Solar energy collector including a weightless balloon with sun tracking means
Abstract
A solar energy collector having a weightless balloon, the balloon including a transparent polyvinylfluoride hemisphere reinforced with a mesh of ropes secured to its outside surface, and a laminated reflector hemisphere, the inner layer being clear and aluminized on its outside surface and the outer layer being opaque, the balloon being inflated with lighter-than-air gas. A heat collection probe extends into the balloon along the focus of reflection of the reflective hemisphere for conducting coolant into and out of the balloon. The probe is mounted on apparatus for keeping the probe aligned with the sun's path, the apparatus being founded in the earth for withstanding wind pressure on the balloon. The balloon is lashed to the probe by ropes adhered to the outer surface of the balloon for withstanding wind pressures of 100 miles per hour. Preferably, the coolant is liquid sodium-potassium eutectic alloy which will not normally freeze at night in the temperate zones, and when heated to 4,000.degree. R exerts a pressure of only a few atmospheres.
- Inventors:
-
- 2452 Villaneuva Way, Mountain View, CA 94040
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863223
- Patent Number(s):
- 4126123
- Assignee:
- Hall; Frederick F. (2452 Villaneuva Way, Mountain View, CA 94040)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
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
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(04-3)-515
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- solar; energy; collector; including; weightless; balloon; sun; tracking; means; transparent; polyvinylfluoride; hemisphere; reinforced; mesh; ropes; secured; outside; surface; laminated; reflector; inner; layer; aluminized; outer; opaque; inflated; lighter-than-air; gas; heat; collection; probe; extends; focus; reflection; reflective; conducting; coolant; mounted; apparatus; keeping; aligned; path; founded; earth; withstanding; wind; pressure; lashed; adhered; pressures; 100; miles; hour; preferably; liquid; sodium-potassium; eutectic; alloy; normally; freeze; night; temperate; zones; heated; 000; degree; exerts; atmospheres; energy collector; outside surface; inner layer; outer layer; solar energy; outer surface; liquid sodium; collection probe; tracking means; eutectic alloy; weightless balloon; rate zones; probe extends; /126/
Citation Formats
Hall, Frederick F. Solar energy collector including a weightless balloon with sun tracking means. United States: N. p., 1978.
Web.
Hall, Frederick F. Solar energy collector including a weightless balloon with sun tracking means. United States.
Hall, Frederick F. Sun .
"Solar energy collector including a weightless balloon with sun tracking means". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863223.
@article{osti_863223,
title = {Solar energy collector including a weightless balloon with sun tracking means},
author = {Hall, Frederick F},
abstractNote = {A solar energy collector having a weightless balloon, the balloon including a transparent polyvinylfluoride hemisphere reinforced with a mesh of ropes secured to its outside surface, and a laminated reflector hemisphere, the inner layer being clear and aluminized on its outside surface and the outer layer being opaque, the balloon being inflated with lighter-than-air gas. A heat collection probe extends into the balloon along the focus of reflection of the reflective hemisphere for conducting coolant into and out of the balloon. The probe is mounted on apparatus for keeping the probe aligned with the sun's path, the apparatus being founded in the earth for withstanding wind pressure on the balloon. The balloon is lashed to the probe by ropes adhered to the outer surface of the balloon for withstanding wind pressures of 100 miles per hour. Preferably, the coolant is liquid sodium-potassium eutectic alloy which will not normally freeze at night in the temperate zones, and when heated to 4,000.degree. R exerts a pressure of only a few atmospheres.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978}
}