Rigging system for supporting and pointing solar concentrator arrays

a solar concentrator and array technology, applied in the field of rigging, can solve the problems of insufficient solar flux for direct conversion at one solar flux to be cost effective, the effort to harness solar power on a large scale has so far failed to be economically competitive with most fossil-fuel energy sources, and the cost of solar concentrator systems is too high to compete unsubsidized with fossil fuels, etc., to achieve convenient and reliable cable tension adjustment and reduce bending forces
US20080168981A1Inactive Publication Date: 2008-07-17COOLEARTH SOLAR
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
COOLEARTH SOLAR
Publication Date
2008-07-17
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to the design of inexpensive mounting and pointing apparatuses for linear arrays of solar energy collectors and converters. Particular embodiments in accordance with the present invention disclose a rigging system comprising at least one, and preferably a plurality of, tensile cables onto which a plurality of solar modules are fastened. Such an arrangement provides a way of suspending solar modules over land, vegetation, bodies of water, and other geographic features without substantial perturbation of the underlying terrain. Certain embodiments comprise additional tensile cables fastened to the solar modules, such that differential axial motion of the cables produces a rotational motion component of the individual solar modules of the array. This rotational motion component effects an orientation control along one rotational axis.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The instant nonprovisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 840,110, filed Aug. 25, 2006 and incorporated by reference in its entirety herein for all purposes. The instant nonprovisional patent application is also related to the following provisional patent applications, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 839,841 filed Aug. 23, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 839,855 filed Aug. 23, 2006; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 840,156 filed Aug. 25, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Solar radiation is the most abundant energy source on earth. However, attempts to harness solar power on large scales have so far failed to be economically competitive with most fossil-fuel energy sources.

[0003] One reason for the lack of adoption of solar energy sources on a large scale is that ...

Claims

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