Patent · US Active

Conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or heat energy

US8013236B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2009
Grant dateSep 6, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 7, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/60
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A parabolic primary mirror (10) has a concave specular surface (12) that is constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point. A secondary mirror (14) having a convex specular surface (16) is constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver (18). The annular receiver (18) may include an annular array of optical elements (100) constructed to receive solar energy from the secondary specular surface (14) and focus it onto a ring of discrete areas. A ring of solar-to-electrical conversion units are positioned on the ring of discrete areas.

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