Title: Method of making a modular off-axis solar concentrator

Abstract

A method of making a solar concentrator may include forming a receiving wall having an elongated wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; attaching the first side wall and the second side wall to a reflecting wall to form a housing having an internal volume with an opening; forming a lip on the receiving wall and the reflecting wall; attaching a cover to the receiving wall and the reflecting wall at the lip to seal the opening into the internal volume, thereby creating a rigid structure; and mounting at least one receiver having at least one photovoltaic cell on the elongated wall to receive solar radiation entering the housing and reflected by the receiving wall, the receiver having an axis parallel with a surface normal of the photovoltaic cell, such that the axis is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the vertical axis of the opening.

Inventors:

Plesniak, Adam P.; Hall, John C.

Issue Date:

2017-05-23

Research Org.:

The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1358225

Patent Number(s):

9660125

Application Number:

14/606,316

Assignee:

The Boeing Company

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S2023/874 - {Reflectors formed by assemblies of adjacent similar reflective facets}
F24S2080/015 - {Plastics}
F24S23/30 - with lenses
F24S23/74 - with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
F24S23/82 - {characterised by the material or the construction of the reflector}
F24S80/50 - Elements for transmitting incoming solar rays and preventing outgoing heat radiation
F24S80/58 - characterised by their mountings or fixing means

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/052 - Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells
H01L31/054 - Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
H01L31/0547 - {comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection}

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

Y02E10/40 - Solar thermal energy
Y02E10/52 - PV systems with concentrators

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

Y10T29/49355 - Solar energy device making

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DOE Contract Number:  

FC36-07G017052

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2015 Jan 27

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY