Solar energy concentration system

Patent · Tue May 05 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5745582

Hamm, J E

A solar radiant energy concentrating system for concentrating solar radiation on a radiant to electric power thermionic conversion transducer. The radiated energy concentration system utilizes multiple reflector units that collectively together or selectively less than all reflectors as an intensity control are settable to reflect solar radiation onto a multi-surfaced concentrator down onto a focal area encompassing the target area for reflection from the concentrator to the transducer input. The energy concentration is varied in the ratio range of from 20,000 to 1 up to 250,000 to 1. Reflector units are set to compensate for the constantly varying declination angle of the earth toward the sun, step tracks the sun compensating for daily rotation of the earth west to east on its axis up to a full 360* depending on latitude north or south of the equator. The concentrator is generally circular in shape, made up of a series of circular bands with the concentrator stationary and situted such that one or more of the reflector devices can be appropriately aligned at all times to reflect the desired greatest amount of solar energy onto the concentrator. The circular bands are concaved inward and each set at an angle in reference to a flat-face surface to reflect and concentrate the solar rays' input between the inner and outer edges of a circular band to a prescribed facal area. The transducer is also mounted in stationary relation to the concentrator such as to avoid flexing of electrical power leads.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-82-046784
• Patent Number(s): US 4266179
• OSTI ID: 5745582
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140502 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Thermonic & Thermoelectric conversion
140700 -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR REFLECTORS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SOLAR TRACKING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS