Solar Light System with Infrared Removal and Parallel Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar interior lighting systems face challenges in achieving high concentration of visible light while minimizing heat generation, often requiring expensive equipment and being inflexible for various applications, with existing solutions either overheating or being costly and customized for specific situations.
Innovation Solution
A solar light system utilizing a parallel-processing optical concentrator with multiple optical concentrating elements in a parallel arrangement, combined with spectral conditioning to remove infrared radiation, allowing for high concentration of visible light with reduced heat issues and using less expensive components like plastic optical fibers and less precise solar tracking systems, enabling modular design for flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a concentrating mirror is used to concentrate solar light by several hundred times or more, then the light concentration factor is improved, but heat generation in the equipment becomes significant due to infrared radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes infrared radiation from the concentrated solar light using spectral filtering techniques. By separating the infrared component from the visible light, the system achieves high light concentration while preventing excessive heat generation in the optical components and fibers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the solar spectrum into different wavelength components, specifically separating infrared radiation from visible light. This spectral segmentation allows the visible light to be concentrated for illumination while the infrared portion is managed separately to control heat generation.
2Illumination intensity
If expensive equipment such as extremely precise solar trackers and high-cost glass optical fibers is used, then the system can operate at very high light concentration factors of 1000 or more, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cost-effective plastic optical fibers instead of expensive glass optical fibers. While plastic fibers have shorter lifespan and lower damage threshold, they provide sufficient performance for the application at a significantly reduced cost, making the system economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the optical fibers from glass to plastic, and adjusts the operating parameters to match the capabilities of less precise solar trackers. This parameter optimization allows the system to achieve high concentration factors using lower-cost components.
3Illumination intensity
If the system is customized for each specific application with high concentration factors, then the performance is optimized, but the systems are not easily adapted to other situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system design that can be adapted to various interior lighting applications. By using standardized components and a flexible optical architecture, the system can be configured for different concentration factors and application scenarios without requiring complete customization.
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 system achieves very high concentration of visible light with reduced heat generation, using cost-effective components and modular design, making it suitable for a wide range of interior lighting applications.
Implementation Method 1
an optical filter to remove at least a portion of radiation outside of the visible light range to prepare spectrally-conditioned solar radiation
Implementation Method 2
a parallel-processing optical concentrator disposed to receive as input at least a portion of the spectrally-conditioned solar radiation and to prepare multiple beams of processed solar radiation including concentrated visible light
Data Source
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AI summary
A solar light system may include two stages of optical concentration with intermediate removal of infrared radiation between the optical concentration stages. A second stage of optical concentration may prepare multiple concentrating beams of processed solar radiation with visible light with each such concentrating beam directed to a different corresponding light conduit for transmission to an interior space for interior lighting. System modularization may provide flexibility to accommodate a variety of interior lighting applications.