Method of and apparatus for collecting solar radiation utilizing variable curvature cylindrical reflectors
Abstract
A heliostat apparatus includes a frame which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the aperture plane of an elongate receiver. A plurality of flat flexible mirror elements are mounted to the frame between several parallel, uniformly spaced resilient beams which are pivotally connected at their ends to the frame. Channels are mounted to the sides of the beams for supporting the edges of the mirror elements. Each of the beams has a longitudinally varying configuration designed to bow into predetermined, generally circular curvatures of varying radii when the center of the beam is deflected relative to the pivotally connected ends of the beams. All of the parallel resilient beams are simultaneously deflected by a cam shaft assembly extending through openings in the centers of the beams, whereby the mirror elements together form an upwardly concave, cylindrical reflecting surface. The heliostat is rotated about its axis to track the apparent diurnal movement of the sun, while the reflecting surface is substantially simultaneously bowed into a cylindrical trough having a radius adapted to focus incident light at the plane of the receiver aperture.
- Inventors:
-
- San Jose, CA
- Los Gatos, CA
- Menlo Park, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- FMC CORP
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863296
- Patent Number(s):
- 4141626
- Assignee:
- FMC Corporation (San Jose, CA)
- 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:
- AC03-76ET20426
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; collecting; solar; radiation; utilizing; variable; curvature; cylindrical; reflectors; heliostat; frame; rotatable; axis; parallel; aperture; plane; elongate; receiver; plurality; flat; flexible; mirror; elements; mounted; uniformly; spaced; resilient; beams; pivotally; connected; channels; supporting; edges; longitudinally; varying; configuration; designed; bow; predetermined; circular; curvatures; radii; center; beam; deflected; relative; simultaneously; shaft; assembly; extending; openings; centers; whereby; form; upwardly; concave; reflecting; surface; rotated; track; apparent; diurnal; movement; sun; substantially; bowed; trough; radius; adapted; focus; incident; light; uniformly spaced; incident light; pivotally connected; substantially simultaneously; solar radiation; reflecting surface; shaft assembly; radiation utilizing; collecting solar; substantially simultaneous; /359/126/
Citation Formats
Treytl, William J, Slemmons, Arthur J, and Andeen, Gerry B. Method of and apparatus for collecting solar radiation utilizing variable curvature cylindrical reflectors. United States: N. p., 1979.
Web.
Treytl, William J, Slemmons, Arthur J, & Andeen, Gerry B. Method of and apparatus for collecting solar radiation utilizing variable curvature cylindrical reflectors. United States.
Treytl, William J, Slemmons, Arthur J, and Andeen, Gerry B. Mon .
"Method of and apparatus for collecting solar radiation utilizing variable curvature cylindrical reflectors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863296.
@article{osti_863296,
title = {Method of and apparatus for collecting solar radiation utilizing variable curvature cylindrical reflectors},
author = {Treytl, William J and Slemmons, Arthur J and Andeen, Gerry B},
abstractNote = {A heliostat apparatus includes a frame which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the aperture plane of an elongate receiver. A plurality of flat flexible mirror elements are mounted to the frame between several parallel, uniformly spaced resilient beams which are pivotally connected at their ends to the frame. Channels are mounted to the sides of the beams for supporting the edges of the mirror elements. Each of the beams has a longitudinally varying configuration designed to bow into predetermined, generally circular curvatures of varying radii when the center of the beam is deflected relative to the pivotally connected ends of the beams. All of the parallel resilient beams are simultaneously deflected by a cam shaft assembly extending through openings in the centers of the beams, whereby the mirror elements together form an upwardly concave, cylindrical reflecting surface. The heliostat is rotated about its axis to track the apparent diurnal movement of the sun, while the reflecting surface is substantially simultaneously bowed into a cylindrical trough having a radius adapted to focus incident light at the plane of the receiver aperture.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}