Elliptical solar reflector
US4164934A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1976 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/40
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fixedly supported, low cost solar energy collecting device having an elliptical solar reflector is provided which is capable of efficiently collecting and concentrating solar energy during all seasons and sun declinations notwithstanding complete elimination of mechanism for shifting the reflector to follow the sun's path. The collector includes an elongated, trough-like reflector which substantially coincides with a section of a focal end surface of an imaginary elliptical cylinder, with a heat exchange fluid tube positioned along the adjacent focal line of the imaginary elliptical cylinder; in this fashion, solar rays passing through or parallel to the remaining focal line of the imaginary cylinder and striking the reflector are focused onto the heat exchange tube, so that solar energy collection is concentrated without the necessity of precisely orienting the reflector relative to the sun. In preferred forms, a plurality of juxtaposed reflector units are provided in the collection device, with the reflector focal lines being positioned along a geographic east-to-west line and at an angle of elevation equal to the latitude of the collector's position on the earth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.