WO2005116534A2 - Solar energy generator, as well as system and process for its control - Google Patents

Solar energy generator, as well as system and process for its control Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005116534A2
WO2005116534A2 PCT/IT2005/000290 IT2005000290W WO2005116534A2 WO 2005116534 A2 WO2005116534 A2 WO 2005116534A2 IT 2005000290 W IT2005000290 W IT 2005000290W WO 2005116534 A2 WO2005116534 A2 WO 2005116534A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
motor
concave mirrors
control unit
sun
generator
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2005/000290
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2005116534A3 (en
Inventor
Reginald Ian Williams
Original Assignee
Reginald Ian Williams
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 Reginald Ian Williams filed Critical Reginald Ian Williams
Publication of WO2005116534A2 publication Critical patent/WO2005116534A2/en
Publication of WO2005116534A3 publication Critical patent/WO2005116534A3/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/78—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
    • G01S3/782—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/785—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system
    • G01S3/786—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
    • G01S3/7861—Solar tracking systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/74—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
    • F24S30/45—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with two rotation axes
    • F24S30/452—Vertical primary axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S50/00—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
    • F24S50/20—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors for tracking
    • 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
    • F24S50/40—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors responsive to temperature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/054—Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
    • H01L31/0547—Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
    • H02S40/40—Thermal components
    • H02S40/44—Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time
    • 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
    • F24S2030/133—Transmissions in the form of flexible elements, e.g. belts, chains, ropes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
    • F24S25/10—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface
    • 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
    • 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
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y02E10/52—PV systems with concentrators
    • 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
    • Y02E10/60—Thermal-PV hybrids

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a solar energy generator, and in particular a generator which can be easily transported and installed for producing thermal and/or electric energy.
  • the present invention also relates to a system and a process which can be employed for controlling said generator.
  • Known solar energy generators with large sizes comprise a multiplicity of concave mirrors which are mounted in a rotating manner on a support structure for being rotated by an electric motor around a substantially horizontal axis for converging the solar rays toward a collector fixed in front of the concave mirrors.
  • these known generators are installed in a stable manner on the territory, so that they require complex and expensive installation and maintenance, they cannot be moved and have a relatively low efficiency with respect to the area occupied by the concave mirrors.
  • the generator according to the present invention can be easily transported and has low purchase and maintenance costs.
  • the concave mirrors are mounted on particular modular frames and/or are manufactured with flexible reflecting sheets, so as to reduce their weight for maldng their carriage easy and for reducing the energy required for their orientation toward the sun.
  • the generator according to the present invention can work automatically, so as to be employed also by an untrained user without relevant additional costs.
  • FIG. 1 shows a front view of said embodiment of the generator
  • figure 2 shows a side view of the generator of figure 1 ;
  • - figure 3 shows a top view of the generator of figure 1;
  • - figure 4 shows a perspective view of the generator of figure 1 ;
  • figure 5 shows a perspective view of a collector of the generator of figure 1 ;
  • figure 6 shows a cross-sectioned view of the collector of figure 5;
  • figure 7 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 6
  • the generator according to the present invention comprises in a known way one or more concave mirrors 1 which are mounted in a rotating manner on a support structure 2 for being rotated around a substantially horizontal axis by a first electric motor 3 in the direction of the arrow of figure 2, so as to change their zenithal angle.
  • the concave mirrors 1 can converge the solar rays toward one or more collectors 4 fixed by means of support members 5, for example section bars, in front of the concave mirrors 1 for being rotated by the first motor 3 together with these mirrors.
  • the support structure 2 of the concave mirrors 1 can be rotated aroimd a substantially vertical axis by a second electric motor 6 on a fixed base 7 in the direction of the arrow of figure 3 so as to change their azimuthal angle
  • the support structure 2 comprises a substantially cylindrical-shaped upright on which the first motor 3 and the relevant transmission system are fixed. Said upright can rotate in a corresponding seat 8 of base 7 by means of a further transmission system 9, for example with a toothed belt or a chain, connected with the second motor 6 fixed on base 7.
  • the latter comprises a plurality of feet, in particular three feet, which can be folded beside the support structure 2 for reducing the overall size during the carriage.
  • the concave mirrors 1 are preferably made up of flexible reflecting sheets which are fixed to a modular frame mechanically connected to the transmission system of the first motor 3 through at least one horizontal bar 10.
  • Each modular frame comprises two or more ribs 11 mutually connected by two or more crossbars 12. The rear edge of ribs 11 is convex so as to arch said reflecting sheets and obtain the concave mirrors 1.
  • the support members 5 of collectors 4 are fixed to the horizontal bar 10.
  • the present embodiment comprises two modular frames which are fixed onto the horizontal bar 10 with the support stracture 2 in the middle. The number and/or the size of the modular frames mounted on the support structure 2 may therefore change according to the required configurations.
  • collectors 4 comprise an elongated housing 13 having a substantially parallelepiped shape.
  • Wall 14 of the elongated housing 13 suitable for being tinned toward the concave mirrors 1 is transparent so as to let the solar rays pass into the same housing.
  • One or more delivery 15 and/or outlet 16 ducts, also having a substantially parallelepiped cross-section, are arranged side by side in the elongated housing 13 for circulating a cooling liquid or a liquid to be heated by means of solar energy.
  • An insulating material 17 can be arranged between the elongated housing 13 and ducts 15, 16, while one or more photovoltaic cells 18 can be arranged between the transparent wall 14 and ducts 15, 16, so as to be cooled by the liquid circulating therein.
  • the photovoltaic cells 18 output the electric energy by means of conductors 19 made of strip pairs of a conductive material which are arranged one on the other at the sides of cells 18 between the transparent wall 14 and ducts 15, 16 and are separated by a strip of an insulating material.
  • An insulating film 20 is arranged between cells 18 and ducts 15, 16, while a sealing strip 21 is arranged between conductors 19 and the insulating material 17.
  • ducts 15, 16 are connected to inlet fittings 22 and/or outlet fittings 23, respectively, which lead to one or both ends of the elongated housing 13 for connecting collectors 4 to external tubes for the cooling liquid or the liquid to be heated.
  • winch is connected to at least one digital memory DM, to at least on output interface OI for controlling motors 3 and/or 6, to one or more temperature sensors TS for measuring the temperature in collectors 4, to a clock CK for measuring time and/or date, to input means IM, for example a keyboard or an interface, and/or to one or more photocells PC suitable for detecting the position of the sun.
  • the control unit CU When the generator is turned on, the control unit CU requires the user to input through the input means DV1 the coordinates of the geographic position of the generator, which are stored in the digital memory DM, after which the control unit CU tries to detect the position of the sun through photocells PC. If the signal sent to photocells PC indicates that the generator is not oriented toward the sun, the control unit CU drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for orienting the concave mirrors 1 toward the position of the sun dete ⁇ nined by photocells PC.
  • the control unit CLT stores into the digital memory DM the current azimuthal and/or zenithal angles together with the current time and/or date output by clock CK. If instead photocells PC do not output any useful signal, for example because the sun is obscured, the control unit CU recalls from the digital memory DM the stored azimuthal and/or zenithal angles and the corresponding times and/or dates stored in the above described way and calculates by means of a first pointing algorithm, also of a known kind, the estimated position of the sun according to these stored angles, to the corresponding stored times and/or dates and to the current time and/or date output by clock CK, after which it drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for orienting the concave mirrors 1 toward this estimated position: If the digital memory DM does not comprise any data sufficient for calculating this estimated position, the control unit CU recalls from memory DM the coordinates stored at the beginning and calculates by means
  • the control unit CU drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for getting out of the sun and thus cooling collectors 4, after which it orients again th ⁇ concave mirrors 1 toward the sun when the temperature measured by sensors TS returns under said threshold value.
  • the coordinates stored in memory DM may also be obtained by the control unit CU by means of a calculation algoritlim according to the sun position data obtained from photocells PC and stored in the digital memory DM.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Position Or Direction (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Solar energy generator comprising one or more concave mirrors (1) which are mounted in a rotating manner on a support structure (2) for being rotated around a substantially horizontal axis by a first motor (3), so as to change their zenithal angle, wherein the concave mirrors (1) can converge the solar rays toward one or more collectors (4) fixed by means of support members (5) in front of the concave mirrors (1) for being rotated by the first motor (3) together with these mirrors (1), wherein the support structure (2) of the concave mirrors (1) can be rotated around a substantially vertical axis by a second motor (6) on a fixed base (7) so as to change their azimuthal angle. The present invention also relates to a system and a process which can be employed for controlling said generator.

Description

SOLAR ENERGY GENERATOR, AS WELL AS SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR ITS CONTROL
The present invention relates to a solar energy generator, and in particular a generator which can be easily transported and installed for producing thermal and/or electric energy. The present invention also relates to a system and a process which can be employed for controlling said generator. Known solar energy generators with large sizes comprise a multiplicity of concave mirrors which are mounted in a rotating manner on a support structure for being rotated by an electric motor around a substantially horizontal axis for converging the solar rays toward a collector fixed in front of the concave mirrors. However, these known generators are installed in a stable manner on the territory, so that they require complex and expensive installation and maintenance, they cannot be moved and have a relatively low efficiency with respect to the area occupied by the concave mirrors. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a generator free from said disadvantages. Said object is achieved with a control system, a control process and a generator, the main features of which are disclosed in claims 1, 4 and 9, respectively, while other features are discloses in the remaining claims. Thanks to its relatively simple and compact structure, the generator according to the present invention can be easily transported and has low purchase and maintenance costs. Furthermore, the concave mirrors are mounted on particular modular frames and/or are manufactured with flexible reflecting sheets, so as to reduce their weight for maldng their carriage easy and for reducing the energy required for their orientation toward the sun. Thanks to the particular control system and process, the generator according to the present invention can work automatically, so as to be employed also by an untrained user without relevant additional costs. Finally, thanks to the particular precision in the orientation toward the sun and to the particular structure of the collectors, the generator according to the present _ 9 .
invention has a high efficiency in the production of thermal and/or electric energy, when compared to the area occupied by the generator itself. Further advantages and features of the generator, the control system and process according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 shows a front view of said embodiment of the generator;
- figure 2 shows a side view of the generator of figure 1 ;
- figure 3 shows a top view of the generator of figure 1; - figure 4 shows a perspective view of the generator of figure 1 ;
- figure 5 shows a perspective view of a collector of the generator of figure 1 ;
- figure 6 shows a cross-sectioned view of the collector of figure 5;
- figure 7 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 6; and
- figure 8 shows a block scheme of the control system according to the present invention. Referring to figures 1 to 4, it is seen that the generator according to the present invention comprises in a known way one or more concave mirrors 1 which are mounted in a rotating manner on a support structure 2 for being rotated around a substantially horizontal axis by a first electric motor 3 in the direction of the arrow of figure 2, so as to change their zenithal angle. The concave mirrors 1 can converge the solar rays toward one or more collectors 4 fixed by means of support members 5, for example section bars, in front of the concave mirrors 1 for being rotated by the first motor 3 together with these mirrors. According to the invention, the support structure 2 of the concave mirrors 1 can be rotated aroimd a substantially vertical axis by a second electric motor 6 on a fixed base 7 in the direction of the arrow of figure 3 so as to change their azimuthal angle, hi particular, the support structure 2 comprises a substantially cylindrical-shaped upright on which the first motor 3 and the relevant transmission system are fixed. Said upright can rotate in a corresponding seat 8 of base 7 by means of a further transmission system 9, for example with a toothed belt or a chain, connected with the second motor 6 fixed on base 7. The latter comprises a plurality of feet, in particular three feet, which can be folded beside the support structure 2 for reducing the overall size during the carriage. The concave mirrors 1 are preferably made up of flexible reflecting sheets which are fixed to a modular frame mechanically connected to the transmission system of the first motor 3 through at least one horizontal bar 10. Each modular frame comprises two or more ribs 11 mutually connected by two or more crossbars 12. The rear edge of ribs 11 is convex so as to arch said reflecting sheets and obtain the concave mirrors 1. The support members 5 of collectors 4 are fixed to the horizontal bar 10. The present embodiment comprises two modular frames which are fixed onto the horizontal bar 10 with the support stracture 2 in the middle. The number and/or the size of the modular frames mounted on the support structure 2 may therefore change according to the required configurations. Referring to figures 5 to 7, it is seen that collectors 4 comprise an elongated housing 13 having a substantially parallelepiped shape. Wall 14 of the elongated housing 13 suitable for being tinned toward the concave mirrors 1 is transparent so as to let the solar rays pass into the same housing. One or more delivery 15 and/or outlet 16 ducts, also having a substantially parallelepiped cross-section, are arranged side by side in the elongated housing 13 for circulating a cooling liquid or a liquid to be heated by means of solar energy. An insulating material 17 can be arranged between the elongated housing 13 and ducts 15, 16, while one or more photovoltaic cells 18 can be arranged between the transparent wall 14 and ducts 15, 16, so as to be cooled by the liquid circulating therein. The photovoltaic cells 18 output the electric energy by means of conductors 19 made of strip pairs of a conductive material which are arranged one on the other at the sides of cells 18 between the transparent wall 14 and ducts 15, 16 and are separated by a strip of an insulating material. An insulating film 20 is arranged between cells 18 and ducts 15, 16, while a sealing strip 21 is arranged between conductors 19 and the insulating material 17. For this purpose, ducts 15, 16 are connected to inlet fittings 22 and/or outlet fittings 23, respectively, which lead to one or both ends of the elongated housing 13 for connecting collectors 4 to external tubes for the cooling liquid or the liquid to be heated. Referring to figure 8, it is seen that the generator according to the present invention is provided with a control system comprising an electronic control unit CU, in particular based on a microprocessor, winch is connected to at least one digital memory DM, to at least on output interface OI for controlling motors 3 and/or 6, to one or more temperature sensors TS for measuring the temperature in collectors 4, to a clock CK for measuring time and/or date, to input means IM, for example a keyboard or an interface, and/or to one or more photocells PC suitable for detecting the position of the sun. When the generator is turned on, the control unit CU requires the user to input through the input means DV1 the coordinates of the geographic position of the generator, which are stored in the digital memory DM, after which the control unit CU tries to detect the position of the sun through photocells PC. If the signal sent to photocells PC indicates that the generator is not oriented toward the sun, the control unit CU drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for orienting the concave mirrors 1 toward the position of the sun deteπnined by photocells PC. When photocells PC signal that the concave mirrors 1 are correctly oriented toward the sun, the control unit CLT stores into the digital memory DM the current azimuthal and/or zenithal angles together with the current time and/or date output by clock CK. If instead photocells PC do not output any useful signal, for example because the sun is obscured, the control unit CU recalls from the digital memory DM the stored azimuthal and/or zenithal angles and the corresponding times and/or dates stored in the above described way and calculates by means of a first pointing algorithm, also of a known kind, the estimated position of the sun according to these stored angles, to the corresponding stored times and/or dates and to the current time and/or date output by clock CK, after which it drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for orienting the concave mirrors 1 toward this estimated position: If the digital memory DM does not comprise any data sufficient for calculating this estimated position, the control unit CU recalls from memory DM the coordinates stored at the beginning and calculates by means of a second pointing algorithm, also of a known kind, the estimated position of the sun according to the stored coordinates, as well as to the current time and/or date output by clock CK, after which it drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for orienting the concave mirrors 1 toward this estimated position. Finally, if the temperature of a collector 4 measured by the temperature sensors TS exceeds a threshold value stored in the digital memory DM, the control unit CU drives the first motor 3 and/or the second motor 6 for getting out of the sun and thus cooling collectors 4, after which it orients again th^ concave mirrors 1 toward the sun when the temperature measured by sensors TS returns under said threshold value. In another embodiment of the invention the coordinates stored in memory DM may also be obtained by the control unit CU by means of a calculation algoritlim according to the sun position data obtained from photocells PC and stored in the digital memory DM. Possible modifications and/or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiment of the invention hereinabove described and illustrated while remaining within the scope of the same invention.

Claims

1. System for controlling solar energy generators comprising one or more concave mirrors (1) which can be oriented to the sun for converging the solar rays toward one or more collectors (4), wliich system comprises an electronic control unit (CU) connected to one or more photocells (PC) suitable for detecting the position of the sun, characterized in that the control unit (CU) is also com ected to at least one digital memory (DM), to a clock (CK) and to at least one output interface (OI) for driving one or more electric motors (3, 6) suitable to rotate the concave mirrors (1) according to the signals received by the digital memory (DM), by the clock (CK) and/or by the photocells (PC).
2. System according to the previous claim, characterized in that the electronic control unit (CU) is also connected to input means (IM) for storing into a digital memory (DM) the coordinates of the geographic position of the generator.
3. System according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the electronic control unit (CU) is connected to one or more temperature sensors (TS) for measuring the temperature in at least one collector (4) and for controlling through the output interface (OI) at least one electric motor (3, 6) according to the signals received from the temperature sensors (TS).
4. Process for controlling solar energy generators comprising one or more concave mirrors (1) which can be oriented toward the sun for converging the solar rays toward one or more collectors (4), characterized by comprising the following operative steps: - an electronic control unit (CU) tries to detect the position of the sun through one or more photocells (PC); - if the photocells (PC) signal that the concave mirrors (1) are not oriented toward the sun, the control umt (CU) drives a first motor (3) and/or a second
, motor (6) for orienting the concave mirrors (1) toward the position of the sun deteπnined by the photocells (PC); - when the photocells (PC) signal that the concave mirrors (1) are oriented toward the sun, the control unit (CU) stores into a digital memory (DM) the current azimuthal and/or zenithal angles together with the current time and/or date output by a clock (CK); - if the photocells (PC) do not output any useful signal, the control unit (CU) recalls from the digital memory (DM) the stored azimuthal and/or zenithal angles and calculates by means of a first pointing algorithm the estimated position of the sun according to these stored angles, to the corresponding stored times and/or dates and to the current time and/or date output by the clock (CK); - the control unit (CU) drives the first motor (3) and/or the second motor (6) for orienting the concave mirrors (1) toward this estimated position of the sun.
5. Process according to the previous claim, characterized by comprising the following further operative steps: - the control unit (CU) stores into a digital memory (DM) the coordinates of the geographic position of the generator; - the control unit (CU) recalls from the digital memory (DM) the stored coordinates and calculates by means of a second pointing algorithm the estimated position of the according to the stored coordinates, as well as to the current time and/or date output by the clock (CK); - the control unit (CU) drives the first motor (3) and/or the second motor (6) for orienting the concave mirrors (1) toward this estimated position of the sun.
6. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that the control unit (CLT) obtains the coordinates of the geographic position of the generator through input means (LM).
7. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit (CLT) obtains the coordinates of the geograpluc position of the generator by means of a calculation algoritlim according to sun position data obtained from the photocells (PC) and stored in the digital memory (DM).
8. Process according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by comprising the following further operative steps: - if the temperature measured by a temperature sensor (TS) in at least one collector (4) exceeds a threshold value stored in a digital memory (DM), the control unit (CU) drives the first motor (3) and/or the second motor (6) for getting the collectors (4) out of the sun; - the control unit (CU) orients the concave mirrors (1) toward the sun when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (TS) returns under said threshold value.
9. Solar energy generator comprising one or more concave mirrors (1) wliich are mounted in a rotating manner on a support structure (2) for being rotated around a substantially horizontal axis by a first motor (3), so as to change their zenithal angle, wherein the concave mirrors (1) can converge the solar rays toward one or more collectors (4) fixed by means of support members (5) in front of the concave mirrors (1) for being rotated by the first motor (3) together with these mirrors (4), characterized in that the support structure (2) of the concave mirrors (1) can be rotated around a substantially vertical axis by a second motor (6) on a fixed base (7) so as to change their azimuthal angle.
10. Generator according to the previous claim, characterized in that the support structure (2) comprises an upright on which the first motor (3) and the relevant transmission system are fixed, wherein this upright can rotate in a corresponding seat (8) of the base (7) by means of a further transmission system (9) connected with the second motor (6) fixed on the base (7), which comprises a plurality of fset which can be folded beside the support structure (2).
11. Generator according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the concave mirrors (1) comprise flexible sheets fixed to one or more modular frames (11, 12). 12. Generator according to the previous claim, characterized in that the modular frames (11,
12) comprise two or more ribs (11) which are mutually connected by two or more crossbars (12), the rear edge of the ribs (11) being convex so as to arch said reflecting sheets (1).
13. Generator according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the modular frames (11, 12) are mechanically connected to the transmission system of the first motor (3) by means of at least one horizontal bar (10).
14. Generator according to the previous claim, characterized in that the support members (5) of the collectors (4) comprise sections bars fixed to the horizontal bar (10).
15. Generator according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the collectors (4) comprise an elongated housing (13), in wliich the wall (14) suitable for being turned toward the concave mirrors (1) is transparent so as to let the solar rays pass into the same housing (13) and one or more delivery (15) and/or outlet (16) ducts are arranged side by side for circulating therein a cooling liquid or a liquid to be heated by means of the solar energy.
16. Generator according to the previous claim, characterized in that the elongated housing (13) and the delivery (15) and/or outlet (16) ducts have a substantially parallelepiped shape.
17. Generator according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that one or more photovoltaic cells (18) are arranged between the transparent wall (14) of the elongated housing (13) and the delivery (15) and/or outlet (16) ducts.
18. Generator according to the previous claim, characterized in that the photovoltaic cells (18) output the electric energy by means of conductors (19) made of strip pairs of a conductive material which are separated by a strip of insulating material and are arranged one on the other at the sides of the cells (18) between the transparent wall (14) of the elongated housing (13) and the delivery (15) and/or outlet (16) ducts.
19. Generator according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterized in that the delivery (15) and/or outlet (16) ducts are connected to inlet fittings (22) and/or outlet fittings (23), respectively, which lead to one or both ends of the elongated housing (13).
20. Generator according to one of claims 9 to 19, characterized in that it is provided with a control system according to one of claims 1 to 3.
21. Generator according to the previous claim, characterized in that said control system carries out a control process according to one of claims 4 to 8.
PCT/IT2005/000290 2004-05-27 2005-05-20 Solar energy generator, as well as system and process for its control WO2005116534A2 (en)

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EP2280421A1 (en) 2009-07-29 2011-02-02 Thesan S.p.A. Solar receiver for a solar concentrator with a linear focus
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WO2013028657A3 (en) * 2011-08-22 2013-10-31 First Solar, Inc System and methods for controlling solar module trackers
WO2022106918A1 (en) * 2020-11-17 2022-05-27 Greenetica Distribution S.R.L. Modular solar concentrator

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CN100458626C (en) * 2007-01-12 2009-02-04 刘津平 Sun tracker, and cluster
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WO2013028657A3 (en) * 2011-08-22 2013-10-31 First Solar, Inc System and methods for controlling solar module trackers
WO2022106918A1 (en) * 2020-11-17 2022-05-27 Greenetica Distribution S.R.L. Modular solar concentrator

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