Modular solar concentrator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar concentrators are either too small or too large for industrial use and are difficult to transport and install, especially in inaccessible off-grid locations, as they require separate systems and modifications to change reflective surface sizes.
Innovation Solution
A modular solar concentrator design that allows for the expansion or reduction of its reflecting surface by using interchangeable components, including supports, mirrors, and receivers, enabling flexible configuration without altering the overall structure, and facilitating easy installation in challenging environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a large reflective surface is used for industrial use, then the energy concentration capability is improved, but the difficulty of transport and installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solar concentrator is divided into multiple identical modular units, each containing a complete set of components (support structure, reflective surface, receiver). These modules can be transported separately and assembled on-site to achieve the desired total reflective surface area, solving the transport difficulty while maintaining industrial-scale energy concentration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows smaller modular units to be nested or combined to form larger systems. Each module contains integrated components that can be stacked or arranged in configurations to scale up the reflective surface area while keeping individual transport units manageable in size.
2Ease of operation
If a small reflective surface is used for domestic use, then the ease of transport and installation is improved, but the energy concentration capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses identical modular units that can be deployed in small numbers for domestic applications. Each module maintains full functionality with integrated support, reflective surface, and receiver, allowing small-scale energy concentration while keeping transport and installation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The same modular unit design serves both domestic and industrial applications. By varying the number of modules deployed rather than changing the module design, the system provides universal functionality across different scale requirements, maintaining ease of transport while achieving appropriate energy concentration levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate independent systems are used for different reflective surface sizes, then the adaptability to different uses is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single modular unit design serves multiple purposes by varying the quantity of modules deployed. The same support structure, reflective surface configuration, and receiver design are used whether deploying one module for domestic use or multiple modules for industrial use, eliminating the need for different independent systems and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system's adaptability is achieved dynamically through scalable deployment of identical modules rather than through static design variations. The configuration flexibility comes from adding or removing modules rather than modifying fundamental system architecture, maintaining simplicity while providing versatility.
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
Enables the creation of systems with varying reflective surface sizes without additional independent systems, simplifying installation in hard-to-reach locations and allowing easy conversion between domestic and industrial applications, enhancing versatility and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
solar concentrators or solar concentrating systems, also known by the acronym CSP (Concentrating Solar Power), that allow to convert solar energy into thermal and/or electrical energy by exploiting the reflection of sunlight obtained through generally reflective surfaces consisting of mirrors
Data Source
AI summary
Modular solar concentrator including first support defining a main axis transversal to ground, second support constrained to first support and including a first tubular element defining a rotation axis transversal to the main axis and two first flanges at first tubular element ends, a mirror defining a reflecting surface to focus solar rays, a receiver to acquire focused solar rays, sideboards each defining a concave profile and constraint area with a circular sector to allow constraining one or more sideboards on each first flange to create one or more support frames to constrain a mirror, one or more extensions including a second tubular element including two second flanges respectively at each end to connect to a respective first flange to extend the second support. A sideboard constrainable to a second flange to create a plurality of frames to constrain the mirrors and widen mirror reflecting surface total extension.