Conical Reflector Assembly for Low-Cost Solar Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar concentrators for high-efficiency photo-voltaic and Stirling engine applications are costly and difficult to manufacture and transport due to their three-dimensional reflective surfaces, which require expensive materials and complex manufacturing processes, and pose challenges in handling and installation.
Innovation Solution
A focusing system using a first reflective element with a conical surface and a second reflective element with a flat surface, allowing for simple bending and assembly on-site, achieving high concentration factors while reducing manufacturing and transportation costs, and providing flexibility in focusing radiation onto multiple targets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If three-dimensional reflective surfaces are used to achieve high concentration factors, then the concentration capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reflective system into two separate elements: a first reflective element with a conical surface and a second reflective element with a flat surface. This segmentation allows each element to be manufactured using simpler, less expensive processes while collectively achieving the high concentration factor that would otherwise require a complex three-dimensional reflective surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from requiring fully three-dimensional curved reflective surfaces to using a combination of a conical surface (one-dimensional curvature) and a flat surface (zero-dimensional curvature). This dimensional reduction simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the optical functionality through proper geometric arrangement and positioning of the two elements.
2Illumination intensity
If three-dimensional reflective surfaces are used to achieve high concentration factors, then the concentration capability is improved, but the handling and transportation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the reflective system into two separate elements with simpler geometries (conical and flat surfaces), the patent makes each component easier to handle and transport individually. The flat second reflective element can be easily folded or rolled, and the conical first element is structurally simpler than a complex three-dimensional surface, reducing transportation challenges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flat second reflective element that can be manufactured as a thin, flexible component. This allows the element to be folded, rolled, or compressed for compact storage and transportation, then deployed and positioned at the installation site to achieve the required optical configuration for high concentration factors.
3Productivity
If high efficiency photo-voltaic materials are used to achieve high efficiency power generation, then the power conversion efficiency is improved, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a conical surface (a simple curved geometry) for the first reflective element that is easier and less expensive to manufacture than complex three-dimensional curved surfaces. This cost reduction in the optical system allows for the use of higher efficiency but more expensive photo-voltaic materials, as the overall system cost is balanced by the simpler reflective components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high concentration factors with reduced costs and improved handling and transportation, enabling efficient energy harvesting for both photo-voltaic and Stirling engine applications while allowing for flexible radiation focusing and reduced convective losses.
Implementation Method 1
a first reflective element forming part of a conical surface axially aligned along a first alignment axis... when planar radiation is incident on the first reflective element in a direction parallel to the first alignment axis, the planar radiation is focussed towards a first focus
Implementation Method 2
the planar radiation is focussed towards a first focus lying along the first alignment axis
Implementation Method 3
a second reflective element having a reflective surface that at all points is flat... radiation reflected from the first reflective element onto the second reflective element is focussed towards a second focus
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a focussing system for concentrating radiation onto a target surface, comprising: a first reflective element forming part of the surface of a cone axially aligned along a first alignment axis, the first reflective element being positioned such that when planar radiation is incident on the first reflective element in a direction parallel to the first alignment axis, the planar radiation is focussed towards a first focus lying along the first alignment axis, wherein said part of the surface of a cone is contained within a sector having an included angle of less than 180 degrees; and a second reflective element having a reflective surface that at all points is flat in a direction parallel to a single reference direction, the second reflective element being positioned between the first reflective element and the first focus such that, when planar radiation is incident on the first reflective element in a direction parallel to the first alignment axis, radiation reflected from the first reflective element onto the second reflective element is focussed towards a second focus. A multiple target focussing system comprising a plurality of focussing systems, solar powered systems using focussing systems, kits, telescopes, defocussing light sources, and methods for assembling focussing systems are also disclosed.