Modular Solar Reflector Unit Without Sun-Tracking Complexity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar panels, including concentration and non-concentration types, face inefficiencies, construction challenges, and high maintenance costs due to the need for complex sun-tracking systems and hermetic sealing issues, while non-concentration types have low efficiency and short operational life.
Innovation Solution
A modular unit for solar energy panels featuring a concave reflective surface and a receiver with specific dimensional relationships, eliminating the need for continuous sun tracking and incorporating a collector for thermal contact, which enhances efficiency and simplifies assembly and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sun-tracking system is used to concentrate solar radiation on the target, then the efficiency of radiation collection is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance costs increase due to moving mechanisms and hermetic sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The solar panel system is divided into multiple independent modular units, each with its own reflective surface and receiver. This segmentation allows each module to function independently without requiring complex tracking mechanisms, as the modular design simplifies the overall system while maintaining effective radiation concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the receiver or reflective surface to track the sun, the invention inverts the approach by using a stationary receiver at the focal point of a concave reflective surface that is oriented to passively concentrate radiation. This eliminates the need for active tracking while maintaining concentration efficiency.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a sun-tracking system is implemented to follow seasonal sun position changes, then the duration of effective radiation collection is improved, but the manufacturing precision and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the need for seasonal tracking by inverting the conventional approach: rather than actively adjusting the reflective surface or receiver to follow the sun, a stationary concave reflective surface is designed with specific geometric parameters (depth-to-opening ratio between 0.2-0.5) that passively concentrate radiation from a wide range of solar angles throughout the day and seasons.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave reflective surface is designed with optimized geometric parameters, specifically a depth-to-opening ratio between 0.2 and 0.5, which allows the surface to effectively concentrate solar radiation from varying angles without requiring adjustment. This parameter optimization enables the system to maintain high collection efficiency throughout the day and across seasons while remaining stationary.
3Productivity
If the receiver extends deeper into the reflective surface, then the radiation concentration efficiency is improved, but the heat exchange efficiency with the collector deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is designed with optimized dimensional parameters, specifically extending into the reflective surface at a depth that balances radiation concentration and heat exchange. The receiver dimensions and position are carefully controlled to ensure sufficient exposure to concentrated radiation while maintaining effective thermal contact with the collector for efficient heat transfer.
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 modular unit achieves high efficiency in solar radiation collection and conversion to heat without requiring costly sun-tracking systems, reducing construction and maintenance costs, and can be easily manufactured and assembled, with the option to produce both heat and electricity.
Implementation Method 1
a concave reflective surface (10) aimed at reflecting the incident radiation towards the receiver (20)
Implementation Method 2
a receiver having a height H and perimeter P, which is positioned at the lowest point of said concave reflective surface
Implementation Method 3
a collector (30) in thermal contact with said receiver
Data Source
AI summary
Modular unit for solar energy panels that comprises: a concave reflective surface (10) having an opening A, a depth B and a length L defining an internal space; a receiver (20) having a height H and perimeter P, positioned within said in.ternal space at the lowest point (11) of said concave reflective surface (10) and which extends for at least a portion of said length L,- a collector in thermal contact with said receiver. In the modular unit according to the invention the relations connecting said opening A, depth B, height H and perimeter P to one another are: A/3 = B = 3/2A; B/12 = H = B/2; 2H < P < 4H.