Solar radiation modular collector

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of solar radiation collectors intended to convert energy of solar radiation into thermal energy, specifically, to the solar radiation collectors constructed as the combination of a concentrated solar radiation receiver, a single-curvature or compound-curvature concentrator and a tracking mechanism. A thermal insulation of the concentrated solar radiation receiver and the concentrated solar radiation receiver itself play a role of parts in the tracking mechanism.

Description

[0001] This Application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 081,406 filed on 17 Mar. 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of solar radiation collectors intended to convert energy of solar radiation into thermal energy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Solar radiation collectors which convert energy of solar radiation into thermal energy are known. Some types of such collectors include those which incorporate single-curvature or compound-curvature concentrators. [0004] If single-curvature parabolic mirrors are used as the concentrators, the modular solar radiation collector is constructed as a combination of an elongated receiver, the single-curvature concentrator and a tracking mechanism, which ensures steady positioning of the elongated receiver in the focal zone of the single-curvature concentrator. [0005] It is known that such...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027] The gap between the elongated connection straps is preferably glazed in order to diminish heat losses, which occur from the part of the radiation receiving pipe that is not enclosed by the cylindrical sub-section of the internal elongated section.

[0028] According to preferred embodiments, a plurality of metal envelopes may optionally be installed sequentially around a radiation receiving pipe in place of a single envelope. Each such envelope is preferably constructed as described previously. This simplifies the manufacturing process of the metal envelopes.

Problems solved by technology

Sealing the metal pipe of the receiver with the glass envelope is very expensive and complicated from the technological point of view.

It is impossible to insulate thermally the radiation receiving pipe in a modular manner.

Low strength of the glass envelope does not permit this glass envelope to be used as a carrying element of the construction of a solar collector.

These same drawbacks are also true for solar collectors which feature compound-curvature dish-type concentrators.

However, this patent has numerous drawbacks, a few of which are listed below It does prevent heat loss from the receiving pipe due to infrared radiation.

It does not permit enclosure of the majority of the receiving pipe by the thermo-insulating envelope (in fact, the thermo-insulating envelope encloses less than 50% of the surface of the receiving pipe).

It does not permit the internal reflecting surface of the envelope to be used as a secondary non-imaging concentrator.

Pei does not teach any technical solution of tracking the reflector after the sun motion.

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