Flexible Solar Collector Reflector With Profiled Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar collector units, particularly parabolic troughs, face challenges with fragility, high weight, and maintenance costs due to glass reflectors, and inefficiencies with aluminum alternatives, while existing support structures complicate production, transportation, and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible solar collector unit with a reflective surface and a substrate, supported by a predefined number of profiles, allowing for a lightweight, stable, and self-supporting structure that can be easily manufactured and adapted for various uses, using materials like aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, and a multi-layer reflective film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If glass reflectors are used in parabolic troughs, then reflecting properties are excellent, but weight is substantial and fragility is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by replacing traditional rigid glass mirrors with flexible thin-film reflective coatings on lightweight substrates. The reflective film is applied to a flexible support structure that can be formed into parabolic shapes, achieving high reflectivity while dramatically reducing weight and eliminating glass fragility issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining lightweight substrate materials (such as aluminum or polymer sheets) with thin reflective coatings. This composite structure maintains the optical performance of glass mirrors while achieving the weight reduction and durability benefits of modern composite construction.
2Illumination intensity
If glass reflectors are used in parabolic troughs, then reflecting properties are excellent, but manufacturing and installation costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible thin-film approach enables simpler manufacturing processes compared to traditional glass mirror fabrication. The films can be applied to pre-formed substrates using coating techniques, and the flexible nature allows for easier transportation and installation, reducing overall system costs while maintaining optical performance.
3Weight of moving object
If aluminum sheet reflectors are used, then weight is reduced, but reflecting properties are lower and maintenance is frequent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines aluminum or other lightweight substrate materials with high-performance reflective coatings to create a composite structure that achieves both weight reduction and high reflecting properties. The coating layer compensates for the lower inherent reflectivity of aluminum, while the lightweight substrate maintains the weight advantage.
4Strength
If traditional support structures are used, then structural support is provided, but complexity of production and installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible support structure integrates both structural support and reflective functions in a single component. The flexible nature allows the support structure itself to be formed into the desired parabolic shape, eliminating the need for separate rigid support frameworks and simplifying both production and installation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the support structure and reflective surface into a single integrated component. The flexible substrate serves both as the structural element that maintains the parabolic shape and as the carrier for the reflective coating, reducing overall system complexity.
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 cost-effective, versatile, and efficient solar collector unit with reduced deflection under load, enabling easier handling and installation, while maintaining high reflecting properties and stability, thus improving the overall efficiency and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a solar collector unit adapted for reflecting light onto a receiver, comprising a reflector element
Data Source
AI summary
The solar collector unit is adapted for reflecting light onto a receiver, and comprises a reflector element, and a support structure supporting the reflector element. The reflector element is flexible and comprises a reflective surface and a substrate having a predefined length and width. The support structure comprises a predefined number of profiles per length unit connected to the reflector element at a distance from each other to provide a predefined shape of the solar collector unit. The number of profiles per length of substrate may be varied and lies in the interval 3 to 12, preferably 4 to 10, most preferred 5 to 8 per 2000 mm of length of the substrate.