Title: Sunlight collection system with asymmetric catadioptric optics

Abstract

The system captures and concentrates sunlight for transmission to interior spaces or to a PV system. A solar collector uses arrayed refractive lenses, opposing concave focusing mirrors, and a movable coupling sheet forming part of a lightguide. The lenses and mirrors have an asymmetric shape, such as having aspect ratios of 3:4 or 1:2, so as to have an asymmetric aperture to better receive light at the different ranges of angles of the sun's rays over the course of a year. The long axis of the apertures is generally oriented in an East-West. The movable sheet contains small angled mirrors, and the sheet is translated to position the angled mirrors at the focal points of the sunlight for maximum deflection of the sunlight to an output of the collection system. A position sensor provides feedback regarding the position of the angled mirrors relative to the focal points.

Inventors:

Kozodoy, Peter; Gladden, Christopher; Pavilonis, Michael; Rhodes, Christopher; Chub, Victor

Issue Date:

2019-07-09

Research Org.:

Glint Photonics, Inc., Burlingame, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1568578

Patent Number(s):

10345563

Application Number:

15/884,104

Assignee:

Glint Photonics, Inc. (Burlingame, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F21 - LIGHTING F21S - NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES

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

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F21 - LIGHTING F21S - NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES

F21S11/002 - {characterised by the means for collecting or concentrating the sunlight, e.g. parabolic reflectors or Fresnel lenses}

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

F24S10/00 - Solar heat collectors using working fluids
F24S23/12 - {Light guides}
F24S23/30 - with lenses
F24S30/20 - for linear movement

G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS

G02B17/0868 - {for light condensing, e.g. for use with a light emitter
G02B19/0028 - {refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems}
G02B19/0042 - {for use with direct solar radiation}
G02B6/003 - {Lens or lenticular sheet or layer}
G02B6/0031 - {Reflecting element, sheet or layer}
G02B6/0036 - {2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces}

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

H01L31/0543 - {comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses}
H01L31/0547 - {comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection}

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES

H02S40/22 - Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means

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

Y02E10/44 - Heat exchange systems
Y02E10/47 - Mountings or tracking
Y02E10/52 - PV systems with concentrators

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DOE Contract Number:  

AR0000332

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 01/30/2018

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English