Lightweight diaphragm mirror module system for solar collectors
Abstract
A mirror module system is provided for accurately focusing solar radiation on a point or a line as defined by an array of solar collectors. Each mirror module includes a flexible membrane stretched over a frame in a manner similar to that of a drum or a trampoline and further includes a silvered glass or plastic mirror for forming an optical reflecting surface. The configuration of the optical reflecting surface is variably adjustable to provide for the accurate focusing of the solar energy on a given collector array, e.g., a point or a linear array arrangement. The flexible mirror-membrane combination is lightweight to facilitate installation and reduce system cost yet structurally strong enough to provide for the precise focusing of the incident solar radiation in a semi-rigid reflector system in which unwanted reflector displacement is minimized.
- Inventors:
-
- Golden, CO
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865419
- Patent Number(s):
- 4511215
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- EG-77-C-01-4042
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- lightweight; diaphragm; mirror; module; solar; collectors; provided; accurately; focusing; radiation; line; defined; array; flexible; membrane; stretched; frame; manner; similar; drum; trampoline; silvered; glass; plastic; forming; optical; reflecting; surface; configuration; variably; adjustable; provide; accurate; energy; collector; linear; arrangement; mirror-membrane; combination; facilitate; installation; reduce; cost; structurally; strong; precise; incident; semi-rigid; reflector; unwanted; displacement; minimized; facilitate installation; solar collectors; linear array; solar collector; solar energy; solar radiation; reflecting surface; mirror module; silvered glass; manner similar; flexible membrane; incident solar; focusing solar; /359/
Citation Formats
Butler, Barry L. Lightweight diaphragm mirror module system for solar collectors. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Butler, Barry L. Lightweight diaphragm mirror module system for solar collectors. United States.
Butler, Barry L. Tue .
"Lightweight diaphragm mirror module system for solar collectors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865419.
@article{osti_865419,
title = {Lightweight diaphragm mirror module system for solar collectors},
author = {Butler, Barry L},
abstractNote = {A mirror module system is provided for accurately focusing solar radiation on a point or a line as defined by an array of solar collectors. Each mirror module includes a flexible membrane stretched over a frame in a manner similar to that of a drum or a trampoline and further includes a silvered glass or plastic mirror for forming an optical reflecting surface. The configuration of the optical reflecting surface is variably adjustable to provide for the accurate focusing of the solar energy on a given collector array, e.g., a point or a linear array arrangement. The flexible mirror-membrane combination is lightweight to facilitate installation and reduce system cost yet structurally strong enough to provide for the precise focusing of the incident solar radiation in a semi-rigid reflector system in which unwanted reflector displacement is minimized.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}