Solar Module Assembly With Concave Surfaces for Light and Heat Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar collectors darken the interior of buildings when maximizing solar energy usage, failing to provide both thermal and electrical energy efficiently while illuminating the space.
Innovation Solution
A solar energy module with functional surfaces arranged at an obtuse angle, featuring a concave curvature to reflect sunlight at different angles, incorporating photovoltaic units, reflective, and radiation-absorbing surfaces, and a phase-changing heat transport medium, allowing for efficient energy generation and interior illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If metallic absorber flags are used to maximize thermal radiation utilization, then thermal energy efficiency is improved, but the interior of the building is completely darkened
Solution Approach 1:
The solar collector surface is segmented into multiple functional surfaces with different orientations and curvatures. Each surface segment captures and redirects solar radiation in specific directions, allowing simultaneous thermal energy capture and useful light reflection into the building interior, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal efficiency and interior illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the solar collector are assigned different local qualities: some surfaces have high absorptivity for thermal energy capture, while others have high reflectivity for interior illumination. The concave curvature creates local variations in light reflection angles, directing light into the building while maintaining thermal capture efficiency.
2Productivity
If photovoltaic units are added to generate electrical energy, then overall energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges photovoltaic units with the existing solar collector structure, integrating electrical energy generation into the thermal energy capture system. The photovoltaic units are mounted on the functional surfaces, allowing simultaneous thermal and electrical energy production from the same solar radiation input, thus improving overall productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If the functional surface is made concavely curved to reflect light at different angles, then interior illumination is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The functional surface is designed with a concave curvature that naturally reflects solar radiation at multiple angles into the building interior. The curved geometry distributes reflected light across different directions, improving interior illumination while the standardized curvature profile simplifies manufacturing compared to complex asymmetric shapes.
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
Enhances the overall efficiency of solar energy utilization by generating both thermal and electrical energy, illuminating the interior, and optimizing the use of thermal energy through module cooling and selective reflection of sunlight.
Implementation Method 1
the additional functional surface is configured to be concavely curved in cross-section such that when direct sunlight strikes the photovoltaic unit orthogonally at the same time directly Incoming sunbeams are reflected from the additional functional surface at different acute angles
Implementation Method 2
a photovoltaic unit is arranged on at least one of the functional surfaces
Implementation Method 3
the photovoltaic unit is cooled on the functional surface by the coolant line, which is in thermal contact with the functional surface, so that the efficiency of the photovoltaic unit is increased and at the same time the thermal energy of the solar radiation can be used
Implementation Method 4
the heat transport medium is a phase-changing working medium
Implementation Method 5
the reflecting surface is designed to be selectively reflecting. In this way, for example, the infrared rays can be absorbed by the module body and supplied to the heat transport medium as thermal energy and at the same time parts of the visible light can be reflected to illuminate, for example, an interior of a building
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a solar energy module (10) that utilises captured solar energy. Said module comprises an elongated module body (14), on which at least one functional surface (14, 16, 18) is formed for absorbing and/or reflecting solar radiation (28). The module body (14) contains at least one fluid conduit (22) which is in thermal contact with the functional surface (14, 16, 18) and receives a thermal transport medium. The module body (14) has at least one supply opening (24) for supplying the thermal transport medium to the fluid conduit (22) and at least one drain opening (26) for withdrawing the thermal transport medium from the fluid conduit (22). The module body (14) has a polygonal external profile along a longitudinal axis (12), at least one functional surface (16, 18, 20, 34) being formed on said profile for absorbing and/or reflecting solar radiation (28).