Apparatuses and methods for providing a secondary reflector on a solar collector system

Abstract

A solar collector system is provided that comprises an absorber tube, a primary reflector, and a secondary reflector. In certain embodiments, the primary and secondary reflectors are positioned on opposing sides of the absorber tube, such that their respective focal points converge upon a longitudinal axis of the absorber tube. The secondary reflector may be configured with a substantially transparent surface facing away from the absorber tube, so as to permit passage of light beams there-through. Opposing surfaces of the secondary and primary reflectors, namely those facing substantially toward the absorber tube contain a reflective coating thereon to facilitate redirection of light beams toward the absorber tube. The solar collector system includes in certain embodiments a frame assembly, whereby the primary reflector, the secondary reflector, and the absorber tube are all configured to unitarily rotate about a common pivot axis defined by at least a portion of the frame assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of both U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 548,536, entitled “Apparatuses and Methods for Providing a Secondary Reflector on a Solar Collector System” and filed Oct. 18, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 560,590, entitled “Solar Thermal Energy Collector” and filed Nov. 16, 2011, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to solar concentrators and solar collector systems. More particularly, the various embodiments provide a solar concentrator that uses a secondary parabolic reflector assembly in conjunction with an absorber tube and a primary parabolic trough assembly to minimize the number of reflected solar rays that are never collected by the absorber tube.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Solar concentrators and solar collector systems ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention as described herein, an additional solar collector system is provided. The system generally comprises: a frame assembly comprising a first support member, a second support member, and a third support member, the first, second, and third support members being operatively mounted relative to one another so as to define a unitary pivot axis; a primary reflector, the primary reflector being operatively attached to the first support member; a secondary reflector, the secondary reflector being operatively attach

Problems solved by technology

However, focusing errors and thus geometrically dependent optical losses occur in parabolic trough collectors due to a variety of factors.

For example, the mirror has a certain total shape tolerance, which may involve some degree of waviness, both of which lead to focusing errors.

Further, the positioning of the mirror during assembly is only possible to within certain tolerances, likewise causing at least a portion of the reflected sunlight to miss (e.g., not intercept) the elongated receiver tube.

Self-deformation (e.g., warping), manufacturing, and assembly tolerances of the steel structure, on which the parabolic trough collector is built, may also lead to inefficiencies.

External factors such as the non-limiting examples of wind and

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