Flexible Plastic Solar Troughs for Portable Energy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar trough concentrators are not lightweight, inexpensive, or flexible, and they lack efficiency in solar energy generation for portable and efficient solar energy systems.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic solar concentration structure comprising multiple troughs molded out of structural plastic and filled with optical plastic, featuring a reflective inner coating and a flexible mounting system, allowing for efficient light concentration and alignment with the sun without tracking mechanisms, and utilizing optical plastic for enhanced light transmission and structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional solar trough concentrators are used, then solar energy generation is achieved, but the system is heavy, rigid, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible plastic sheets (structural plastic and optical plastic) to create the trough concentrator structure instead of traditional rigid materials. The flexible mounting system allows the concentrator to be lightweight and portable while maintaining functional integrity through the engineered flexibility of the plastic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines structural plastic (for mechanical support) with optical plastic (for light transmission and reflection enhancement) to create a composite structure that achieves both structural stability and optical performance in a lightweight configuration.
2Productivity
If complex tracking mechanisms are added to improve solar alignment, then energy generation efficiency increases, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible mounting system allows the concentrator to passively self-align with the sun's position through its inherent flexibility and the orientation of the plastic sheets, eliminating the need for active tracking mechanisms while maintaining good solar alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the angular tolerance parameters of the trough design and the mounting system to achieve adequate solar alignment over a range of angles without requiring precise tracking, accepting a parameter range that maintains efficiency while reducing complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If reflective surfaces are added to concentrate light, then solar concentration increases, but surface contamination and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plastic surface can be easily cleaned and maintained compared to rigid reflective surfaces. The material properties of the plastic allow for simple cleaning procedures and the flexible nature enables the surface to be accessed and maintained without complex disassembly.
4Strength
If rigid structures are used for structural support, then mechanical strength is improved, but flexibility and portability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible plastic sheets that provide structural support through their engineered flexibility rather than rigidity. The plastic materials maintain the concentrator shape and provide mechanical strength while allowing the system to be portable, flexible in deployment, and adaptable to different mounting surfaces.
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 solution provides a lightweight, efficient, and flexible solar energy generation system with increased solar intensity, reduced maintenance requirements, and improved angular tolerance, making it suitable for portable and low-maintenance applications such as home, emergency, and military use.
Implementation Method 1
The trough side walls each have an approximately parabolic geometry and the internal trough walls are coated with a reflective material to concentrate light on the PV cells at the bottom of the trough.
Implementation Method 2
The optical plastic fill creates a smooth top surface that allows surface build-up such as dirt to be easily cleaned away while allowing light to pass into the trough
Implementation Method 3
Solar trough concentrators comprise a reflective surface and a receiver, such as a photovoltaic cell.
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaic (PV) solar concentration structure having at least two troughs encapsulated in a rectangular parallelepiped optical plastic structure, with the troughs filled with an optical plastic material, the troughs each having a reflective internal surface and approximately parabolic geometry, and the troughs each including photovoltaic cells situated so that light impinging on the optical plastic material will be concentrated onto the photovoltaic cells. Multiple structures can be connected to provide a solar photovoltaic collection system that provides portable, efficient, low-cost electrical power.