Solar energy concentrator system

Patent · Tue Jun 12 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6413018

Folino, F A

A solar energy concentrator system having a plurality of concentrator arrays with each of the arrays being made up of a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending concentrator modules. Each of the concentrator modules has a semi-cylindrically-shaped housing and a semi-cylindrically-shaped cover in order to form an overall cylindrically-shaped structure which provides protection from adverse environmental conditions and withstands high wind loads. Situated within the cover and connected to the housing is a parabolically-shaped concentrator. The concentrator is made up of a plurality of parallelogram-shaped reflector panels mounted adjacent one another on a bias. This arrangement permits the ends of the panels to overlap adjacent modules so as to provide a substantially continuous reflector surface. The reflector surface redirects solar energy onto a plurality of solar cells located within the cover and as a result of the physical makeup of the concentrator components substantially eliminates the problem of cell shadowing.

• Assignee: Secretary of the Air Force
• Patent Number(s): US 4454371
• OSTI ID: 6413018
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
CONFIGURATION
COVERINGS
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
DYNAMIC LOADS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
RELIABILITY
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE SURFACES
SURFACES
WIND LOADS