Solar concentrator-collector
A solar heat concentrator-collector is disclosed comprising, in combination, solar radiation concentrator means and collector means for receiving the concentrated solar energy and providing for conversion of the energy into usable or more readily convertable form. The concentrator means may be of a variety of concentrators known and used in the art, however the collector means of the present invention functions extremely well with a line focus Fresnel array, the array including a plurality of generally parallelly disposed elongated self-supporting elements or panels each with a reflective surface, and with each element or panel having means for positioning its reflective surface in an operative solar viewing disposition. The collector means when adapted for use with a line focus Fresnel array includes an energy absorbing means such as one or more conduits, each having a fluid heat transfer medium moving therethrough, and with an improved shroud enclosing at least a portion of the collector, the shroud comprising a radiation permeable member having an outer surface concave to the concentrator and defining a transmissive path for a substantial portion of the incident radiation. The configuration of the surface of the radiation permeable member provides a re-entrant path for any radiation which is reflected from the surface thereof. The conduit carrying the heat transfer medium has a closed cross-section such as an elongated member of circular or rectangular cross-section to form a cylinder, or other regular structure, and with the axis of the fluid transfer conduit or conduits being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the array of reflective surfaces or panels.
- Assignee:
- Suntec Systems, Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4088120
- OSTI ID:
- 6077345
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 2 Sep 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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