Ultra high efficiency, high temperature solar collection and storage

Abstract

High-temperature solar trap collectors provide near ambient temperature solar entry surfaces and negligible thermal radiation losses by counterflowing low velocity transparent gases or liquids (fluids) to nullify internal thermal diffusion and radiative heat losses at the solar entry surface. Small steradian (sr) baffling plus wavelength-selective materials trap the entire 0.35 u to 2.7 u incoming solar spectrum and heat highly absorbing internal surfaces to high temperatures; only a small solid angle of the 2π steradians—on the order of 0.01 sr—of internal thermal radiation escapes. A nearly 100% efficient flat panel solar trapping embodiment exhibits alpha (α) absorption nearing 1.0 and radiant emission losses nearing 0.0 even at solar collection temperatures in excess of 1,000° K. Ultra high collection efficiency counterflow configurations are ideal for solar hot water, space heating, cooling, energy storage, and electric power generation applications.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 851,083, entitled “Ultra High Efficiency, High Temperature Solar Collection and Storage”, Filed Mar. 1, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]Field of the Invention[0003]The present application relates, in general, to a method and apparatus for achieving low-cost, renewable global energy utilizing an ultra efficient solar trap that is capable of meeting even centuries more of civilization's relentless 2% per year exponentially rising energy demands.[0004]Discussion of Prior Art[0005]Conventional easy-access, cheap energy is already depleted and unsustainable energy economic ceilings are being breached, but international prosperity can be restored by adopting a new abundant, dramatically lower cost energy source, such as clean solar energy. Solar energy, the world's largest energy resource, once harnessed in a useful for...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a one-way solar energy valve that allows sunlight to enter a solar trap and be absorbed and converted to high temperatures without allowing any heat to escape. This high-temperature solar energy can be stored and used for various energy applications. The technology has the potential to achieve very high efficiency, close to 100%, and can provide unlimited solar energy storage at low costs. The invention uses a simple and abundant working fluid and does not require high-end materials or technologies. It is a breakthrough that can provide solar power to meet almost all of man's energy needs for a long time.

Problems solved by technology

The cost of energy, not energy abundance, now limits global prosperity—including fresh water, agricultural food production, manufactured products, and almost all jobs.

All products and transportation are inexorably linked to energy costs and almost all jobs are inexorably linked to manufacturing and transporting all products.

Patch-work energy alternatives cannot meet the need.

Rapidly rising and unsustainable energy recovery obstacles now govern the world economy, not to mention the almost totally ignored larger costs associated with air, land, and sea pollution.

But, prices cannot be ignored.

For just one example, the well-known prior art concentrating solar mirrors and photovoltaic solar panels shown at 12 and 14 in FIGS. 2 and 3, and again at 16 and 18 in FIGS. 4 and 5 are very inefficient in that the solar tracking panels cast long shadows and typically collect or harvest only about ⅓rd to ¼th of the available solar energy per acre.

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