviation and solar radiation not generally parallel to the axis exits through the wall of rhe projections after a minimum number of internal reflections at or near a critical angle according to Snell's law.
6. The solar collector according to any of claim 1 to 5, wherein the main refractive interfaces of the projections are disposed along a convex surface.
7. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main refractive interfaces of the projections are disposed in a planar configuration, and at least two of the set of projections direct solar radiation toward a common focus.
8. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein a surface of a respective main refractive interface receiving external solar radiation is convex.
9. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an augmentation reflector adapted and situated to reflect solar radiation not directly incident on the main refractive interface onto the main refractive interface.
10. The solar collector according to claim 9, wherein the augmentation refleclor comprises a nonplanar reflection surface.
11. The solar collector according to any of claims 9 and 10, wherein lhe augmentation refleclor is selectively situated with respect to the main refractive interface in dependence on a latitude.
12. The solar collector according to any of claims 9 to 1 1, wherein the augmentation reflector is optimized for maximum net dawn to dusk output of solar energy around a focus of the projections.
13. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a secondary refleclor disposed in a path υf a portion of solar radiation passing through the wall of a respective convergent tapering projection, reflecting the portion of solar radiation toward a focus.
14. The solar collector according to claim 13, wherein the secondary reflector reflects the portion of solar radiation to increase a solar radiation concentration at the focus.
15. The solar collector according to any of claims 13 and 14, wherein the secondary reflector has a refractive or diffractive surface property.
16. The solar collector accυrding to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the wall of a respective convergent tapering projection has a nonlinear taper.
17. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein a respective convergent tapering projection has a sharp tip.
18. The solar collector according to any of claims I to 16, wherein a respective convergent tapering projection resembles a prism which tapers to a sharp edge.
19. The solar collector according tυ any of claims 1 to 16, wherein a respective convergent. tapering projection has a tip comprising a pattern of ulirastructural elements adapted to resist light trapping.
20. The solar collector according to any of claims I to 19, wherein the region of lower refractive index comprises an air space.
21. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 lυ 20, wherein the high refractive index is greater than about 1.5.
22. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the high refractive index is greater than about 1.7,
23. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the projections comprise a high refractive index which spatially varies.
24. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 23, wherein the projections comprise a refractive material having a graded index of refraction increasing with increasing distance from the main refractive interface.
25. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 24, wherein the main refractive interfaces of the set of projections are disposed in a regular patteπi of polygons or circles forming a surface.
26. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 25, wherein the main refractive interfaces of the set of projections arc disposed as a set υf closely packed tiled segments forming a surface.
27. The solar collector according lυ any of claims 1 to 26, wherein the set of projections comprise a liquid having a high index of refraction.
28. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 27, further comprising means for tracking a solar movement.
29. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 28, further comprising a secondary refractive interface disposed in a path of the solar radiation passing through the wall, for concentrating the solar radiation.
30. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 29. further comprising a second set of second convergent lapering projections of a high refractive index bounded by a second wall and extending along a second axis into a region of lower refractive index, each second convergent tapering projection comprising a secondary refractive interface disposed intersecting the second axis and being adapted for wide angle reception of solar radiation into a respective second convergent tapering projection, each second convergent tapering projection being adapted to totally internally reflect at least a portion of the solar radiation received through the secondary refractive interface, and allowing at least a portion of the internally reflected solar radiation to exit through the second wall from the second convergent tapering projection into the region of lower refractive index, wherein the set of convergent tapering projections and second set of convergent tapering projections are each unisυlropic. and wherein the respective aπisotropic axes of the set of convergent tapering projections and second set of convergent tapering projections are crossed.
31. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 30, further comprising a photorcccptor selected from the group consisting of a photovoltaic transducer, a photolhermal transducer, a thermomechanical transducer, a light pipe and a photolytic gas conversion system.
32. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 31 , wherein the set of projections have a plurality of foci, further comprising a separate solar receptor at each foci disposed in a sparse array.
33. The solar collector according to any of claims 30 and 31 , wherein the photoreceptor comprises a photohydrolytic generator for converting solar radiation into hydrolytic gasscs.
34. The solar collector according to any of claims 30 and 31. wherein the solar receptor comprises a Stirling cycle engine having a steam jacket feeding a steam turbine to dissipate waste heat from the Stirling cycle engine.
35. The solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 29, further comprising a conical reflector, having an inner reflective surface disposed in a path of solar radiation exiting the set of projections, and an outer reflective surface disposed in a path of an artificial illumination source.
36. A method of forming the set of projections of the solar collector according to any υf claims 1 to 35, comprising the steps of molding the set of projections as a planar sheet and vacuum forming the planar sheet to provide at least one non-planar portion thereof.
37. A method for using the solar collector according to any of claims 1 to 29, comprising the steps of:
(a) illuminating the set of convergent tapering projections with solar radiation:
(b) reflecting at least a portion of the solar radiation internally to the convergent tapering projections at. a refractive interface: and
(c) allowing at least a portion of the internally reflected solar radiation to exit through the wall.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/015385 WO2000007055A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Solar energy systems and related hardware |
AU85873/98A AU8587398A (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Solar energy systems and related hardware |
US09/771,807 US6700054B2 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 2001-01-29 | Solar collector for solar energy systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/015385 WO2000007055A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Solar energy systems and related hardware |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000007055A1 true WO2000007055A1 (en) | 2000-02-10 |
Family
ID=22267544
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/015385 WO2000007055A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Solar energy systems and related hardware |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU8587398A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000007055A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6604436B1 (en) * | 1998-01-13 | 2003-08-12 | Midwest Research Institute | Ultra-accelerated natural sunlight exposure testing facilities |
US6700054B2 (en) * | 1998-07-27 | 2004-03-02 | Sunbear Technologies, Llc | Solar collector for solar energy systems |
WO2005057092A1 (en) * | 2003-12-11 | 2005-06-23 | World Energy Solutions Pty Ltd | Solar energy collection system |
ITRM20110181A1 (en) * | 2011-04-11 | 2012-10-12 | Deltae Srl | METHOD OF SIZING A SOLAR GENERATOR DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO SOLAR RADIATION AND SOLAR GENERATOR OBTAINED |
WO2013134576A1 (en) * | 2012-03-09 | 2013-09-12 | Perryman Virgil Dewitt Jr | Solar energy collection and storage |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4249516A (en) * | 1979-01-24 | 1981-02-10 | North American Utility Construction Corp. | Solar energy collection |
US5255666A (en) * | 1988-10-13 | 1993-10-26 | Curchod Donald B | Solar electric conversion unit and system |
US5577492A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1996-11-26 | Tir Technologies, Inc. | Collimating TIR lens with focusing filter lens |
-
1998
- 1998-07-27 AU AU85873/98A patent/AU8587398A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-07-27 WO PCT/US1998/015385 patent/WO2000007055A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4249516A (en) * | 1979-01-24 | 1981-02-10 | North American Utility Construction Corp. | Solar energy collection |
US5255666A (en) * | 1988-10-13 | 1993-10-26 | Curchod Donald B | Solar electric conversion unit and system |
US5577492A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1996-11-26 | Tir Technologies, Inc. | Collimating TIR lens with focusing filter lens |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6604436B1 (en) * | 1998-01-13 | 2003-08-12 | Midwest Research Institute | Ultra-accelerated natural sunlight exposure testing facilities |
US6700054B2 (en) * | 1998-07-27 | 2004-03-02 | Sunbear Technologies, Llc | Solar collector for solar energy systems |
WO2005057092A1 (en) * | 2003-12-11 | 2005-06-23 | World Energy Solutions Pty Ltd | Solar energy collection system |
ITRM20110181A1 (en) * | 2011-04-11 | 2012-10-12 | Deltae Srl | METHOD OF SIZING A SOLAR GENERATOR DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO SOLAR RADIATION AND SOLAR GENERATOR OBTAINED |
WO2012140575A3 (en) * | 2011-04-11 | 2012-12-27 | Deltae S.R.L. | Method for dimensioning a solar generation system, and the solar generation system obtained |
WO2013134576A1 (en) * | 2012-03-09 | 2013-09-12 | Perryman Virgil Dewitt Jr | Solar energy collection and storage |
US10119728B2 (en) | 2012-03-09 | 2018-11-06 | Virgil Dewitt Perryman, Jr. | Solar energy collection and storage |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU8587398A (en) | 2000-02-21 |
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