Planar Optical Module for Fixed-Orientation Solar Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) systems require complex and energy-intensive tracking mechanisms to follow the sun's movement, leading to increased costs, size, and energy waste, as they need to be constantly oriented towards the light source due to the étendue limitation, which restricts their efficiency and suitability for residential installations.
Innovation Solution
A planar optical module with movable optical arrangements that converge and collimate incident light, allowing the output light to maintain a fixed orientation independent of the incident light direction, thereby eliminating the need for active sun tracking and enabling compatibility with various concentrating optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If active sun tracking by rotation of the concentrator panel is implemented, then the angular acceptance can be relatively small and concentration factors can be high, but the system requires extremely high accuracy requirements on angular positions and complex tracking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation tracking system with an optical field transformation system. Instead of mechanically rotating the concentrator panel to follow the sun, the invention uses a planar optical module with movable optical arrangements that transform the incident light field, maintaining high concentration factors without complex mechanical tracking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic optical arrangements that can move relative to each other to adapt to variable incident light directions. This dynamic optical configuration allows the system to maintain optimal performance across different sun positions without requiring mechanical rotation of the entire concentrator structure.
2Productivity
If the concentrator panel is constantly oriented towards the light source, then sunlight can be effectively concentrated, but the system requires complex and energy-intensive tracking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates energy-intensive mechanical tracking by substituting it with a passive optical field transformation system. The movable optical arrangements automatically adapt to incident light direction through optical principles rather than mechanical actuation, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining concentration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system performs self-adjustment through the inherent properties of light transformation. The movable optical arrangements automatically configure themselves to handle variable incident angles without requiring external energy input for active control, enabling the system to serve itself across different operating conditions.
3Device complexity
If wide acceptance angles are used to cover sun variations, then tracking complexity is reduced, but the concentration factor becomes relatively small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic optical arrangements that can adjust their relative positions to maintain high concentration factors across wide acceptance angles. The movable components enable the system to optimize light transformation for each incident angle, achieving both wide angular coverage and high concentration without the trade-off present in static systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the system by moving the optical arrangements to different positions and configurations. This allows the system to maintain optimal concentration factors across a wide range of incident angles by dynamically adjusting optical parameters rather than being fixed to a single operating point.
4Device complexity
If planar optical elements are used for micro-tracking, then active rotation is eliminated, but the angular acceptance and concentration capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static planar optical elements into dynamic systems by introducing movable optical arrangements. This enables the planar configuration to achieve both micro-tracking simplicity and enhanced angular acceptance with high concentration capability, overcoming the limitations of fixed planar optical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal optical module that can handle multiple functions: micro-tracking without active rotation, wide angular acceptance, and high concentration capability. The movable optical arrangements enable a single planar device to perform all these functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate tracking mechanisms.
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 simplifies the tracking mechanism, enhances efficiency by maintaining high concentration factors, reduces the risk of optical obstruction, and allows for fixed orientation of concentrators, making CPV systems more competitive with traditional solar panels.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical arrangement with at least one optical layer able to converge the beam of incident light, forming thereby at least one converging light beam
Implementation Method 2
a second optical arrangement placed downstream the first optical arrangement, said second optical arrangement having at least one optical layer able to collimate said converging light beam(s), forming thereby at least one collimated and concentrated beam
Data Source
AI summary
Planar optical module (100, 100′) for capturing, converging and collimating incident light (3, 3′) with a variable incident direction comprising: —a first optical arrangement (10) with an optical layer able to converge the incident light-beam (3, 3′), forming thereby a converging light-beam (4, 4′) and —a second optical arrangement (20) placed downstream said first optical arrangement (10), said second optical arrangement (20) having an optical layer collimating said converging light-beam(s) (4, 4′), forming thereby a collimated and concentrated beam (5, 5′), wherein the first and second optical arrangements (10, 20) are movable one relative to the other such that the relative position of first and second optical arrangements (10, 20) allows said collimated and concentrated beam (5, 5′) to have an orientation which is, in a plane perpendicular to the main plane (P) of the planar optical module (100, 100′), predetermined, fixed and independent from the direction of the incident light (3, 3′). Preferentially, the first optical arrangement (10) comprises two optical layers (11, 12) movable one relative to the other, the second optical arrangement (20) comprises either an optical layer formed by one or a plurality of reflective elements (26, 27) having a concave surface or comprises only one optical layer with variable refractive-index elements (23) or with fluorescent dyes (25).