Parabolic Dish Beam Structure for Low-Cost Mirror Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional space frame designs for parabolic mirror type solar thermal collectors are costly due to high manufacturing expenses and require additional support structures for mirrors, increasing mass and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A dish structure with a virtual front surface and elongate front beams that have mounting areas for reflective panels, allowing direct mounting and alignment of panels to form a parabolic surface, using a jig for accurate assembly and reducing material costs by utilizing rolled steel strips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional space frame designs with individual nodes and struts are used, then high dimensional accuracy can be achieved, but manufacturing cost and structural complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The dish structure is segmented into discrete front beams that are spaced apart rather than continuously connected. Each front beam is an independent structural element that can be manufactured separately and then assembled, reducing the complexity of individual components while maintaining overall dimensional accuracy through precise spacing and alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting area for reflective panels is merged directly into the front beam structure itself, eliminating the need for separate support structures. The front beam incorporates both structural support and panel mounting functions, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall assembly while maintaining structural integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional space frame designs with individual node connections are used, then high dimensional accuracy can be achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is divided into discrete front beams that can be manufactured using standard rolling processes rather than requiring custom fabrication of complex node connections. This segmentation allows for more economical manufacturing while maintaining dimensional accuracy through controlled spacing and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The front beams are designed as simple, standardized components that can be manufactured cost-effectively using rolled steel strips. Rather than investing in expensive custom node connections, the design uses simpler, more economical components that achieve the required performance at lower cost.
3Measurement precision
If mirrors are mounted via individual support structures on space frames, then proper positioning can be achieved, but mass and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting area is merged directly into the front beam structure, combining the structural support function and mirror positioning function into a single integrated component. This eliminates redundant support structures and reduces overall mass while maintaining precise mirror positioning through the beam's inherent geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate support structure for mirrors is extracted and eliminated entirely. Instead of adding support structures, the front beam itself is designed to provide both structural support and precise mounting surfaces, removing unnecessary mass from the system.
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 enables the creation of a cost-effective, accurately aligned dish structure with reduced material costs and simplified mounting of reflective panels, improving efficiency and structural integrity while minimizing mass.
Implementation Method 1
Each panel may be bonded to the front surface of the front beams... The panels preferably each have a surface that reflects electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A dish structure (10) has a virtual front surface, the front surface having a periphery, and a plurality of spaced apart non overlapping elongate front beams (16), each of which extends between two points on the periphery. Each front beam (16) has at least one mounting area (20) for receiving a reflective panel (150), the at least one mounting area (20) conforming substantially to the virtual front surface in the longitudinal direction of the front beam (16).