Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080245401 | CONCENTRATING PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM USING A FRESNEL LENS AND NONIMAGING SECONDARY OPTICS - Optical devices and systems that provide high solar flux onto a multi-junction solar cell, or other target cell, to produce efficient electrical output. An optical device includes a primary focusing element, and a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture. The primary focus element is configured to focus light from a distant source onto the entry aperture of the secondary concentrator. The primary focusing element has an f-number that is greater than about 1, e.g., between 1 and 4 or greater. The device includes a solar cell located proximal to the exit aperture of the secondary concentrator. In certain aspects, the primary focusing element includes a Fresnel lens, a diffractive lens and/or a reflector. In certain aspects, a Fresnel lens used as the primary is flat, substantially square, curved and/or refractive. | 10-09-2008 |
20080266664 | Liquid light pipe with an aplanatic imaging system and coupled non-imaging light concentrator - An optical system for a solar lighting device to provide highly concentrated sunlight to interior spaces with minimal disruption of building envelope. The optical system includes an aplanatic optical imaging system mounted on a dual-axis sun tracker, a non-imaging solar concentrator coupled to the aplanatic system, a liquid light pipe to convey the very intense solar flux to the interior of a building, a diffusing light fixture to spread the daylight into the interior space, and a control system to regulate the light output to a constant and desired level. | 10-30-2008 |
20080271731 | SOLAR COLLECTORS WITH EVACUATED RECEIVER AND NONIMAGING EXTERNAL REFLECTORS - A solar collector with external reflector. A solar collector includes a glass housing having a heat pipe disposed within the housing and a light reflector disposed external to the housing. | 11-06-2008 |
20090107487 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY COLLECTION - An apparatus for collecting solar energy includes a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy; an insert located within the receptacle, the insert being a heat pipe adapted to transfer heat; and an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert. The insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle, and further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption fin. | 04-30-2009 |
20090107488 | Apparatus and Method for Solar Thermal Energy Collection - An apparatus for collecting solar energy includes a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy, an insert adapted for counter-flow located within the receptacle, and an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert. | 04-30-2009 |
20090107489 | SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY COLLECTOR - A solar thermal energy collector includes a receptacle and a tube. The tube is adapted to fit within the receptacle and defines a first region within the tube and a second region between the tube and an internal surface of the receptacle. A fluid is circulated between the first region and the second region for transferring of the solar thermal energy. | 04-30-2009 |
20090139515 | SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY COLLECTOR - A solar thermal energy collector includes a receptacle and a tube positioned within the receptacle and having a closed end. The tube includes a divider cross-sectionally bifurcating the tube. The divider is spaced apart from the closed end of the tube to allow fluid communication between two bifurcated portions of the tube. A fluid is circulated through the two bifurcated portions of the tube for transferring of the solar thermal energy. | 06-04-2009 |
20090231739 | MATRIX FORMULATION OF KOHLER INTEGRATING SYSTEM AND COUPLED NON-IMAGING LIGHT CONCENTRATOR - Methods for designing optical systems, including homogenizer element(s), that concentrate light from a distant source, such as the sun, onto a target device, such as a solar cell. | 09-17-2009 |
20110026130 | LIGHT COLLECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD - An optical collector is disclosed which includes an imaging, aplanatic optical element having a front surface with a one-way light admitting portion, a back surface with a reflective portion, and an interior region of refractive material disposed between the front and backs surfaces. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026140 | LIGHT CONCENTRATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An optical device is disclosed including: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture. The non-imaging secondary concentrator includes: a first portion proximal the entry aperture which is rotationally symmetric about an optic axis; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about the optic axis. | 02-03-2011 |
20110260037 | LIGHT CONCENTRATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An optical concentrator is disclosed which includes an imaging, aplanatic optical element having a front surface with a one-way light admitting portion, a back surface with a reflective portion, and an interior region of refractive material disposed between the front and backs surfaces. | 10-27-2011 |
20120073567 | SOLAR THERMAL CONCENTRATOR APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD - An apparatus is disclosed including: a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis and including at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber. | 03-29-2012 |
20120080026 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY COLLECTION - An apparatus for collecting solar energy includes a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy; an insert located within the receptacle, the insert being a heat pipe adapted to transfer heat; and an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert. The insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle, and further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption fin. | 04-05-2012 |
20120111397 | KOHLER HOMOGENIZER FOR SOLAR CONCENTRATOR - An apparatus is disclosed including: an entrance aperture for admitting light from a source; an optical collector configured to receive light admitted through the entrance aperture and concentrate the light onto a receiver element; and an optical homogenizer element configured and arranged to image the entrance aperture onto the receiver element. | 05-10-2012 |
20130170046 | LIGHT COLLECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD - An optical collector is disclosed which includes an imaging, aplanatic optical element having a front surface with a one-way light admitting portion, a back surface with a reflective portion, and an interior region of refractive material disposed between the front and backs surfaces. | 07-04-2013 |
20130192668 | COMBINED HEAT AND POWER SOLAR SYSTEM - An apparatus is disclosed for converting incident light to electrical energy and heat. the apparatus includes an evacuated enclosure having at least a portion for admitting incident light; and an absorber member disposed at least partially in said enclosure to receive incident light. The absorber includes a selective surface which converts a portion of the incident light to heat. The selective surface comprises a photovoltaic layer which converts a portion of the incident light to electrical energy. In some embodiments, the absorber includes an elongated inner tube having an outer surface including the selective surface. | 08-01-2013 |
20130228210 | Low Cost High Efficiency Solar Concentrator With Tracking Receivers - One embodiment of the invention relates to a light concentrator apparatus including a reflector with an open substantially hemispherical reflecting surface characterized by a radius R, and an aperture for admitting light onto the hemispherical reflecting surface. The light concentrator apparatus further includes a movable elongated light collector having a first end located proximal to the reflecting surface; and extending along a longitudinal axis in a direction substantially normal to the reflecting surface to a second end. The light concentrator further includes a tracker configured to move the first end of the collector to points proximal to the reflecting surface. | 09-05-2013 |
20130329308 | LIGHT CONCENTRATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An optical device is disclosed including: a non-imaging secondary concentrator having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, and configured to receive light focused by a primary focusing element from a source onto the entry aperture. The non-imaging secondary concentrator includes: a first portion proximal the entry aperture; and a second portion proximal the exit aperture which is not rotationally symmetric about an optic axis. The optical device further comprises a means for homogenizing the light focused onto the entry aperture of the secondary concentrator. | 12-12-2013 |