Patent · US Expired

Solar energy concentration system

US4266179A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
10References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1979
Grant dateMay 5, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/47
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A solar radiant energy concentrating system for concentrating solar radiation on a radiant to electric power thermionic conversion transducer. The radiated energy concentration system utilizes multiple reflector units that collectively together or selectively less than all reflectors as an intensity control are settable to reflect solar radiation onto a multi-surfaced concentrator down onto a focal area encompassing the target area for reflection from the concentrator to the transducer input. The energy concentration is varied in the ratio range of from 20,000 to 1 up to 250,000 to 1. Reflector units are set to compensate for the constantly varying declination angle of the earth toward the sun, step tracks the sun compensating for daily rotation of the earth West to East on its axis up to a full 360.degree. depending on latitude North or South of the equator. The concentrator is generally circular in shape, made up of a series of circular bands with the concentrator stationary and situted such that one or more of the reflector devices can be appropriately aligned at all times to reflect the desired greatest amount of solar energy onto the concentrator. The circular bands are concav…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.