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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Lens type solar collector requiring no orientation system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5284937
This patent describes a stationary solar collector system for collecting solar radiation from the sun. The system comprises means, including a matrix of lenses, for focusing solar radiation onto a focal plane to form a set of solar images in the plane; a set of optical fibers, each of the fibers having an open end; a positioning plate holding the open ends of the fibers within a common plane which is coincident with the focal plane; and positioning means for moving the plate laterally relative to the matrix of lenses. The optical fibers are substantially equal in number to the number of lenses in the matrix and positioned within the plate with the open ends being in the same pattern or configuration as the lenses in the matrix and such that each open end is at the focal point of a corresponding lens in the matrix. The positioning means move the plate laterally relative to the matrix of lenses in such manner that the pattern of open ends of the fibers can always be made to coincide with the pattern of solar images as the sun traverses the solar collector.
Assignee:
NOV; EDB-88-077886; NOV-88-004135
Patent Number(s):
US 4723826
OSTI ID:
5284937
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English