Solar energy conversion unit
US4280853A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1980 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A solar energy converter is provided in the form of a unit for assembly together with other similar units to build up a solar-energy conversion installation. Each unit includes a fixed support structure, a mounting element articulated on the support structure, and an optical concentrator carried by the mounting element. The optical concentrator consists of a plurality of coplanar, spherical lenses the centers of which are located at the vertices of a polygon. The center of the polygon lies on a line extending perpendicularly to the plane of the lenses through the point of articulation of the mounting element on the support structure. Each unit further includes a plurality of converter modules located at the foci of respective ones of the spherical lenses and carried by respective connecting legs which extend from the mounting element. Each converter module includes a photo-voltaic cell and means for transferring the heat dissipated in the photo-voltaic cell to a liquid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.