Convex Liquid Lens Solar Concentrator Using Total Internal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar energy systems face challenges such as increased land costs, maintenance difficulties, and recycling issues as they become more widespread, particularly due to inefficiencies in sunlight concentration and reflection losses in existing photovoltaic panel technologies.
Innovation Solution
A solar energy utilization device incorporating a convex light concentrating unit with a light-transmissive sidewall and a solid or liquid lens that utilizes total reflection to concentrate sunlight onto a light energy utilization part, enhancing concentration efficiency and reducing reflection losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional photovoltaic panels are used for solar energy conversion, then energy conversion can be achieved, but reflection losses occur and sunlight concentration efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a convex light concentrating unit with a curved refractive surface that focuses parallel sunlight rays onto a concentrated focal line or point. This curved geometry enables efficient light concentration by refracting rays at different angles according to their position on the convex surface, thereby improving sunlight concentration efficiency and reducing energy loss through reflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transparent liquid medium as an intermediary between the convex light concentrating unit and the light energy utilization part. This liquid medium facilitates total internal reflection at the liquid-air interface, directing more sunlight onto the energy conversion surface and reducing reflection losses without requiring complex reflective coatings or mechanical structures.
2Productivity
If more photovoltaic panels are deployed to increase solar energy capacity, then energy generation increases, but land costs and maintenance difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light concentration function and energy conversion function into a single integrated device structure. The convex light concentrating unit is directly coupled with the light energy utilization part, eliminating the need for separate tracking systems, mounting structures, and maintenance-accessible components that would increase operational complexity and maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The device design allows the convex light concentrating unit to automatically focus sunlight onto the energy conversion surface without requiring active tracking or adjustment mechanisms. The passive optical design reduces moving parts and complex control systems, thereby decreasing maintenance needs while maintaining high energy generation capacity.
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 device improves sunlight concentration efficiency and reduces reflection losses by employing total reflection, thereby increasing the amount of sunlight focused onto the energy conversion unit, which can lead to more effective energy harvesting and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
the sunlight in the convex light concentrating unit transmitted from the solid lens or the transparent liquid to the light-transmissive convex sidewall forms a total reflection phenomenon such that the sunlight is concentrated onto the first light energy utilization part
Data Source
AI summary
A solar energy utilization device, comprising a light energy utilization device (200) and a convex light concentrating device (100). The convex light concentrating device (100) is filled with a transparent liquid (130). The convex light concentrating device (100) has a light-transmissive convex sidewall (110) provided obliquely, and sunlight can be transmitted to the transparent liquid (130) from the light-transmissive convex sidewall (110). A first light energy utilization part (210) is provided at the bottom of an accommodating cavity, and sunlight transmitted from the transparent liquid (130) to the light-transmissive convex sidewall (110) forms a total internal reflection phenomenon, so that the convex light concentrating device (100) more conveniently concentrates the sunlight onto the first light energy utilization part (210).