Solar photovoltaic reflective trough collection structure
| DWPI Title: Photovoltaic solar concentration apparatus, has support structure which is stretchable and is mechanically coupled to panels such that stretching support structure causes all of panels to tilt by same amount |
| Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) solar concentration structure having at least two troughs encapsulated in a rectangular parallelepiped optical plastic structure, with the troughs filled with an optical plastic material, the troughs each having a reflective internal surface and approximately parabolic geometry, and the troughs each including photovoltaic cells situated so that light impinging on the optical plastic material will be concentrated onto the photovoltaic cells. Multiple structures can be connected to provide a solar photovoltaic collection system that provides portable, efficient, low-cost electrical power. |
| Use: Photovoltaic solar concentration apparatus. |
| Advantage: The optical plastic fill creates a smooth top surface that allows surface build-up such as dirt to be easily cleaned away while allowing light to pass into the trough and provides structural support to the trough. The design allows the length of the troughs to be reduced which would reduce the weight and increases the allowable pointing tolerance. |
| Novelty: The apparatus has solar concentrator plate which comprises a fill of polymeric material that encases multiple photovoltaic cells and fills the troughs up to the front face. The support structure is provided for the two or more panels that continuously adjusts a longitudinal tilt of the panels. The support structure is stretchable and is mechanically coupled to the panels such that stretching the support structure causes all of the panels to tilt by the same amount and simultaneously to be moved farther apart from each other. |
| Filed: 9/30/2010 |
| Application Number: US2010894772A |
| Tech ID: SD 11701.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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