Floating Solar Island With Fresnel Concentration and Sun Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar energy technologies face inefficiencies and high costs in large-scale implementation, particularly with photovoltaic cells and solar thermal systems like parabolic troughs, due to low conversion efficiencies, toxic materials, and land requirements, which hinder the practical and cost-effective harnessing of solar energy to mitigate future energy crises.
Innovation Solution
A large-scale, lightweight man-made island equipped with solar radiation collector modules that rotate to track the sun, using a floating platform with a flexible cover and over-pressurized volume to support solar concentrators, reducing the need for expensive guidance systems and land, and combining with photovoltaic converters and Fresnel lenses to enhance energy output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If photovoltaic cells are used to convert solar energy to electricity, then electrical energy production is achieved, but conversion efficiency is limited to 10-18% and manufacturing requires toxic chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces photovoltaic cells with a mechanical-optical system consisting of parabolic trough collectors that reflect and concentrate sunlight onto thermal receivers. This substitution eliminates the need for toxic photovoltaic materials while converting solar energy to thermal energy, which then drives steam turbines for electricity generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy conversion parameter from direct photovoltaic electrical conversion (10-18% efficiency) to thermal concentration and steam turbine conversion. By using parabolic troughs to concentrate sunlight and generate high-temperature steam, the system achieves higher overall conversion efficiency while avoiding toxic manufacturing processes.
2Productivity
If solar thermal technology with parabolic troughs is used, then higher conversion efficiency is achieved, but land requirements and structural complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-based horizontal land occupation to vertical three-dimensional space utilization. By deploying parabolic trough collectors on elevated towers and platforms, the system projects solar collection surfaces upward into the air space, reducing ground footprint while maintaining or increasing total collection area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin-film photothermal converters and flexible reflective surfaces on the parabolic trough collectors. These thin-film technologies reduce material weight and structural support requirements, enabling more efficient use of space and reducing the overall land area needed for the installation.
3Productivity
If parabolic trough collectors with dynamic adjustment systems are used, then solar tracking efficiency is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase due to expensive gear drives and support structures
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the heavy parabolic trough collectors movable to track the sun, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the collectors fixed and making the thermal receivers or the entire tower structure rotatable. This reversal reduces the mechanical complexity and weight of moving parts while maintaining solar tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the tower and platform structures to serve multiple functions: supporting the parabolic trough collectors, providing solar tracking capability, and facilitating maintenance access. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby simplifying the overall system and reducing maintenance requirements.
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
This solution enables significant and cost-effective solar energy production, potentially increasing power output by 10-20% and reducing costs by minimizing land and structural requirements, while maintaining mechanical stability and facilitating maintenance, thus contributing to sustainable energy production.
Implementation Method 1
A compressor or blower system is installed so as to be in fluid communication with the enclosed volume and operable to create a slight over-pressure under the cover
Implementation Method 2
The floating outer ring facilitates rotation of the island to a desired orientation, to optimize the position of the solar radiation collectors located on the island
Implementation Method 3
photovoltaic converters and Fresnel lenses to enhance energy output
Implementation Method 4
combining with photovoltaic converters and Fresnel lenses to enhance energy output
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
A man-made island [10], adaptable for land-based or sea-based operation, holds an array of photovoltaic solar collectors [421] aligned with an array of linear Presnel lenses [422], which concentrate solar radiation on the photovoltaic solar collectors [421]. The island [10] is rotatable to optimize the angular orientation thereof relative to the position of the sun. More particularly, the man-made island [10] uses a platform [12] that includes a large outer ring [14] that floats on a fluid, and a flexible cover [16] attached to the ring [14] to define an airtight volume [30] below the cover [16]. A plurality of rows [419] of supports [420] are located above the cover [16], and carry the photovoltaic panels [421]. A compressor or blower [32] creates an over-pressure within the enclosed volume [30] to assist.in supporting the cover [16] and the other components mounted thereabove.