A solar system

Abstract

The present application improves a solar energy system, which comprises a reflector capable of reflecting sunlight, the reflector being rotatably mounted on a support through a pivot shaft and being capable of rotating around the pivot shaft to reflect sunlight to different designated solar energy utilization devices. The reflector has a large area and a small mass, can be folded to occupy a small space, and can be unfolded to reflect sunlight to the solar energy utilization devices when working.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to a solar energy system, and more particularly to a solar energy system having a reflector. Background Technology

[0002] Solar cells are increasingly used across various industries, especially in aerospace, such as in extraterrestrial exploration equipment and artificial satellites. However, their application is limited by their relatively low energy conversion efficiency, or in other words, their insufficient power output. Specifically, the photoelectric efficiency of solar cells is currently low (typically below 40%), and the actual performance of solar systems is further affected by operating conditions such as the angle of sunlight incidence, sunlight intensity, and cell temperature. A common approach to improving the efficiency or power output of solar systems is to increase the number of solar cells; however, this increases the overall weight (and associated costs) of the solar system, hindering its practical application.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the performance of existing solar power generation systems, increase the efficiency of solar energy utilization, and enhance their adaptability to different application scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention proposes a novel reflection-based concentrating solar energy system that can improve the output power of a solar energy system. According to one aspect of this invention, a solar energy utilization device that adapts to various solar incidence angles, has high output power, and is lightweight is proposed. This invention uses a reflector to redirect and focus sunlight onto an area that does not structurally require connection to the reflector. This approach supports both direct and indirect solar energy applications, expanding the scope of solar energy applications. The solar energy utilization device includes solar cells, devices for heating using solar energy, and / or any other devices that utilize solar energy.

[0005] In some embodiments of the invention, in the unfolded state, the reflector has a large area to reflect more sunlight to the solar cell or the heated device or other solar-powered device; in the stowed state, the reflector can be folded like origami to increase the packing density of the space mission (reduce the loading volume).

[0006] In this invention, a paper-folding reflector system is used to redirect and focus light onto a designated area. This enhanced sunlight can be used for power generation, heating, or other solar energy utilization devices using solar cells, which can be structurally independent of the reflector system. The reflector structure can also be configured and reconfigured according to different concentration ratios and operational requirements (e.g., it can be used directly for lighting and heating, to charge other solar panels, or for drilling). The same structure can be used for different types of solar energy applications.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a solar energy system is provided, comprising: a reflector having a reflective material applied to at least one side for reflecting sunlight; a support for supporting the reflector; wherein the reflector is rotatably mounted on the support via a pivot axis, and the reflector is rotatable about the pivot axis to reflect sunlight to different designated areas.

[0008] In some embodiments, the solar energy system further includes a solar energy utilization device, wherein the solar cells are arranged in the designated area such that the reflector rotates about the pivot axis to reflect sunlight to the solar energy utilization device.

[0009] In some embodiments, the solar energy utilization device includes one or more solar cells and other devices that utilize solar energy.

[0010] In some embodiments, the mass of the reflector is less than the mass of the solar cell.

[0011] In some embodiments, the mass of the reflector is less than the mass of a solar cell of equal area.

[0012] In some embodiments, the reflector is mounted at a position higher than that of the solar cell.

[0013] In some embodiments, the solar energy utilization device includes multiple solar energy utilization devices arranged in different locations, and the reflector reflects sunlight onto different solar energy utilization devices at different times.

[0014] In some embodiments, the solar energy utilization device (e.g., solar cell) is not connected to the reflector or the support.

[0015] In some embodiments, the reflector includes a plurality of reflectors for reflecting sunlight onto the same or different solar cells.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, a solar energy system employing a Cassegrain reflector is provided, comprising: a reflector having a reflective material applied to at least one side for reflecting sunlight; and a solar energy utilization device; wherein the reflector includes a primary reflector and a secondary reflector, the primary reflector having an opening, and the solar energy utilization device being disposed at the opening; and wherein the primary reflector is configured as a concave mirror for reflecting sunlight to the secondary reflector, which in turn reflects sunlight to the solar energy utilization device.

[0017] In some embodiments, the solar energy utilization device includes one or more solar cells and other devices that utilize solar energy.

[0018] In some embodiments, the solar energy utilization device is connected to the main reflector via a thermally conductive joint, which allows the heat generated by the solar energy utilization device to be conducted to the main reflector.

[0019] In some embodiments, the reflector is foldable; wherein the solar system further includes a drive mechanism for driving the reflector to switch between an open state and a retracted state.

[0020] In some embodiments, the reflector has multiple transverse creases extending generally along the transverse direction of the reflector, and multiple longitudinal creases extending generally along the longitudinal direction of the reflector, the reflector being foldable along the creases; wherein the longitudinal creases are perpendicular to or at an angle to the transverse creases; wherein, in the folded state, each transverse crease is folded in the same manner and in a zigzag pattern, such that the reflector is folded laterally, and odd-numbered transverse creases are located on one side of the reflector in the folded state, and even-numbered transverse creases are located on the other side of the reflector in the folded state.

[0021] In some embodiments, each longitudinal crease is folded in a zigzag pattern on a plane perpendicular to or at an angle to one or the other side of the reflector, causing the reflector to shrink longitudinally. Attached Figure Description

[0022] This document uses accompanying drawings to illustrate various embodiments and explain the principles and advantages of each embodiment. In the individual drawings, similar reference numerals denote the same or similarly functional elements, and the first digit of the reference numeral denoteing the same or similarly functional elements corresponds to the reference numeral of the drawing in which it is located. These drawings, together with the following detailed description, are incorporated in and form part of this specification.

[0023] Figure 1A A schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a reflective solar energy system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a discrete reflective solar energy system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 2A A reflective solar energy system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein a reflector is mounted at the top of a support structure and a solar energy utilization device panel is mounted at a lower position;

[0026] Figure 2B A reflector system with a tilted support structure is shown, wherein the tilt angle of the tilted support structure can be varied to adjust the tilt angle of the reflector;

[0027] Figure 3 A solar energy system employing a Cassegrain reflector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 4A and 4B A foldable reflector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein, Figure 4A A schematic perspective view showing the reflector in the open position is shown. Figure 4B A schematic perspective view showing the reflector folded up. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and used to explain the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0030] One way to increase the energy output of solar energy utilization devices is to concentrate sunlight into a smaller area, thereby increasing the intensity of light hitting the device. Conversely, by placing solar cells and solar panels within this concentrated area, the size of the solar cells can be reduced, thus lowering the weight and cost of the solar system. The increased light intensity also supports the use of multi-junction (multi-layer) solar cells, which can convert more total electrical energy. Much research is currently underway on concentrated solar cells. As of September 2023, the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of concentrated solar cells was reported to be 44-48% (compared to less than 40% for non-concentrated solar cells). Concentrated solar systems are particularly beneficial for space applications (spacecraft, space stations, lunar rovers, etc.) because they save on the mass of solar cells and have lower requirements for installation conditions in space applications.

[0031] Currently, there are two main solar concentrating solutions in space applications: refraction and reflection.

[0032] Refraction methods rely on optical lenses to focus light onto a smaller area where solar cells are arranged. For example, NASA tested a solar concentrator array in the Deep Space 1 mission (1998-2001) that included multiple mini-circular lenses acting as concentrators. Another project involved a mountable concentrator using flat glass / silicon Fresnel lenses. While these designs are compatible with existing solar panel array structures, the degree of improvement is limited by the refractive lenses used. In particular, the substrates (such as glass and silicone) of these refractive lenses are very dense; they are also prone to damage and have a short lifespan. Furthermore, the relative positions of the focusing lens and the solar cells are constrained, with the solar cells limited to being arranged only along (or parallel to) the focal plane of the lens.

[0033] Reflection methods utilize reflective surfaces to redirect and focus light rays. This approach can achieve lower mass by replacing heavier lenses with lighter reflective systems. However, existing technology for space-based solar concentrators is only used to provide direct solar energy as heat, not for power generation.

[0034] It is evident that existing aerospace solar concentrator designs have certain limitations in terms of concentrating area and types of solar energy usage. Optimization of solar power generation systems for space applications is necessary.

[0035] This invention proposes a reflective concentrating solar energy system. Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a reflective concentrating solar energy system is shown. Figure 1A The illustrated concentrating solar system includes a reflector 110, which is in the form of a curved plate with a reflective material applied to its concave surface to form a concave mirror. This concave mirror reflects sunlight 101 (or any other beam of light) incident on its surface in another direction and is able to concentrate the generally parallel incident sunlight 101 into a small concentrating region 105. The area of ​​the concentrating region 105 is smaller than the area of ​​the concave mirror of the reflector 110; therefore, the light intensity of the reflected light 103 in the concentrating region is higher than the light intensity of the incident sunlight 101. Furthermore, solar panels (not shown in the figure) are arranged in the concentrating region 105. Because the light intensity of the concentrating region 105 is higher than the intensity of the incident sunlight 101, the solar panels arranged in the concentrating region 105 receive a higher intensity of incident light, thereby outputting higher power output.

[0036] In addition, the reflective surface of the above-mentioned reflector can be formed by different surfaces, including parabolic surfaces or multiple plane segments, etc., and the multiple plane segments include folded surfaces (or curved surfaces) composed of multiple planar units.

[0037] Figure 2AA solar energy system according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown, the solar energy system including a reflector 210, a bracket 207 supporting the reflector 210 and fixed to a substrate 209, and a solar cell (or other solar energy utilization device, the same below) 206. Figure 2A In the illustrated embodiment, the solar cell 206 is attached to the surface of the substrate 209. After incident sunlight 201 is reflected by reflector 210, the reflected light 203 illuminates the solar cell 206, causing it to generate electricity. The substrate 209 can be the ground (or the surface of another planet, such as the lunar surface), the roof or wall of a building, or the outer surface of a spacecraft or an exposed component of a spacecraft.

[0038] The reflector 210 is rotatably connected to the support 207 via a pivot axis, so that the angle θ between the reflector 210 and the vertical direction can be adjusted to reflect sunlight 201 to a desired location, such as the solar cell 206.

[0039] In some applications, the location where solar cells are placed may be blocked by other objects, such as buildings, tall equipment, or environmental undulations. These objects block direct sunlight from reaching the solar cells or reduce the time that sunlight is directly on the solar cells. Figure 2A The reflector 210 shown is positioned where it can be directly exposed to sunlight 201, or where it can be directly exposed to sunlight 201 for a long time. The reflector 210 reflects sunlight onto the solar cell 206, so that the solar cell 206 can still output power at a high power when it is in the shadow of other objects.

[0040] Furthermore, the solar energy system described in this invention is particularly suitable for high-angle-of-incident sunlight conditions, such as polar regions. In polar regions, the angle of incidence of sunlight is relatively high, or rather, the angle of incidence (i.e., the angle between the direction of light propagation and the normal direction of the solar cell surface) is relatively large for solar cells arranged parallel to the ground, and the direction of sunlight propagation is close to parallel to the surface of the solar panel. In this case, using the reflector of this invention, sunlight is reflected to the solar cell at a smaller angle of incidence, thereby improving the power output efficiency of the solar cell.

[0041] Figure 2B It shows Figure 2A A variation of the solar energy system in which the upper support 207' of the solar energy system is connected to the lower support (not shown) via a pivot 208, such that the reflector 210 fixed to the upper support 207' can rotate with the upper support 207' around the pivot 208, thereby reflecting sunlight onto the solar cells or other solar energy utilization devices.

[0042] In another variant embodiment, the support (207, 207') is provided with two pivot axes, which are arranged to be perpendicular to each other or at an angle to each other, so that the reflector 210 can rotate independently about the two pivot axes respectively. That is, the reflector has two degrees of rotational freedom, so that the reflector can be easily turned in more directions to reflect the incident light to more desired positions / directions.

[0043] exist Figure 2A and 2B In the illustrated embodiment, although the reflecting surface of reflector 210 is shown as a plane, those skilled in the art will understand that the reflecting surface of reflector 210 can be replaced with, for example... Figure 1A and 1B The curved surface shown can concentrate sunlight into a focusing area or onto a solar cell.

[0044] As described above, the solar energy system of the present invention is suitable for situations where sunlight is frequently blocked. Using the solar energy system of the present invention, only the reflectors (110, 210) need to be placed in the area exposed to sunlight, while the solar cells or the object or device to be heated can be placed in the shade. Furthermore, the solar cells or the object or device to be heated can be physically separated from the reflectors (110, 210), making the application of the solar energy system of the present invention more flexible.

[0045] Furthermore, for power generation applications, solar cells 206 can be placed on the ground (the surface of the Earth or the Moon), which allows the solar cells to maintain the same or similar cooling temperature as the ground, thus preventing the solar cells 206 from reducing their photoelectric conversion efficiency due to increased temperature.

[0046] Furthermore, traditionally, solar cells are mounted on top of a support structure, away from the ground, to receive sunlight. In some applications, the solar cells mounted on the support structure can be rotated as the sun moves, thus receiving more sunlight. However, it is well known that solar panels are relatively heavy, and mounting them high up (on top of the support structure) and rotating them requires a significant amount of energy. The reflector 110 of this invention is very lightweight. In some embodiments, the reflector 110 is made of fabric coated with a reflective material, such as the material of an umbrella canopy. Such a lightweight device can be more easily mounted on top of a support structure, and rotating such a lightweight reflector 110 requires far less energy than rotating a solar panel.

[0047] Furthermore, in some embodiments of the present invention, the bracket 207 is used to support a reflector with very low mass, rather than a solar cell with a large mass. Therefore, the supporting strength and mass of the bracket 207 itself can be significantly reduced, thereby reducing the mass of the entire system. Compared with the solution of raising the entire solar panel to the top of the bracket 207 to obtain higher illumination, the solar system of the present invention is expected to save 30-50% of the system mass in power generation applications.

[0048] Now for reference Figure 1B , Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a discrete reflective solar energy system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, illustrating two positions (or orientations) of a concave mirror reflector 110. At one position, the reflector 110 reflects incident sunlight 101 to a first concentrating region 105A; after rotating the reflector 110 to another position (shown by dashed lines), i.e., the second position, the reflector 110 reflects the incident sunlight 101 to a second concentrating region 105B. The first concentrating region 105A and the second concentrating region 105B may be adjacent to each other or spaced apart by a certain distance.

[0049] The dual-concentration zone design offers greater flexibility for practical applications. Imagine a scenario where two solar cells are positioned in a first concentrator 105A and a second concentrator 105B, respectively. However, tall objects, such as large equipment or buildings, are present in the surrounding area. At a certain moment, under sunlight, the shadow of these objects covers the first concentrator 105A, reducing its power output as the solar cells there are not directly exposed to sunlight. Simultaneously, the second concentrator 105B receives direct sunlight, allowing its solar cells to generate electricity efficiently. In this situation, using the solar energy system of this invention, the reflector 110 is rotated so that reflected light reaches the solar cells in the first concentrator 105A, thereby increasing their power output. As the sun moves across the sky, when the shadow of the tall object leaves the first concentrator 105A and covers the second concentrator 105B, the reflector 110 can be rotated again so that reflected light reaches the solar cells in the second concentrator 105B, allowing them to continue generating power efficiently.

[0050] In other embodiments, more concentrating areas can be provided. By rotating the reflector 110, the incident sunlight 101 can be reflected to each concentrating area (at different times) to improve the power generation efficiency of the solar cells in the irradiated area. Alternatively, two or more reflectors 110 can be provided to reflect sunlight to the same or different concentrating areas.

[0051] As can be seen from the above description, the reflector 110 of the present invention can redirect focused sunlight to multiple different locations / areas, including those locations / areas that are structurally spaced from the reflector assembly.

[0052] By switching the reflected light from reflector 110 between different focusing areas (or illumination areas), the amount of sunlight hitting these areas can also be controlled. This can help power and charge certain mobile devices / devices.

[0053] Furthermore, since the reflector can be configured to provide concentrated sunlight to different areas (at different times), it is also possible for several solar cell arrays to share a single reflector.

[0054] In the above embodiments, solar cells are arranged in the concentrating area or the area irradiated by reflected light, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In applications of the present invention, devices or objects requiring a certain temperature can be arranged in the concentrating area or the area irradiated by reflected light. Some devices (e.g., computers, experimental equipment) are not suitable for operation at low temperatures or cannot operate efficiently at low temperatures, therefore requiring heating to maintain their temperature above a certain level. The reflector of the present invention can be used to reflect / converge sunlight onto such devices to raise their temperature. The heated device arranged in the concentrating area or the area irradiated by reflected light does not need to have a physical connection with the reflector of the present invention. In this respect, the device of the present invention is particularly suitable for cold regions in space environments, such as polar regions of planets, and is also suitable for devices or objects that are permanently installed in shaded locations and require a certain temperature, thereby preventing damage caused by low temperatures.

[0055] In the above embodiments, although only one reflector is listed, the present invention is not limited thereto. Multiple reflectors can be used to reflect / converge sunlight to the same area or different areas.

[0056] Figure 3 A solar energy system employing a Cassegrain reflector is illustrated according to other embodiments of the present invention. See also Figure 3 The Seigren reflector comprises two reflectors: a larger primary reflector 310 and a smaller secondary reflector 320. The primary reflector 310 is in the form of a concave mirror, with an opening at its center. The solar cell 306 is disposed at this opening, facing the secondary reflector 320. The primary reflector 310 and secondary reflector 320 are arranged such that the primary reflector 310 concentrates incident sunlight onto the secondary reflector 320, and the secondary reflector 320 reflects the sunlight from the primary reflector 310 back onto the solar cell 306, thereby enabling the solar cell 306 to generate electricity. Figure 1A , 1B and Figure 2A ,2B Compared to the embodiments shown, Figure 3 The embodiment shown, employing a Cassegrain reflector, reduces the size of the solar system because the solar cell 306 is not arranged away from the reflector; instead, it is arranged close to the main reflector 310. This approach is advantageous for systems requiring placement in limited spaces.

[0057] In some embodiments, the solar cell 306 is replaced by other solar energy utilization devices.

[0058] In some embodiments, Figure 3 In the illustrated solar energy system, the solar cell 306 is connected to the main reflector 310 via a thermally conductive joint 350. The thermally conductive joint 350 is composed of a good thermal conductor, allowing heat generated on the solar cell 306 to be easily transferred to the main reflector 310. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive joint 350 is made of metal, for example, a copper wick heat pipe. After prolonged power generation, the solar cell's temperature may rise, which can reduce its photoelectric conversion efficiency, especially under high-temperature conditions. In some embodiments, the main reflector 310 contains a good thermally conductive material and can function as a heat sink to reduce the temperature of the solar cell 306. In this embodiment, the heat from the solar cell 306 is conducted to the main reflector 310 via the thermally conductive joint 350, which acts as a heat sink for the solar cell 306, thereby suppressing the temperature rise of the solar cell 306 and maintaining its high photoelectric conversion efficiency.

[0059] Furthermore, in existing technologies, in solar energy systems employing concave reflectors, the solar energy receiving device (e.g., a solar panel) is typically positioned at the focal point of the concave reflector, creating a distance between the receiving device and the reflector. This makes it difficult for heat generated on the receiving device to transfer to the reflector and dissipate into the environment, thus hindering cooling of the receiving device. In contrast, in this invention… Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the solar cell 306 is not spaced apart from the main reflector 310. Instead, the solar cell 306 is arranged close to the main reflector 310, and the solar cell 306 is fixed to the main reflector 310 by a thermally conductive material (thermal connection part 350), which facilitates the conduction of the heat of the solar cell 306 itself to the main reflector 310 and dissipation into the surrounding environment.

[0060] In addition, Figure 3In the embodiment shown, the secondary reflector 320 can be a convex mirror or a mirror of other shapes that can reflect the light from the primary reflector 310 to the solar cell 306, such as a plane mirror.

[0061] In another embodiment, both types of reflectors (single reflector and Cassegrain reflector system) need to be folded, especially for space applications where the entire system needs to be folded and stored in a smaller volume for launch. The reflectors are folded according to origami patterns, such as the Miura fold, to better utilize the internal volume of the launch vehicle. Folding using origami patterns also makes the reflectors easier to control (requiring less complex controls).

[0062] While antennas and some solar panels in space applications can already be folded in certain ways, the origami pattern of this invention allows for higher packing density in the folded / stuffed state and enables the reflector to be reconfigured (e.g., for different solar energy utilization devices, or even for different focal lengths). Under certain conditions, the reflector can still be folded using other conventional mechanisms. Figure 4A and 4B A possible origami pattern is shown that can be applied to a folded reflector.

[0063] Figure 4A A schematic perspective view showing the reflector in an open state according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown. Figure 4B It shows Figure 4A A schematic perspective view of the reflector folded up according to an origami pattern.

[0064] See Figure 4A The reflector 410 is roughly square, and the figure shows the creases formed along the longitudinal and transverse directions. The figure indicates the sequentially arranged transverse creases T1, T2, T3, T4, T5…Tn, and the sequentially arranged longitudinal creases L1, L2…Ln. The transverse creases T1, T2, T3, T4, T5…Tn extend generally along the transverse direction of the reflector 410, while the longitudinal creases L1, L2…Ln extend generally along the longitudinal direction of the reflector 410. The transverse and longitudinal directions are perpendicular to each other or form a certain angle between 0 and 90°. See also... Figure 4A The longitudinally extending edge L0 of the reflector 410 is also marked.

[0065] In addition, Figure 4AIn the illustrated embodiment, each of the transverse creases T1, T2, T3, T4, T5...Tn is a broken line. Specifically, crease T1 starts from one side L0 of the reflector 410 and extends along a first direction. After intersecting with the longitudinal crease L1, it changes to extend along a second direction, which is different from the first direction. After crease T1 intersects with the longitudinal crease L2, crease T1 returns to extending along the first direction. That is, crease T1 changes its extension direction every time it intersects with the longitudinal crease. The other transverse creases are configured similarly.

[0066] The vertical creases L1, L2, L3, L4...Ln are also set as polylines, and, similar to the horizontal creases, each vertical crease changes its extension direction after intersecting with the horizontal crease.

[0067] The intersecting horizontal and vertical creases divide the entire reflector 410 into multiple small sections f0. Each small section f0 is a quadrilateral, for example, a parallelogram.

[0068] In some embodiments, each small piece f0 is formed from a solid material as a sheet, and each sheet is rotatably connected to adjacent sheets. The separate individual small pieces f0 can be connected together using any method known to those skilled in the art. In such cases, the crease refers to the boundary line between adjacent small pieces f0. Alternatively, the narrow gap between adjacent small pieces f0 is approximated as a line, i.e., a crease.

[0069] In another embodiment, the reflector 410 is made of a single piece of flexible fabric, one side of which has a reflective layer or material for reflecting sunlight. In this case, the crease is a linear mark along which the flexible fabric is folded.

[0070] Figure 4A The reflector 410 shown can be folded (collapsed). During the folding process, in one embodiment, odd-numbered lateral creases T1, T3, T5, etc., move upwards, while even-numbered lateral creases T2, T4, etc., move in the opposite direction. Additionally, each longitudinal crease is repeatedly folded in a zigzag pattern, with adjacent longitudinal creases moving closer together. The final fold is as follows: Figure 4B In the illustrated state, odd-numbered horizontal creases T1, T3, T5... are located on the upper side of the reflector 410 in the folded (retracted) state, while even-numbered horizontal creases T2, T4... are located on the opposite side of the reflector 410 in the folded (retracted) state. Additionally, in Figure 4BAs can be seen, each odd-numbered horizontal crease T1, T3, T5... is folded in a zigzag pattern, causing each odd-numbered horizontal crease to contract horizontally. Furthermore, the extension trend of each odd-numbered horizontal crease T1, T3, T5... is the same. Specifically, for example, crease T1 first extends from one end along a third direction, reaches the bottom vertex, then folds back along a fourth direction, reaches the next vertex, and then folds back again along a third direction. Each odd-numbered horizontal crease is folded in the same zigzag manner, so that the vertex of one crease inserts into the corresponding valley of the adjacent crease, allowing each odd-numbered horizontal crease T1, T3, T5... to closely adhere to each other.

[0071] On the other side of the retracted reflector 410, the even-numbered transverse creases T2, T4... are also folded into a zigzag shape in the same way, so that they are close together.

[0072] exist Figure 4B In the constricted state of the reflector 410 shown, the planes containing the odd-numbered transverse creases T1, T3, T5... are approximately parallel to the planes containing the even-numbered transverse creases T2, T4..., which are referred to as plane 1 and plane 2, respectively. Each longitudinal crease L1, L2, L3, L4... Ln is folded into a zigzag shape in a plane perpendicular to plane 1 and plane 2 or in a plane at a certain angle to plane 1 and plane 2, just as the edge L0 of the reflector 410 is folded into a zigzag shape, causing each longitudinal crease to contract longitudinally.

[0073] As described above, and see also Figure 4B In some embodiments of the present invention, the reflector 410 is folded, which greatly reduces its dimensions in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, thereby making it easy to accommodate in a small space, such as in a spacecraft.

[0074] In the illustrated embodiment, each small block f0 is shown as a parallelogram, but the invention is not limited thereto, and each small block f0 may also be other shapes. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the shape and size of each small block f0 are the same, while in other embodiments, the shape and size of some small blocks f0 may be different from those of the other small blocks f0.

[0075] Although Figure 4A In this embodiment, reflector 410 is shown as rectangular, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, reflector 410 is various other desired shapes, such as circular. Furthermore, reflector 410 is not limited to a plane, but can also be curved to achieve the desired light-gathering effect.

[0076] Each small block f0 constituting the reflector 410 may be made of a rigid material, including a good conductor of heat (e.g., metal), to dissipate the heat of the solar cell mounted in close proximity to the reflector 410 (in the case of a Cassegrain reflector).

[0077] Furthermore, in the described embodiment, the solar energy system also includes a driving device for driving the reflector to switch between an open state and a retracted state. This driving device can employ any means known to those skilled in the art to drive the reflector to switch states.

[0078] While exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description of these embodiments, it should be understood that numerous variations exist. It should also be understood that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, operation, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description provides those skilled in the art with a convenient roadmap for implementing the exemplary embodiments of the invention, and it should be understood that various changes can be made to the functionality and arrangement of the steps described in the exemplary embodiments and the methods of operation without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A solar energy system, comprising: A reflector having a reflective material applied to at least one side, capable of reflecting sunlight; A bracket is used to support the reflector; The reflector is rotatably mounted on the bracket via a pivot axis, and the reflector is capable of rotating about the pivot axis to reflect sunlight to different designated areas.

2. The solar energy system according to claim 1 further includes a solar energy utilization device, wherein the solar energy utilization device is arranged in the designated area, wherein, The reflector rotates about the pivot axis to reflect sunlight onto the solar energy utilization device. The solar energy utilization device includes one or more solar cells and other devices that utilize solar energy.

3. The solar energy system according to claim 1, wherein, The mass of the reflector is less than the mass of a solar cell of equal area.

4. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The reflector is installed at a position higher than that of the solar cell.

5. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The solar energy utilization device includes multiple solar energy utilization devices arranged in different locations, and the reflector reflects sunlight onto different solar energy utilization devices at different times.

6. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, The solar energy utilization device is not connected to the reflector or the bracket.

7. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflectors for reflecting sunlight to the same or different solar energy utilization devices.

8. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The reflector is a concave mirror used to focus sunlight onto a designated area.

9. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The support includes an upper support and a lower support. The upper support is connected to the lower support via a pivot shaft, and the reflector is connected to the upper support, allowing the upper support to rotate relative to the lower support, thereby changing the tilt angle of the reflector and thus changing the direction of the reflected light.

10. A solar energy system, comprising: A reflector having a reflective material applied to at least one side, capable of reflecting sunlight; and Solar energy utilization devices; The reflector includes a main reflector and a secondary reflector. The main reflector has an opening, and the solar energy utilization device is arranged at the opening. Furthermore, the primary reflector is configured as a concave reflector, which can reflect sunlight to the secondary reflector, which in turn reflects sunlight to the solar energy utilization device. The solar energy utilization device includes one or more solar cells and other devices that utilize solar energy.

11. The solar energy system according to claim 10, wherein, The solar energy utilization device is connected to the main reflector via a thermal connection, which is made of a good thermal conductor, so that the heat generated by the solar energy utilization device can be conducted to the main reflector through the thermal connection.

12. The solar energy system according to claim 11, wherein, The thermal connection is made of a copper core heat pipe.

13. The solar energy system according to claim 11, wherein, The main reflector contains a material that is a good conductor of heat, thereby enabling it to dissipate the heat generated by the solar energy utilization device into the surrounding environment.

14. The solar energy system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The reflector is foldable; The solar energy system also includes a drive unit for driving the reflector to switch between an open state and a retracted state.

15. The solar energy system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The reflector has multiple transverse creases extending laterally along the reflector as a whole, and multiple longitudinal creases extending longitudinally along the reflector as a whole, and the reflector can be folded along the creases; wherein the longitudinal creases are perpendicular to the transverse creases or at a certain angle to each other. In the contracted state, each lateral crease is folded in the same way and in a zigzag pattern, so that the reflector contracts laterally. Odd-numbered lateral creases are located on one side of the reflector in the contracted state, and even-numbered lateral creases are located on the opposite side of the reflector in the contracted state.

16. The solar energy system according to claim 15, wherein, Each longitudinal crease is folded in a zigzag pattern on a plane perpendicular to or at an angle to one or the other side of the reflector, causing the reflector to shrink longitudinally.

17. The solar energy system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein, The multiple horizontal creases and the multiple vertical creases divide the reflector into multiple quadrilateral blocks.

18. The solar energy system according to claim 17, wherein, The quadrilateral blocks are parallelograms.

19. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein, Some of the quadrilateral pieces have shapes and sizes that differ from the other quadrilateral pieces.

20. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein, All the quadrilateral blocks are identical in shape and size.

21. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein, Each small block is made of a rigid material, and adjacent blocks are rotatably connected together.

22. The solar energy system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein, The reflector is made of a single piece of flexible material.

Images