Inflatable Solar Concentrator Cushion With Adjustable Absorber Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of solar radiation concentration in existing devices decreases over time due to material creep and deformation, causing the absorber to be partially or fully outside the focus area of the reflector foil, leading to reduced energy conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment device is introduced between the upper longitudinal member and the pivoting device to allow for height adjustment, ensuring the absorber remains in the focus area by compensating for material creep and deformation, and a sealing film strip is used to maintain an airtight connection while allowing solar radiation to pass through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the concentrator cushion uses plastic material (ETFE) for the cover film element, then the device achieves lightweight construction and ease of manufacture, but the material creeps over time causing deformation and loss of positioning precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adjustment device that enables dynamic adjustment of the upper longitudinal member's position relative to the pivoting device. This allows the system to adapt to the creeping deformation of the plastic material over time, maintaining the absorber's correct positioning in the focus area despite material degradation. The adjustment mechanism transforms a static structure into a dynamically adjustable one, compensating for time-dependent material behavior.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the upper longitudinal member is fixed rigidly to the pivoting device, then the structure maintains stable geometry, but the absorber moves outside the focus area due to material creep
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device between the upper longitudinal member and pivoting device allows for compensating the dimensional changes caused by material creep. By enabling positional adjustment, the system maintains the absorber's correct location in the focus area while preserving the overall structural stability of the concentrator cushion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the upper longitudinal member's position relative to the pivoting device. By making this parameter adjustable rather than fixed, the system can compensate for the dimensional changes caused by material creep, ensuring the absorber remains properly positioned in the focus area while maintaining structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the concentrator cushion is made more rigid to prevent creep, then positioning precision is maintained, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than increasing material rigidity, the patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the existing plastic material structure to be compensated for its creeping behavior. This approach maintains positioning precision without requiring more complex or rigid structural designs, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the absorber suspension passes through the concentrator cushion, then the absorber can be suspended from the holding device, but air escapes from the concentrator cushion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sealing film strip as an intermediary element between the absorber suspension and the concentrator cushion. This sealing film allows the absorber to be suspended from the holding device while preventing air from escaping the concentrator cushion, thus maintaining both operational functionality and sealing reliability.
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 maintains the efficiency of the concentrator cushion over long-term use by ensuring the absorber remains in the focus area, enhancing energy conversion efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs by avoiding the need for more rigid materials.
Implementation Method 1
a cover film element (3'') with a translucent entry window (3) for coupling in solar radiation
Implementation Method 2
a reflector film (6), which is curved in the operating state, for concentrating the solar radiation in an absorber (1')... with a mirror surface (6'), which bundles the coupled-in solar radiation in the direction of the absorber (1')
Implementation Method 3
a pivoting device (7) with which the concentrator cushion (2) can be pivoted, in particular about its longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 4
It has been observed that the (plastic) materials of the concentrator pad tend to creep... Creep of the plastic material affects the force transmission between the cover sheet member of the concentrator pad and the upper rail
Implementation Method 5
a sealing film strip is used to maintain an airtight connection while allowing solar radiation to pass through
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber (1'), said device comprising an inflatable concentrator cushion (2) which has a cover film element (3'') with a light-permeable entry window (3) for coupling in solar radiation and a reflector film (6) for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber (1'), the reflector film sub-dividing the concentrator cushion (2) into at least two hollow spaces (4, 5). The device also comprises a pivoting apparatus (7), with which the concentrator cushion (2) can be pivoted, in particular about its longitudinal axis, and a retaining apparatus (31) which is secured to the pivoting apparatus (7) for retaining the concentrator cushion (2). The retaining apparatus (31) has an upper longitudinal member (32) extending in the longitudinal direction of the concentrator cushion (2) for supporting the absorber (1'), the upper longitudinal member (32) being arranged on a substantially air-tight upper passage opening (34) of the concentrator cushion (2), an adjusting device (48) being provided between the upper longitudinal member (32) of the retaining apparatus (31) and the pivoting apparatus (7), with which a distance between the upper longitudinal member (32) and the pivoting apparatus (7) can be adjusted.