Off-Axis Solar Concentrator Housing for Optical Alignment and Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar concentrators face challenges in aligning optical elements with solar cells in an off-axis configuration while providing adequate thermal and environmental protection, often requiring costly manufacturing steps or sacrificing precision for cost reduction.
Innovation Solution
A solar concentrator design featuring a housing with a receiving wall, reflecting wall, and end walls that includes a receiver with a non-zero angle relative to the housing axis, clips for aligning optical elements, and a window for enclosure, allowing for easy alignment and protection of photovoltaic cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If solar cells are placed in the back of an enclosure to protect them from the environment, then environmental protection is improved, but heat removal becomes difficult requiring a larger heat sink
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a front section with the optical element and inlet for sunlight entry, a middle section containing the receiver with photovoltaic cells mounted on the rear interior surface, and a rear section with outlet. This segmentation allows the optical element to be positioned for optimal light concentration while the receiver is protected in the enclosed space, and heat can be managed through the outlet area without compromising environmental protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver is positioned at an off-axis angle relative to the housing rather than directly behind the optical element. This angular arrangement creates a three-dimensional light path where concentrated sunlight travels diagonally through the enclosure to reach the receiver. This dimensional change allows sufficient space for heat dissipation structures while maintaining environmental protection and optical concentration efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If costly manufacturing steps are used to achieve precise alignment of optical elements with solar cells, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element and receiver are pre-positioned at fixed locations within the housing during manufacturing, with the receiver mounted on the rear interior surface at a predetermined off-axis angle. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the housing is assembled, the optical elements and solar cells are automatically aligned without requiring costly post-assembly adjustment mechanisms or complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure itself acts as an intermediary that provides mechanical support and alignment references for both the optical element and the receiver. By mounting the receiver on the rear interior surface of the housing and positioning the optical element within the enclosed space, the housing walls serve as reference surfaces that ensure precise alignment while simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the receiver is positioned at an off-axis angle to the housing, then alignment flexibility is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides environmental protection for the receiver, serves as a mounting structure for both the optical element and receiver, defines the light path through its geometry, and facilitates heat removal through its enclosed design with inlet and outlet. The rear interior surface mounting of the receiver enables off-axis alignment while the housing itself handles all structural complexity, keeping the receiver design simple and universal.
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
Facilitates precise alignment of optical elements with solar cells in an off-axis configuration, simplifying installation and providing effective thermal and environmental protection, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
prior art systems that utilize Fresnel lenses (refracting optics) require placing the solar cells in the back of an enclosure
Implementation Method 2
a reflector surface for reflecting the solar radiation incident on the reflector surface from the exit surface of the lens
Implementation Method 3
Photovoltaic solar concentrators typically are used to generate electrical power by concentrating sunlight onto photovoltaic devices
Data Source
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AI summary
A solar concentrator including a housing having a receiving wall, a reflecting wall and at least two end walls, the receiving, reflecting and end walls defining a three-dimensional volume having an inlet, wherein a vertical axis of the housing is generally perpendicular to the inlet, a receiver mounted on the receiving wall of the housing, the receiver including at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein a vertical axis of the receiver is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the vertical axis of the housing, at least one clip disposed on the reflecting wall, an optical element received within the three-dimensional volume, the optical element including at least one tab, the tab being engaged by the clip to align the optical element with the receiver, and a window received over the inlet to enclose the housing.