CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates generally to a solar energy collector system, and more specifically to a parabolic solar system with flexible construction, and a method for collecting solar energy by the system thereof.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Solar collector systems are generally characterized by having large surface areas to collect solar radiation. The large collecting surface area is usually fabricated of a group of subcomponents attached together to create the larger surface area. These systems either directly track the sun, such as a solar parabolic dish concentrator which must handle the sun, or these systems follow a different path in order to reflect the radiation to a particular place.

[0003] In a typical mirror system having reflective surfaces and supporting members, mirrors (as a reflecting body) are hold in place and the structure prevents unacceptable deformation of mirrors due to wind loadings and other forces. Such construction usually having plentiful rigid frame members (e.g., struts) to uphold the mirror and enables the mirror to maintain its parabolic shape with sufficient accuracy in spite of wind forces and other deforming forces. The efficiency with which the receiver can absorb energy from the sunlight depends on the precision of the mirror focuses sunlight upon a receiver. The construction or similar structure that maintains the mirrors (collectors), supports those struts that hold a receiver approximately at the linear focus of the mirror. [0004] From a design perspective, a large surface area for the collector is one of the most critical features of solar collector systems. However, these large surface areas create many design problems in practice when exposed to the environment such as requirement of the significant imposed loads upon the structure due to extreme weather, principally high winds. To adapt these high- wind loads, large and heavy structures are incorporated into the design to support the solar elements, these systems are too heavy and expensive to manufacture and install and their costs and bulkiness has limited their widespread use and acceptance for solar collector systems. Such heavy structure needs large and powerful motors and all make it difficult to provide slight positional control and motion of the entire structure.

[0005] Accordingly, there remains a continuing need to provide solar collector systems having high efficiency due to high tracking the sunlight throughout a day, light weight, stable, easy to manufacture, inexpensive and resistance to environmental factors.

[0006] Some of the prior arts have disclosed kinds of solar parabolic collectors comprised a rotating apparatus that turns the support structure supporting the receiver and the reflector about a rotation axis to track the sun. Rotating of existing collectors which are installed in rows aligned on a horizontal axis in power land poses the problem of increased shadowing and blocking of the sun’s rays. To solve this problem, the collectors are installed at a specific long distance from each other that leads to an increase in the land area requirement for power plants. Moreover, to solve said problem the height of reflectors is increased which poses the problems of increased wind loads.

[0007] To achieve high efficiency, special usage, design, and arrangements of parabolic collector system’s elements is needed to increase the system aperture, decreasing its height, diminishing the land usage, reducing the exponential cost of the supporting structure, and increasing tracking of sunlight by utilizing flexible construction able to deform throughout a day according to the angle of sunlight.

SUMMARY

[0008] The following brief summary is not intended to include all features and aspects of the present application, nor does it imply that the application must include all features and aspects discussed in this summary.

[0009] The present invention object is to resolve the problems of the prior types of solar energy collectors by creating an improved solar energy collector which enables to achieve high- performance light trajectory tracking by deforming reflecting surfaces in accordance with the angle of sunlight, increasing aperture by decreasing the height of the collectors, and locating the absorption device accurately along the focal line.

[00010] In one general aspect, the application describes a new system; a parabolic solar energy collector, and disclosed a method for tracking sun by this novel parabolic solar energy collector.

[00011] The solar energy collector according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: a parabolic reflecting body (20) having a focal line which may comprise at least two reflecting surfaces (21) and the shape of parabolic reflecting body may be deformed throughout a day according to the angle of sunlight; a linearly extending receiver (30) which could be positioned parallel to the focal line of the parabolic reflecting body; an extending support frame (40) supporting the linearly extending receiver (30) and the parabolic reflecting body (20); an extending deforming body (50) which could be positioned parallel to the long axis of the linearly extending receiver (30) and may comprise a plurality of tensioning means (52) and extending means (51); a deforming control apparatus (60) which may comprise at least one adjusting member (61), an actuating apparatus (70) which may comprise at least one mechanical lifting device (71), and a power source which could be linked to a sun tracking system.

[00012] In one aspect, the reflecting surfaces (21) which may be a polished metal sheet, can be arranged in parallel so as to be along each other, and each of the reflecting surfaces (21) may have two end lines (22), both having a space therein to pass a cable (23) therethrough. The reflecting surfaces (21) can be secured on the extending support frame (40) by means of a plurality of flexible connection means (42).

[00013] In one aspect, the extending support frame (40) may comprise at least two supporting columns (41) vertically mounted on a torque tube (49) to secure the linearly extending receiver (3) and at least four support struts (45). Moreover, the extending support frame (40) may have at least two extending support members (46) which can be vertically mounted on the support struts (45) to secure at least two reflecting surfaces (20), and a plurality of flexible connection means

(42) which can comprise of at least one flexibility adjustor (44) and at least one flexible element

(43). The flexible element (43) can connect the cable (23) passing through one end line of the at least two reflecting surfaces (20) to extending support members (46).

[00014] In one aspect, the flexible element (43) can comprise any elastic device such as a spring which makes the parabolic surfaces flexible to be deformed easily.

[00015] In one aspect, the plurality of extending means (51) of the extending deforming body (50) could be connected to one end line of each reflecting surfaces (21) of the parabolic reflecting body (20).

[00016] In one aspect, adjusting member (61) of the deforming control apparatus (60) could be linked to one of the pluralities of tensioning means (52) and also could be linked to the actuating apparatus (70). [00017] In one aspect, the adjusting member (61) may comprise; a plurality of cams (63) which could be in different profile shape and sizes, all installed on the extending holding shaft (62); and at least two belt pulleys (65) installed on the extending foundation (64). Also, the adjusting member (61) may comprise a cam follower link (66), connecting the cams which are linked to the plurality of tensioning means (52) to the belt pulley (65). Moreover, to support the extending holding shaft (62), the adjusting member (61) may comprise at least a linear guide rail system (67) which may comprise a guide rail (68), a slider (69) and a cam follower link (66). The cam follower link (66) can move linearly along the guide rail (68).

[00018] In one aspect, the lifting device (71) of the actuating apparatus (70) may comprise a one mechanical lifting device (71), such as a linear jack (73), a movable chain member (72), a chain guide (74) and a gear (75). The lifting device (71) can be linked to the extending deforming body (50) and the torque tube (49) via the movable chain member (72) and the chain guide (74).

[00019] In one aspect, the linearly extending receiver (30) may comprise of a vacuum isolated absorption tube (31) which may contain oil or molten salt transferred from a feed tube (32) to a discharge tube (33), also the linearly extending receiver may have a secondary parabolic reflective surface (34) parallel to, and above or below the absorber tube.

[00020] In another aspect of the present application, a method for tracking sun by collector having parabolic reflecting body (20) is introduced, which comprises: creating motion by at least one lifting device (71) in a movable chain member (72) via sun tracking program; rotating a torque tube (49) along the axis (90) by motion created in the movable chain member (72) connected to a linear jack (73); moving supporting columns (41) vertically mounted on the torque tube (49) in specific linear direction; repositioning of a linearly extending receiver (30) to be set along with the focal line of a parabolic reflecting body (20); rotating a chain guide (74) in at least one lifting device (71) Simultaneously with the second step, by motion created in the movable chain member (72) connected to a linear jack (73); rotating a holding shaft (62) via a gear (75) in the adjusting body (60) by rotating a chain guide (74); rotating a plurality of cams having various profiles and shapes (63) installed on the holding shafts (62); moving cam followers link (66) via rotating cams (63); pulling down or releasing plurality of tensioning means (52) according to the cam profile Each of the plurality of tensioning means connected to one came having specific profile; repositioning of a plurality of extending means (51) based on the movement of the plurality of tensioning means (52) linked to them; deforming the parabolic reflecting body (20) in accordance to the repositioning of the plurality of extending means (51).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present disclosure, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] The invention will now be described by reference to the preferred embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of a solar energy collector in accordance with an exemplary and non-limiting implementation; [0013] FIG. 2A shows a side view of a parabolic reflecting body supported by extending support frame, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2B illustrate a top view of the reflecting surfaces, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrate a side view of the linearly extending receiver, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3A illustrate a side view of the linearly extending receiver, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the extending support frame in accordance with an exemplary and non-limiting implementation;

[0018] FIG. 4B shows a side view of the extending support frame in accordance with an exemplary and non-limiting implementation;

[0019] FIG. 5A shows a side view of an extending deforming body connected to reflecting surfaces, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 5B shows a side view of an extending deforming body connected to reflecting surfaces, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a deforming control apparatus in accordance with an exemplary and non-limiting implementation;

[0022] FIG. 6B illustrate a side view of a deforming control apparatus, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 6C illustrate a side view of the adjusting member, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; [0024] FIG. 6D illustrate a side view of a cam linear guide rail system, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 7 A shows a prospective view of an actuating apparatus, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 7B shows a side view of an actuating apparatus, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present disclosure, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following discussion.

[0028] Aspects of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” and “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough description of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.

[0029] FIG. 1, illustrates a general prospective view of a solar energy collector 10, according to one implementation, which includes essential elements of the disclosing solar energy collector, mainly comprises: a parabolic reflecting body 20, a linearly extending receiver 30, an extending support frame 40, an extending deforming body 50, a deforming control apparatus 60, an actuating apparatus 70, and a power source.

[00021] In further figures, the main elements are disclosed with more details. The disclosed details are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. As shown in FIG.2A, the parabolic reflecting body 20 may include at least two reflecting surfaces 21 consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the parabolic shape of reflecting body 20 can be deformed due to deformation of each reflecting surfaces contains in the parabolic reflecting body 20 throughout a day according to the angle of sunlight. In an exemplary embodiment, each parabolic reflecting surfaces 21 could be a reflecting sheet that installed in a way to have a parabolic shape. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, each reflecting surfaces 21 may be a thin polished metal sheet having high reflecting effect. In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG.2A, each of the reflecting surfaces can be arranged in parallel so as to be along each other. In another exemplary embodiment according to FIG.2A, each of the reflecting surfaces 21 may have two end lines 22, each in one side. In an exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG.2A and FIG.2B, each end line could have a space therein to pass a cable 23 therethrough. Referring to exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG.2A and FIG.2B, each of the at least two reflecting surfaces 21 in an exemplary embodiment, can be secured on the extending support frame 40 by means of at least one flexible connection means 42.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least two reflecting surfaces 21 in the parabolic reflecting body 20, can be linked to each other by means of a plurality of extending means 51 in the extending deforming body 50 as illustrated in FIG. 2B and FIG.5. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in FIG.2B, the at least two reflecting surfaces 21 of the parabolic reflecting body 20, can be supported by at least two extending support members 46 of the extending support frame 40.

[0031] Referring to an exemplary implementation of the solar energy collector 1 shown in FIG. 1, the parabolic reflecting body 20 has a focal line where the linearly extending receiver 30 can be positioned parallel to it.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the linearly extending receiver 30 which may include a vacuum isolated absorption tube 31. The vacuum isolated absorption 31 could contain a fluid comprising oil or molten salt. In this exemplary embodiment, the vacuum isolated absorption tube 31 is located between a feed tube 32 and a discharge tube 33 in which the fluid can be transferred from the feed tube 32 to the discharge tube 33. In a preferred embodiment of present invention, the linearly extending receiver 30 may further include a secondary parabolic reflective surface 34 which positioned parallel to the absorber tube 31. In some exemplary embodiment it could be positioned below the absorber tube 31. In some embodiment it could be positioned above the absorber tube 31.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG.4A, the linearly extending receiver 30 may be supported by at least two supporting columns 41 of the extending support frame 40. As shown in FIG. 4A, the extending support frame 40 according to the present embodiment may include at least four support struts 45 and at least two supporting columns 41 which are vertically mounted on a torque tube 49. The extending support frame 40 is installed in a way to secure the linearly extending receiver 30. According to this exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the extending support frame 40 may further comprise at least two extending support members 46 vertically mounted on the support struts 45 to secure the parabolic reflecting body 20 which comprise at least two reflecting surfaces 21, and a plurality of flexible connection means 42.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B, the extending support frame 40 may further comprise at least two supporter 47 which support the torque tube 49. In this exemplary embodiment, the extending support frame 40 may further include at least one balancing means 48 installed on one end of the supporting column, adjacent the torque tube 49.

[0035] Referring back to the exemplary implementation shown in FIG.2B, the plurality of flexible connection means 42 may include at least one flexible element 43 and at least one flexibility adjustor 44. In this exemplary embodiment, the flexible element 43 can comprise any elastic device, such as a spring, which makes the parabolic plates flexible to be deformed easily.

[0036] FIG. 5A illustrates the extending deforming body 50 which can link to the parabolic reflecting body via the reflecting body’s reflecting surfaces 21, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG.5B, the extending deforming body 50 may include the plurality of extending means 51 and a plurality of tensioning means 52, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The plurality of extending means 51 can be connected to the cable which is passed through the space of one end line of each reflecting surfaces 21 of the parabolic reflecting body 20 as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0038] Referring back to the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 1, the extending deforming body 50 can be linked to the deforming control apparatus 60 via a plurality of tensioning means 52. [0039] As shown in FIG. 6A, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the deforming control apparatus 60 according to the present invention may include at least one adjusting member 61 which could be linked to one of the pluralities of tensioning means 52 of the extending deforming body 50. In this exemplary embodiment, the at least one adjusting member 61 may include an extending holding shaft 62 and a plurality of cams 63 installed on the extending holding shaft 62. The deforming control apparatus 60 may further include an extending foundation 64 and at least two belt pulleys 65 installed on the extending foundation 64. In this exemplary embodiment, the deforming control apparatus 60 in an exemplary embodiment may include a cam follower link 66, to connect the cams 63 to the belt pulley 65.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment according to FIG 6A, each cam of the plurality of cams 63 can be linked to at least one of the pluralities of tensioning means 52. Each cam in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have different profiles and shapes. Referring to the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 6A, the plurality of cams having various profiles and shapes 63 in each cam can operate by the holding shaft 62 while the holding shaft 62 is rotating.

[0041] The deforming control apparatus 60 according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG 6B, may further includes at least a cam linear guide rail system 67 to support the extending holding shaft 62. In this exemplary embodiment, the cam linear guide rail system 67 may comprise a guide rail 68, a slider 69 and a cam follower link 66 and the cam follower link 66 moves linearly along the guide rail 68.

[0042] In one preferred embodiment, the slider (69) could be a carriage. [0043] FIG.7A illustrates a sectional view to show more details of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the extending holding shaft 62 can be linked to the actuating apparatus 70, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The actuating apparatus 70 may include at least one mechanical lifting device 71 which can be linked to the extending holding shaft 62, an essential element of the extending deforming body 50. The at least one mechanical lifting device 71 can be linked to the torque tube 49 of the extending support frame 40. In this exemplary embodiment the mechanical lifting device 71 may include a linear jack 73, a movable chain member 72, a chain guide 74 and a gear 75, which their position in an exemplary embodiment can be learned from FIG.7B. The linear jack 73 can be linked to the extending holding shaft 62 and torque tube 49 via the chain member 72 and the chain guide 74. The holding shaft 62 can be connected to the chain guide 74 via the gear 75.

[0044] In an implementation of the present application, an initial motion can create in the actuating apparatus 70 which its some details are shown in FIG. 7A and FIG.7B of the drawings; in an exemplary implementation, at least one linear jack 73 of the lifting device 71 can create motion in a movable chain member 72. The movement is created according to the movement plan set up by a sun tracking program. The torque tube 49 could be rotated along the axis 90 by motion created in the movable chain member 72. Simultaneously, the chain guide 74 may be rotated by motion created in the movable chain member 72 and can rotate the holding shaft 62 in the adjusting body by motion transferred via the gear 75.

[0045] Referring to the FIG. 6B, by rotating of cams, the cam follower link 66 could be moved up or down linearly along the guide rail 68 according to the specific cam’ s profile and shape

63. [0046] FIG. 6D illustrates a side view of the adjusting member 61. In one exemplary implementation of the present invention, by moving up or down of the cam follower link 66, the belt pulleys 65 of the adjusting member 61 may be distanced away from the other pulleys or be moved close to other pulleys respectively. This operation can make the plurality of tensioning means 52 pulled down or released. Each of the plurality of tensioning means in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention connected to one specific cam having its own specific profile.

[0047] Referring to the FIG. 6C, the plurality of extending means 51 can be repositioned based on the movement of the plurality of tensioning means 52 which linked to them. The parabolic reflecting body 20 could be deformed in accordance to the repositioning of the plurality of extending means 51.

[0048] An exemplary implantation of the present invention can be understood by referring back to the Figs 4A to 4B: the supporting columns 41 vertically mounted on the torque tube 49 can be moved in specific linear direction concurrently with deforming parabolic reflecting body 20, and then linearly extending receiver 30 can be repositioned to be set along with the focal line of a parabolic reflecting body 20.