Solar concentrator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar concentrators face challenges in achieving high and uniform solar concentration levels while maintaining structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness, with current technologies either resulting in excessive concentration damaging materials or requiring complex constructions and high precision tracking.
Innovation Solution
A solar concentrator design featuring a reflective body with multiple inclined sheets, each defined by parabolic surfaces, overlapping to achieve a focal segment with even energy distribution, allowing for concentrations between 300 and 1500 times, and optionally incorporating a secondary lens for further concentration and evenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a 3D rotating paraboloid concentrator is used, then high solar concentration (>5000 times) and high yield (70-80%) are achieved, but the concentrated radiation damages materials in focus and requires complex flow homogenizers and two-axis tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective body is divided into multiple planar reflective elements (first and second reflective sheets) arranged in a stepped configuration, each segment directing sunlight to different portions of the focal segment. This segmentation distributes the concentrated radiation along a linear focal segment rather than concentrating it at a single point, reducing peak intensity and preventing material damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from point-focus concentration (3D paraboloid) to line-focus concentration by arranging reflective elements along a longitudinal axis. The focal segment extends in one dimension, distributing energy along a line rather than concentrating it at a point, thereby reducing harmful peak intensities while maintaining high overall concentration ratios of 300-1500 times.
2Device complexity
If a parabolic cylinder concentrator is used, then simple construction and single-axis tracking are achieved, but solar concentration is limited to about 70 times which is insufficient for photovoltaic applications
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrator uses multiple discrete planar reflective sheets arranged in a stepped pattern along the longitudinal axis, with each sheet contributing to the overall concentration. This segmented approach achieves higher concentration (300-1500 times) compared to a single parabolic cylinder while maintaining relatively simple construction and single-axis tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple planar reflective elements are combined in a stepped configuration to achieve the concentration effect of a continuous curved surface. The first and second reflective sheets work together, with their respective focal points positioned at different locations along the focal segment, collectively achieving high solar concentration without requiring complex single-curvature parabolic construction.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the number of reflective sheets is increased to achieve higher concentration, then solar concentration increases to 300-1500 times, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective body is divided into a manageable number of planar sheets (first and second reflective sheets) arranged in a systematic stepped pattern. This segmentation achieves high concentration (300-1500 times) without requiring an excessive number of elements, as each sheet contributes effectively to the overall concentration through its specific angular position and focal point location along the focal segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention distributes the concentration function across multiple dimensions by arranging reflective sheets along a longitudinal axis with varying angles and focal points. This spatial distribution achieves high overall concentration while keeping the number of individual sheets manageable, as the concentration is accumulated along the length of the focal segment rather than requiring many sheets at a single location.
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 design achieves high and uniform solar concentration levels suitable for various applications, including HCPVT and thermal uses, with improved efficiency and reduced complexity compared to existing systems, while maintaining structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a concentrator of sun rays (10) comprising a reflective body (15) adapted to reflect incident sun rays towards a focal segment
Implementation Method 2
each first sheet comprises a reflective surface defined by a plurality of parabolas... configured such that each parabola has a focal point placed on the focal segment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A concentrator (10) of sun rays comprising: a reflective body (15) adapted to reflect incident sun rays towards a focal segment (SF) at which the reflected sun rays intersect, wherein the reflective body (15) comprises a plurality of reflective first sheets (40) alongside each other along a flanking direction parallel to the focal segment (SF) and each of which is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to a plane passing through the middle point (PM) of the focal segment (SF) and orthogonal to the focal segment itself, wherein each first sheet (40) comprises a reflective surface defined by a plurality of parabolas (401), which are alongside each other with respect to the flanking direction of the first sheets (40) and each have a vertex (Vn1) placed on a vertex segment (SV1), which joins all the vertices (Vn1) of the parabolas (401) of each first sheet (40) have a focal distance varying along the flanking direction and are configured such that each parabola has a focal point (F1, Fn1, F2) placed on the focal segment (SF).