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WO2009105587A2 - Systèmes de collecte de rayonnement solaire - Google Patents

Systèmes de collecte de rayonnement solaire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009105587A2
WO2009105587A2 PCT/US2009/034580 US2009034580W WO2009105587A2 WO 2009105587 A2 WO2009105587 A2 WO 2009105587A2 US 2009034580 W US2009034580 W US 2009034580W WO 2009105587 A2 WO2009105587 A2 WO 2009105587A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
radiation
collecting
solar radiation
receiver
solar
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/034580
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2009105587A3 (fr
Inventor
Tricia Liu
Original Assignee
Bucky Solar, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US12/154,211 external-priority patent/US20090078249A1/en
Application filed by Bucky Solar, Inc. filed Critical Bucky Solar, Inc.
Publication of WO2009105587A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009105587A2/fr
Publication of WO2009105587A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009105587A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D1/00—Evaporating
    • B01D1/0011—Heating features
    • B01D1/0029—Use of radiation
    • B01D1/0035—Solar energy
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D1/00—Evaporating
    • B01D1/14—Evaporating with heated gases or vapours or liquids in contact with the liquid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K16/00—Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/02—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating
    • C02F1/04—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation
    • C02F1/14—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation using solar energy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
    • F03G6/001—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy having photovoltaic cells
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
    • F03G6/06—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
    • F03G6/065—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means having a Rankine cycle
    • F03G6/066—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means having a Rankine cycle of the Organic Rankine Cycle [ORC] type or the Kalina Cycle type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
    • F24S20/20—Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
    • F24S20/80—Airborne solar heat collector modules, e.g. inflatable structures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/30—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with lenses
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/71—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with parabolic reflective surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/74—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
    • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
    • H10F77/40—Optical elements or arrangements
    • H10F77/42—Optical elements or arrangements directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
    • H10F77/484—Refractive light-concentrating means, e.g. lenses
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
    • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
    • H10F77/40—Optical elements or arrangements
    • H10F77/42—Optical elements or arrangements directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
    • H10F77/488—Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K16/00—Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
    • B60K2016/003—Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind solar power driven
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/08—Seawater, e.g. for desalination
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/009—Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S11/00—Non-electric lighting devices or systems using daylight
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S2023/88—Multi reflective traps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
    • F24S2025/01—Special support components; Methods of use
    • F24S2025/011—Arrangements for mounting elements inside solar collectors; Spacers inside solar collectors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y02A20/138—Water desalination using renewable energy
    • Y02A20/142—Solar thermal; Photovoltaics
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
    • Y02A20/208—Off-grid powered water treatment
    • Y02A20/212—Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
    • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • 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
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • 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
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/46—Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • 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
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • 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
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y02E10/52—PV systems with concentrators
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/10—Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/80—Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
    • Y02T10/90—Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to the collection and conversion of solar light to other forms of energy.
  • Light from the sun can be used to provide energy in the form of electricity and heat. Improvement of the collection and use of the available solar light is important.
  • a variety of solar energy collection systems have been devised for collecting and perhaps concentrating optical radiation from the sun. All of these systems have collection surfaces for receiving solar light.
  • Some of these solar energy systems are static, such as panels of solar cells mounted in a fixed position, and are placed in an orientation of their collection surfaces that will generally optimize collection of solar energy in view of the movement of the apparent position of the sun during the day and also with the seasons.
  • Systems in the northern hemisphere may be aligned to point to the south and vice-versa for the southern hemisphere.
  • Panels of solar cells are more effective if they are placed perpendicularly to the direction of the sun.
  • a solar energy system that has a means for concentrating the incident light generally will have that means for concentrating in focus when it is aimed at the sun's apparent position. Movement of the apparent position of the sun during the day and due to the season will reduce the effectiveness of solar cell panels during the day no matter how they are positioned and will change the region of the focus of any concentration means.
  • Systems including devices for collecting radiation, such as from the sun, without tracking, are disclosed.
  • the devices are able to collect radiation incident from different directions.
  • the devices have a three-dimensional collecting surface that directs light to an inner radiation receiver.
  • the collecting surface may collect radiation coming from directions above a local or visible horizon, such as from the sky, or from substantially any direction.
  • the collecting surface may have a frame supporting faces for concentrating light onto a radiation receiver.
  • a reflecting dish or concave element may be provided below the radiation receiver for reflecting radiation to the radiation receiver.
  • the radiation receiver may generate electricity from the collected radiation, directly through photovoltaic means or indirectly by heating a fluid that is directed to a turbine-generator.
  • the radiation receiver may be used to heat a fluid for another purpose, such as providing hot water or desalination. Heat may be provided from the radiation receiver to be used in a biofuel reactor.
  • devices have a collecting surface that can receive radiation from different directions and convert it to useful energy, such as electrical energy. Buildings and vehicles with such devices are provided.
  • the devices can receive radiation and divide it into radiation of different wavelengths that are directed onto receivers adapted to best convert the radiation into useful energy.
  • a system for collecting solar radiation comprising at least one solar radiation collection device, the solar radiation collection device comprising: a collecting frame supporting a collecting surface for receiving the radiation from above a local horizon, the collecting surface comprising faces aligned in different directions wherein the faces direct radiation incident on the faces to a collecting region beneath the collecting surface; and a radiation receiver supported at the collecting region.
  • the radiation receiver comprises a container having walls having internal and external surfaces, the walls defining a compartment.
  • cooling system is mounted in the compartment and comprises a motor driving a fan for moving air into and out of at least one aperture defined in the walls.
  • cooling system comprises pipes, wherein the pipes are adapted for delivering coolant to and from the compartment of the radiation receiver.
  • liquid is water containing one of dissolved substances or suspended materials.
  • the system according to claim 9 wherein the liquid is seawater. 1 1.
  • the system according to claim 3 further comprising a first pipe to deliver a liquid to the radiation receiver to be heated and a second pipe for directing the heated liquid away from the radiation receiver.
  • the radiation receiver is a bulb made of a material of high thermal conductivity and further comprising a biodiesel manufacturing tank and a heat transmission line, the heat transmission line connecting the biodiesel manufacturing tank to the bulb, whereby heat is transmitted to the biodiesel manufacturing tank from the bulb.
  • At least one of the faces comprises at least one lens for focusing radiation onto the collecting region.
  • the at least one lens is a biconvex lens.
  • the at least one of the faces comprises a plurality of biconvex lenses.
  • substantially all of the faces each comprise at least one lens for focusing light onto the collecting region.
  • the collecting frame comprises a framework having the form of at least a portion of a Buckminster Fullerene molecule.
  • the collecting frame comprises a framework having the form of at least a portion of a capped nanotube.
  • the collecting frame comprises inflatable tubing.
  • the system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one mirrored channel, the mirrored channel receiving radiation at one of the faces and directing radiation toward the radiation receiver.
  • the mirrored channel has a plurality of internal polygonal facets joined each to another.
  • the mirrored channel is a compound parabolic concentrator.
  • the mirrored channel is a compound parabolic concentrator.
  • the collecting surface further comprises faces for receiving radiation from directions from below the local horizon and directing the radiation incident on the faces onto the collecting region within the collecting surface, wherein the collecting surface receives radiation from above and below the local horizon. 27.
  • the collecting region is located within the collecting surface.
  • the system according to claim 26 further comprising a reflective surface positioned below the collecting surface for reflecting radiation onto the collecting surface.
  • the reflective surface comprises a reflective dish that is concave upward.
  • the collecting frame comprises a framework having the form of a Buckminster Fullerene molecule.
  • the collecting frame comprises a framework having the form of a capped nanotube.
  • the collecting frame comprises inflatable tubing.
  • the collecting frame comprises inflatable tubing.
  • the mirrored channel receiving radiation at one of the faces and directing radiation toward the radiation receiver.
  • the mirrored channel has a plurality of internal polygonal facets joined each to another.
  • the mirrored channel is a compound parabolic concentrator.
  • the radiation receiver comprises photovoltaic material.
  • the radiation receiver comprises a bulb supplied with a fluid, wherein the fluid is heated by the radiation received from the collecting surface and from the reflective member.
  • the system according to claim 38 further comprising an inflatable balloon comprising a top wall, side walls, and a bottom wall, wherein at least part of the top wall is generally transparent, and the reflective member is supported within the inflatable balloon beneath the radiation receiver, the radiation receiver and the collecting surface being supported above the top wall.
  • the at least one solar radiation collecting device comprise a plurality of solar radiation collecting devices of the same design, and further comprising means for joining the balloon of one solar radiation collection device to the balloon of another solar radiation collection device.
  • radiation receiver further comprises photovoltaic material
  • solar radiation collecting device further comprises an inverter in electrical communication with the photovoltaic material of the radiation receiver, wherein the inverter transforms direct current electricity from the radiation receiver to alternating current electricity.
  • the system according to claim 1 further comprising a collecting station and a transmission pipe, the transmission pipe joining the radiation receiver of the solar radiation collection device to the collecting station, wherein fluid provided to the radiation receiver is heated and transmitted by the transmission pipe to the collecting station, the collecting station further comprising a turbine and a generator, wherein the heated fluid is directed into the turbine to cause the turbine to rotate, the turbine being joined to the generator in order to provide torque to the generator for generating electricity.
  • the at least one solar radiation collection device comprise a plurality of solar radiation collection devices of the same design, and further comprising transmission pipes joining each of the radiation receivers of the solar radiation collection devices to the central power station wherein fluid provided to the radiation receiver is heated and transmitted by the transmission pipe to the collecting station.
  • the system according to claim 2 further comprising a central power station, an inverter, and a first and second transmission line, the first transmission line electrically joining the radiation receiver to the inverter and the second transmission line joining the inverter to the central power station, whereby the central power station is provided with alternating current electricity from the solar radiation collection device.
  • the at least one solar radiation collection device comprise a plurality of solar radiation collection devices of the same design, wherein each of the solar radiation collection devices supplies alternating current electricity to the central power station for distribution to a power grid.
  • the at least one solar radiation collection device comprise a plurality of solar radiation collection devices of the same design, wherein the plurality of solar radiation collection devices are mounted in an array, and further comprising transmission lines for supplying direct current from the radiation receivers of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices to an inverter.
  • the system according to claim 56 further comprising a cooling system, the cooling system comprising a source of coolant and pipes for supplying the radiation receivers of each of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices with coolant, and pipes for removing heated coolant from each of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices.
  • the system according to claim 57 further comprising a reflective member located adjacent the plurality of solar radiation collection devices for reflecting solar radiation incident on the reflective member to the radiation receiver of plurality of solar radiation collection devices
  • the reflective member reflects the solar radiation onto the collecting surface of at least one of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices, wherein the collecting surface delivers the solar radiation to the radiation receiver.
  • the reflective member comprises at least two surfaces for reflecting solar radiation incident on the surfaces of the reflective member, wherein the reflective member reflects solar radiation onto the radiation receivers of at least two of the solar radiation collection devices.
  • the reflective member reflects the solar radiation onto the collecting surfaces of at least two of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices, wherein the collecting surfaces deliver the solar radiation to the radiation receiver.
  • the reflective member is shaped as a pyramid and comprises four parabolic reflective sides and each of the sides is directed to the collecting surfaces of four of the solar radiation collection devices.
  • the reflective member is shaped as a prism and comprises two parabolic reflective sides and each of the sides is directed to the collecting surfaces of at least two of the solar radiation collection devices.
  • the collecting surfaces of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices are disposed to receive solar radiation from above a local horizon.
  • the collecting surfaces of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices are disposed to receive solar radiation from substantially any direction.
  • the system according to claim 70 further comprising a cooling system mounted in the panel for supplying coolant to and removing coolant from the radiation receivers of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices.
  • a transmission line system mounted in the panel, wherein the transmission line system collects electricity from the radiation receivers of the plurality of solar radiation collection devices.
  • the collecting frame comprises a framework having the form of a nanotube formed in a ring and the radiation receiver comprises a tube in the form of a ring suspended at the collecting region within the collecting frame, whereby the collecting surface directs solar radiation onto the tube.
  • the system according to claim 75 further comprising a first pipe connecting the tube to a source of liquid for delivery of liquid to the tube to be heated to a vapor, and a second pipe connecting the tube to a turbine whereby the tube delivers vapor to the turbine.
  • the turbine comprises a plurality of blades mounted on a drive shaft adapted for rotation about an axis when the vapor strikes the blades.
  • the system according to claim 76 further comprising a tank for receiving vapor from the turbine, wherein the tank is adapted to condense and hold the vapor.
  • the one or more devices are a single device, and further comprising an electric light in electrical connection with the photovoltaic material whereby the electric light may be energized by electric current from the photovoltaic material.
  • the electric light comprises a light- emitting diode.
  • the system according to claim 84 further comprising a battery in electrical connection with the photovoltaic material and the electric light, whereby the battery may be charged by the electric current from the photovoltaic material and the electric light may be energized by electric current from the battery.
  • the system according to claim 86 further comprising an electric charging station in electrical connection with the battery, whereby the electrical power charging station may supply charge to an automobile.
  • the system according to claim 1 further comprising a reverse diffuser placed on the exterior of at least one of the faces of the collecting surface.
  • the system according to claim 90 further comprising a reverse diffuser placed on the exterior of substantially all of the faces of the collecting surface.
  • the system according to claim 1 further comprising a layer of angled nanorods placed on the exterior of at least one of the faces of the collecting surface.
  • the system according to claim 92 further comprising a layer of angled nanorods placed on the exterior of substantially all of the faces of the collecting surface.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation comprising: a collecting frame having a collecting surface for receiving solar radiation from a variety of directions, the collecting surface comprising a plurality of collecting faces attached to the collecting frame for receiving the solar radiation from a variety of directions, wherein the collecting faces each comprise a generally transparent surface layer mounted above a holographic lens, and a photovoltaic layer mounted between the surface layer and the holographic lens, wherein the holographic lens is disposed to redirect incident radiation to the photovoltaic layer for generating electric current.
  • the device according to claim 96 further comprising a reflective surface disposed below the collection frame.
  • the collecting frame comprises flexible inflatable tubing, whereby the collecting frame has a first shape corresponding to a deflated condition of the collecting frame and a second shape corresponding to an inflated condition of the collecting frame.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation comprising: a collecting surface for receiving radiation from substantially all directions, the all-direction collecting surface comprising lens faces for directing radiation incident on the lens faces onto a focal region within the collecting surface; a radiation receiver supported at the focal region; and a reflective member spaced from and positioned with respect to the collecting surface whereby radiation not initially incident on the collecting surface is reflected to the collecting surface.
  • a device for collecting electromagnetic radiation comprising: an electric generator having an input drive shaft, a vane assembly having an output member connected to rotate the drive shaft, the vane assembly comprising a vane having opposed radiation absorber and emitter surfaces for absorbing radiation and transmitting it to nearby gas molecules and imparting energy to them to cause them to travel and impart energy to said energy receiving means, the radiation absorber and emitter surfaces and nearby gas molecules imparting kinetic energy to the vane assembly responsively to incident radiation, wherein the absorber surface comprises a blackened radiant energy absorbent surface that is provided on one face of the vane, the emitter surface being bright, and characterized in that at least part of the radiation absorber surfaces contain photovoltaic material for conversion of incident solar radiation into direct current.
  • the device according to claim 101 further comprising an evacuated container generally transparent to at least one component of solar radiation and the vane assembly being positioned within the container.
  • the vane assembly comprises two helically shaped vanes intertwined around an axis substantially parallel to the input drive shaft of the generator, with the blackened radiant energy absorbent surfaces all facing in the same direction around the output member.
  • 105. The device according to claim 102 further comprising a reflective member positioned externally of the container, and directing radiation through the container toward the vane assembly.
  • a device for collecting electromagnetic radiation comprising: an electric generator having an input drive shaft, a vane assembly comprising an output member connected to rotate the drive shaft and at least one vane having opposed radiation absorber and emitter surfaces for absorbing radiation and transmitting it to nearby gas molecules and imparting energy to them to cause them to travel and impart energy to the vane assembly, the radiation absorber and emitter surfaces and nearby gas molecules imparting kinetic energy to the vane assembly responsively to incident radiation, wherein the absorber surface comprises a blackened radiant energy absorbent surface that is provided on one face of the vane and the emitter surface being bright, an evacuated container generally transparent to at least one component of solar radiation and the vane assembly being positioned within the container, and a reflective member positioned externally of the container in order to direct radiation through the container toward the vane assembly.
  • the vane is helically shaped around an axis substantially parallel to the input drive shaft of the generator.
  • the vane assembly comprises two helically shaped vanes intertwined around an axis substantially parallel to the input drive shaft of the generator, with the blackened radiant energy absorbent surfaces all facing in the same direction around the output member.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation comprising: a collecting surface for receiving radiation from a plurality of directions and directing is the radiation onto a diffraction unit disposed to receive the radiation, wherein the diffraction unit diffracts incident radiation of a first set of wavelengths onto a first energy conversion unit and radiation of a second set of wavelengths to a second energy conversion unit, wherein the first energy conversion unit has the capability of converting at least part of the radiation of the first set of wavelengths into another form of energy and the second energy conversion unit has the capability of converting at least part of the radiation of the second set of wavelengths into another form of energy
  • the second energy conversion unit is a plate that is heated when illuminated by infrared light.
  • the second energy conversion unit comprises at least one nanoantenna that generates electricity when illuminated with infrared light.
  • the diffraction unit diffracts the radiation of the first set of wavelengths to a first area on a plane below the diffraction unit and the diffraction unit diffracts the radiation of the second set of wavelengths to a second area on the plane below the diffraction unit, the first and second area being separated, and the first radiation conversion unit being located at the first area and the second radiation conversion unit being located at the second area.
  • the diffraction unit diffracts the radiation of the first set of wavelengths to a first focal area below the diffraction unit that is vertically removed with respect to the diffraction unit from a second focal area to which the diffraction unit diffracts the radiation of the second set of wavelengths, and the first radiation conversion unit being located at the first focal area and the second radiation conversion unit being located at the second focal area.
  • the lens also diffracts incident radiation of a third set of wavelengths to a third energy conversion unit, wherein the third energy conversion unit has the capability of converting at least part of the radiation of the third set of wavelengths into another form of energy.
  • the lens also diffracts incident radiation of a fourth set of wavelengths to a fourth energy conversion unit, wherein the fourth energy conversion unit has the capability of converting at least part of the radiation of the fourth set of wavelengths into another form of energy.
  • the first group of wavelengths is in the high energy gap, namely the range of about 300 nanometers (nm) to about 680 nm (corresponding to photons having energies in the range of about 3.2 electron volts (eV) to about 1.88 eV) 1 19.
  • the first energy conversion unit comprises an InGaP photovoltaic cell.
  • the device according to claim 1 18 wherein the second group of wavelengths is in the middle energy gap, namely the range of about 680 nm to about 900 nm (corresponding to photons having energies in the range of about 1 .5 eV to about 1 .4 eV).
  • the second energy conversion unit comprises an InGaAs photovoltaic cell.
  • the third group of wavelengths is in the low energy gap range, namely the range of about 900 nm to about 1800 nm (corresponding to photons having energies in the range of about 1 .1 eV to about 0.7 eV).
  • the third energy conversion unit comprises one of Ge, GaSb, or InP photovoltaic cells.
  • the fourth group of wavelengths is in the infrared energy gap range, namely the range of about 3 microns to about 15 microns.
  • the fourth energy conversion unit comprises a nano antenna which converts infrared radiation to alternating current.
  • the fourth energy conversion unit comprises a thermo-acoustic piezo cell.
  • the fourth energy conversion unit comprises a quantum tunneling chip.
  • the device according to claim 109 wherein the collecting surface is a reverse diffuser, whereby incident radiation from more than one direction is generally collimated and directed to the diffraction unit.
  • the diffraction unit is a holographic lens constructed to focus incident radiation of the first set of wavelengths onto the first energy conversion unit and radiation of the second set of wavelengths onto the second energy conversion unit.
  • the device according to claim 129 wherein the first set of wavelengths is substantially those of visible light, the second set of wavelengths is substantially those of infrared radiation, the first energy conversion unit is a photovoltaic cell, the second energy conversion unit is a plate having good thermal conductivity, and the photovoltaic cell is attached to and above the plate with respect to the holographic lens.
  • the device according to claim 109 wherein the diffraction unit is a diffraction grating. 136. The device according to claim 109 wherein the diffraction unit is a Fresnel lens.
  • a process for providing a three-dimensional structure with an external layer for receiving radiation and converting the radiation into electricity comprising the steps of: determining the shape of the external surface of the three-dimensional structure, calculating the outlines of a set of pieces of flexible planar material that will cover at least a part of the external surface, printing a flexible planar material with a thin-film photovoltaic layer, cutting the printed flexible planar material into the set of pieces, and attaching the set of pieces to appropriate sections of the external surface, whereby at least a part of the external surface of the three-dimensional structure has an external thin-film photovoltaic layer.
  • step of attaching the set of pieces comprises adhering the pieces to the appropriate sections of the external surface of the three-dimensional structure.
  • the three-dimensional structure is a vehicle.
  • a building comprising walls and a roof, and a thin film photovoltaic layer applied to an external surface of at least one of the walls and roof.
  • a vehicle comprising a body with an external surface and a thin film photovoltaic layer applied at least a portion of the external surface of the body, wherein the thin film photovoltaic layer generates electric current for use in the vehicle.
  • a vehicle comprising: a body, a device for collecting solar radiation from a plurality of directions mounted on an upper surface of the body.
  • the device for collecting solar radiation comprises a collecting frame defining a collecting surface, the collecting surface comprises a plurality of lens faces for directing solar radiation to a focus position within the collecting surface, and a radiation receiver located at about the focus position.
  • An all-direction device for collecting solar radiation comprising: a collecting surface shaped generally like a balloon, the collecting surface being formed of substantially planar pieces joined at edges thereof, the pieces each having an external surface when joined together with the other pieces, and thin-film photovoltaic material formed on the external surfaces of the pieces for receiving solar radiation and converting it into direct current.
  • the device according to claim 156 wherein the pieces are resilient and are joined to each other whereby the collecting surface maintains its balloon shape due to the resilience of the combined pieces. 158. The device according to claim 156 wherein the pieces are joined to each other so as to make a gas-tight collecting surface and the collecting surface maintains its balloon shape due to being inflated with a gas.
  • the device according to claim 156 wherein the pieces comprise twelve pentagonal segments and twenty hexagonal segments that are joined to each other to give the appearance of a buckyball.
  • the device according to claim 156 further comprising a reflective dish concave upward and a post supporting the balloon-shaped collecting surface above the reflective dish whereby incident radiation may be reflected by the reflective dish onto the collecting surface.
  • a building comprising walls and a roof, and further comprising units mounted on the roof having collecting surfaces for collecting radiation from a plurality of directions and directing it to a radiation receiver, wherein the radiation receiver further comprises a splitting unit for separating the solar radiation into its visible light and infrared light components
  • the infrared light is directed to heat a fluid and further comprising a pipe to transmit the heated fluid to heat exchanging devices for providing heating to the building.
  • the splitting unit further separates the solar radiation into its ultraviolet light component.
  • the building according to claim 169 wherein the ultraviolet light component is directed onto photovoltaic cells for generating electricity for use in the building. 171 . The building according to claim 169 wherein the ultraviolet light component is directed to activate at least one fluorescent light for generating visible light.
  • a stove comprising: a solar radiation collecting unit comprising a collecting surface for receiving solar radiation from a plurality of directions and directing it to a radiation receiver to increase the temperature of the radiation receiver, a transmission cable comprising a material with a high degree of thermal conductivity surrounded by a jacket of low thermal conductivity, and a heating element mounted in a framework and connected to the material with a high degree of thermal conductivity of the transmission cable, whereby the heating element is heated by contact with the transmission element.
  • the stove according to claim 172 further comprising controls mounted in the framework of the stove for selectively coupling the transmission cable to the heating element.
  • the heating element comprises first and second adjacent heating sub-elements and further comprising controls mounted in the framework for selectively connecting one or both of the sub-elements to the transmission cable.
  • first and second sub-elements each comprise a set of circular members having decreasing radii and the circular members of the first sub-element alternate with those of the circular members of the second sub-element.
  • a building comprising walls and a roof, wherein the roof comprises a collecting unit for receiving solar radiation from a plurality of directions and directing the solar radiation to a radiation receiver, the radiation receiver converting the solar radiation into a useful form of energy.
  • the radiation receiver uses the solar radiation to generate electric current for use in the building.
  • the radiation receiver uses the solar radiation to heat a fluid for use in the building.
  • the fluid is water and the building further comprises a plumbing system supplied with hot water by the radiation receiver.
  • the radiation receiver uses the solar radiation to heat a heating element for use in a stove in the building.
  • the collecting unit is a Fresnel lens dome.
  • the collecting unit comprises a collecting frame supporting a collecting surface comprising a plurality of lens faces, wherein the collecting frame has the appearance of about one half of a Buckminster Fullerene molecule.
  • the collecting unit comprises a collecting frame supporting a collecting surface comprising a plurality of lens faces, wherein the collecting frame has the appearance of about one half of a nanotube molecule.
  • the collecting frame has the appearance of about one half of a capped nanotube molecule.
  • a portable solar radiation collection roof comprising a collecting frame supporting a collecting surface comprising a plurality of faces for receiving solar radiation from a plurality of directions and directing the solar radiation onto a radiation receiver comprising photovoltaic material.
  • a solar radiation collecting roof for a road comprising a collecting frame supporting a collecting surface comprising a plurality of lens faces for directing solar radiation from a plurality of directions onto an extended line of photovoltaic cells for generating direct current electricity and an inverter in electrical connection with the line of photovoltaic cells for converting the direct current to alternation current electricity.
  • the collecting frame has the appearance of about one half of a nanotube molecule.
  • the building according to claim 190 further comprising a framework attached to the collecting frame and to a side of the road wherein the collecting frame is supported above the road.
  • a solar radiation collection umbrella comprising a collecting surface supported by a mast, wherein the collecting surface comprises a plurality of faces for directing solar radiation from a plurality of directions onto a radiation receiver comprising photovoltaic material for generating direct current electricity.
  • the solar radiation collection umbrella according to claim 194 further comprising a plurality of radiation guides, at least one radiation guide being associated with each of the faces, wherein the radiation guides direct solar radiation from the faces to the radiation receiver.
  • An object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which improve solar energy utilization.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which collect solar radiation from all directions.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which concentrate the solar radiation to a predetermined position.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which are portable and can be used in remote areas lacking conventional power facilities. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation for stoves, ovens, and lighting, especially in remote regions.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which are easy to install. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which can be used to charge electric vehicles.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which are adaptable to different vehicles.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide devices for collecting solar radiation which are adaptable to different buildings.
  • Another object of the present disclosure is to provide building integrated concentration photovoltaic systems.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device depicted in Figure 1 .
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 1 indicated by the section lines 3-3 in Figure 2.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of a radiation receiver from the 4 section of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative radiation receiver as it would appear in the 4 section of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 6 is a perspective expanded view of components of the collecting frame of Figure 1.
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second application (desalination) of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 8 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 7 indicated by the section lines 8-8 in Figure 7.
  • Figure 9 is a perspective view of a third application (making bio fuel) of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figures 10-15 are perspective views of variations of a fourth application (illumination and power supply) of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 10 is a perspective view of a lamppost variation of the fourth application of the first embodiment of the device for collecting and concentrating solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 1 1 is a garden-type light variation of the fourth application of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 12 is a second lamppost variation of the fourth application of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 13 is a pillar lamppost variation of the fourth application of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 14 is buoyant variation of the fourth application of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figure 15 is a third lamppost with a charging station variation of the fourth application of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 .
  • Figures 16-20 are views of embodiments of a fifth application (arrays of devices for a power station) of the first embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1.
  • Figure 16 is a perspective view of an array of variations of devices for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 used to heat air for generating power in a central station.
  • Figure 17 is a sectional view of one of the devices of Figure 16 indicated by the section lines 17-17 in Figure 16.
  • Figure 18 is a perspective view of an array of devices for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 used to individually provide electricity to a central station.
  • Figure 19 is a perspective view of an array of a variation of devices for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1 used to individually provide electricity to a central station.
  • Figure 20 is a sectional view of the array of devices depicted in Figure 19 indicated by the section lines 20-20 in Figure 19.
  • Figure 21 is a perspective view of a variation of the first embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1.
  • Figure 22 is a perspective view of a radiation receiver from the 22 section of Figure 21.
  • Figure 23 is a perspective view of an alternative radiation receiver as it would appear in the 22 section of Figure 21.
  • Figure 24 is a perspective expanded view of components of the collecting frame of Figure 21.
  • Figure 25 is a perspective view of another variation of the first embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 1.
  • Figure 26 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 27 is a perspective view of a radiation receiver from the 27 section of Figure 26.
  • Figure 28 is a perspective view of an alternative radiation receiver as it would appear in the 27 section of Figure 26.
  • Figure 29 is a plan view of the device of Figure 26.
  • Figure 30 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 26 indicated by the section lines 30-30 in Figure 29.
  • Figure 31 is a perspective view of another application (desalination) of the second embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 26.
  • Figure 32 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 31 indicated by the section lines 32-32 in Figure 31.
  • Figure 33 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 34 is a perspective view of a radiation receiver from the 34 section of Figure 33.
  • Figure 35 is a perspective view of an alternative radiation receiver as it would appear in the 34 section of Figure 33.
  • Figure 36 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 33 indicated by the section lines 36-36 in Figure 33.
  • Figure 37 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 38 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 37 indicated by the section lines 38-38 in Figure 37.
  • Figure 39 is a plan view of four of the devices depicted in Figure 37 linked together in a rectangular array.
  • Figure 40 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 41 is a perspective view of a radiation receiver from the 41 section of Figure 40.
  • Figure 42 is a plan view of the device depicted in Figure 40.
  • Figure 43 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 40 indicated by the section lines 43-43 in Figure 42.
  • Figure 44 is a perspective view of another application (desalination) of the fifth embodiment of the device for collecting solar radiation of Figure 40.
  • Figure 45 is a sectional view of the device depicted in Figure 44 indicated by the section lines 45-45 in Figure 44.
  • Figure 46 is a perspective view of an array of a variation of devices for collecting solar radiation of Figure 40 used to individually provide steam to a central station (not shown).
  • Figure 47 is a perspective cut-away view of a sixth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 48 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 49 is a sectional view of a face of the device of Figure 48 indicated by the section lines 49-49 in Figure 48.
  • Figure 50 is a perspective view of a nanotube variation of the seventh embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 51 is a perspective view of a bucky ball version of an eighth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 52 is a plan view of the pattern of the device unit of Figure 51 before it is assembled.
  • Figure 53 is a perspective view of a globe ball version of an eighth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 54 is a plan view of the pattern of the device unit of Figure 53 before it is assembled.
  • Figure 55 is a perspective view of an icosahedron version of an eighth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 56 is a plan view of the pattern of the device unit of Figure 55 before it is assembled.
  • Figure 57 is a perspective view of the bucky ball version of a collecting unit of Figure 51 mounted in a reflective dish.
  • Figure 58 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation, an array of a hemispherical variation of buckyball devices for collecting solar radiation mounted on a panel.
  • Figure 59 is perspective and partial sectional view of the radiation receiver and cooling system in the panel under the hemispherical variation of buckyball devices for collecting solar radiation from the 59 section of Figure 58.
  • Figure 60 is sectional view of the device of Figure 58 indicated by the section lines 60-60 in Figure 58.
  • Figure 61 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation, a dome-shaped device for collecting and concentrating solar radiation using light channels.
  • Figure 62 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 61 indicated by the section lines 62-62 in Figure 61.
  • Figure 63 is a perspective view of a light channel used in the device of Figure 61.
  • Figure 64 is a perspective view of a variation of a tenth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation, a dome-shaped device for collecting solar radiation using curved light channels.
  • Figure 65 is a top view of the device of Figure 64.
  • Figure 66 is a sectional view indicated by the section lines 66-66 in Figure 65.
  • Figure 67 is an exploded view of the device for collecting radiation of Figure 64.
  • Figure 68 is a perspective view of a device similar in concept to that of Figure
  • Figure 69 is a plan view of the collector and building of Figure 68.
  • Figure 70 is a section of the collector and building taken along plane 70-70 in Figure 69.
  • Figure 71 is a detail view of the radiation receiver from the 71 section of Figure 70.
  • Figure 72 is a perspective view of a building provided with collectors similar to that of Figure 61 mounted on the walls and roof.
  • Figure 73 is a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 74 is an expanded view of the device of Figure 73.
  • Figures 75-81 are side elevation views of various vehicles equipped with semi- or half nanotube devices for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 75 is a side elevation view of an automobile pulling a travel trailer, each having a semi- or half nanotube collector mounted on its roof.
  • Figure 76 is a side elevation view of a Class A motor home having a semi- or half nanotube collector mounted on its roof.
  • Figure 77 is a side elevation view of a motorboat having a semi- or half nanotube collector mounted on its roof.
  • Figure 78 is a side elevation view of a panel van having a semi- or half nanotube collector mounted on its roof.
  • Figure 79 is a side elevation view of a bus having a semi- or half nanotube collector mounted on its roof.
  • Figure 80 is a side elevation view of a train car having three semi- or half nanotube collectors mounted on its roof.
  • Figure 81 is a side elevation view of an airplane having a semi- or half nanotube collector mounted on its roof.
  • Figures 82-84 depict a process for making a twelfth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation, namely a photovoltaic wrap for a three-dimensional object.
  • Figure 82 is a perspective view of a plotter used to print the wrap.
  • Figure 83 is a perspective view of a plotter used to cut the wrap after it is printed.
  • Figure 84 is a plan view of the pieces of the wrap for an automobile prior to installation on the automobile.
  • Figure 85 is a perspective view of a building being provided with the wrap.
  • Figure 86 is a perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figure 87 is a plan view of the device of Figure 86.
  • Figure 88 is a side view of the device of Figure 86.
  • Figure 89 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 86 indicated by the section lines 88-88 in Figure 87.
  • Figure 90 is a perspective view of the rotor and generator of the device of Figure 86.
  • Figure 91 is a schematic of a fourteenth embodiment of a device for collecting solar and infrared radiation.
  • Figure 92 is a top view of an alternative radiation receiver for use in the device of Figure 91.
  • Figure 93 is a perspective view of the alternative radiation receiver of Figure 92.
  • Figure 94 is a perspective view of a panel for collecting solar and infrared radiation
  • Figure 95 is a sectional view of the panel of Figure 94 indicated by the section lines 95-95 in Figure 94.
  • Figure 96 is a schematic view of systems for supplying light and heat to a house from solar collecting units.
  • Figure 97 is a perspective view of a solar powered outdoor range top oven.
  • Figure 98 is a perspective view of a portable solar powered outdoor stove.
  • Figure 99 is a bottom view of a heating element for use in the oven of Figure 97 and the stove of Figure 98.
  • Figure 100 is a sectional view of the heating element of Figure 99 taken on the plane 100-100 shown in Figure 99.
  • Figure 101 is a schematic side view of a fifteenth embodiment of a device for collecting optical and infrared radiation.
  • Figure 102 is a side view of a component of the device of Figure 101.
  • Figure 103 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the device of Figure 101
  • Figure 104 is a schematic side view of an alternative version of the device of Figure 101.
  • Figure 105 is a schematic side view of a trichoic prism that may be used with devices for collecting optical and infrared radiation such as those of Figures 101 and 104.
  • Figure 106 is a perspective view of a house having a barrel roof solar radiation collector and a garage with a hemispherical roof solar radiation collector.
  • Figure 107 is a perspective view of a building with a Fresnel lens roof.
  • Figure 108 is a perspective view of a building with a buckydome roof.
  • Figure 109 is a perspective view of a building with a nanotube roof.
  • Figure 1 10 is a schematic diagram of a system emplaced in a building with a collecting dome roof for the use of ultraviolet light.
  • Figure 1 1 1 is a perspective view of a soar radiation collection device shaped like an umbrella.
  • Figure 1 12 is a perspective view of a solar radiation collection roof for a road.
  • Figure 1 13 is an enlarged view taken from the 1 13 section of the solar radiation collection roof for a road shown in Figure 1 12.
  • Figure 1 14 is a perspective view of a house having a barrel roof solar radiation collector and a garage with a hemispherical roof solar radiation collector.
  • Figure 1 15 is a perspective view of a building with a barrel roof solar radiation collector.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation 1 comprises a collecting unit 10.
  • the collecting unit 10 comprises a collecting frame 1 1 and a radiation receiver 20 contained within the collecting frame 1 1.
  • the collecting unit 10 has a collecting surface 12.
  • the collecting surface 12 is adapted to collect solar radiation from different directions, and concentrate the radiation onto the radiation receiver 20.
  • the radiation receiver 20 is adapted to receive solar radiation and ambient radiation from above and below, as shown by the exemplary schematic sunlight rays shown in Figure 1.
  • the collecting surface is adapted to receive radiation from substantially any direction.
  • the collecting surface 12 shown in Figure 1 has a generally spherical surface.
  • the collecting surface 12 comprises a plurality of lens faces 30.
  • Each lens face 30 contains one or more lenses that receive solar radiation and concentrate it on a focal point within the collecting unit 10.
  • the focal point of the lens or lenses of the lens face 30 preferably is at or near the center of the collecting frame 1 1 .
  • the radiation receiver 20 is located at or near the focal point of the lens of each of the lens faces 30.
  • Each lens face 30 can focus the light projected from a limited range of directions onto the radiation receiver 20. Because the collecting surface 12 comprises lens faces 30 facing in many different directions, one or more lens faces 30 will be available to focus the solar rays onto the radiation receiver 20, no matter what the position of the sun is in the sky.
  • the device 1 need not be mounted in any particular orientation other than being generally level. This may be accomplished by placing the device 1 on a generally level surface. Of course, the device 1 should be placed in a location where trees and buildings do not obstruct the sun from the device 1 during the passage of the sun during the day.
  • the structure of the collecting unit 10 resembles the structure of the carbon-60
  • Buckminster Fullerene molecule which is a strong and attractive configuration.
  • the collecting surface 12 has thirty-two polyhedron faces, namely, twenty hexagonal faces and twelve pentagonal faces. All or most of the polyhedron faces are occupied by lens faces 30 having the particular polyhedron face required by its position on the collecting surface 12.
  • the collecting frame 1 1 will resemble a diagram of the covalent bonds between the carbon atoms of the carbon-60 Buckminster Fullerene molecule (also known as a "buckyball").
  • the lens face 30 may contain a Fresnel lens which is made of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which is an optical grade acrylic polymer sold under trademarks like PLEXIGLAS ® by the Rohm & Haas Company.
  • PMMA poly (methyl methacrylate)
  • This kind of lens face is indicated by reference numeral 30a in Figure 1 .
  • a lens face may consist of a plurality of micro biconvex lenses, such as in a honeycomb configuration.
  • a lens face 30b having this configuration of biconvex lenses is indicated in Figure 1 .
  • Yet another alternative of a lens face comprises a holographic lens (indicated by reference numeral 30c). It is to be understood that the collecting surface 12 could comprise any combination of lens faces 30a, 30b, and 30c.
  • the collecting surface also could comprise only lens faces 30a or only lens faces 30b or only lens faces 30c. It will be appreciated that the lens faces 30 may have any lens or system of lenses capable of collecting and concentrating solar radiation.
  • a reverse diffuser preferably is applied to the exterior of the lens face 30 in order to enhance the collection of solar radiation when the source of that radiation is at an angle to the lens face 30. Reverse diffusers are discussed in greater detail in connection with the description of Figure 91 . A reverse diffuser will redirect the solar radiation in a direction more normal to the lens face 30.
  • a layer of angled nanorods may be applied to the exterior of the lens face 30 in order to reduce reflection as discovered by Fred Schubert and his research team at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, which can reduce the reflective losses and allow more solar radiation to pass through the lens face 30.
  • a reverse diffuser or an anti-reflective layer of angled nanorods is preferably added to the lens faces of other embodiments described in this specification that have lens faces for directing solar radiation to a radiation receiver spaced from the lens faces.
  • the radiation receiver 20 is supported in the vicinity of the focal point of the collecting unit 10 by rods 13 extending from the collecting frame 1 1.
  • the radiation receiver 20 is collecting solar energy to generate electricity.
  • the radiation receiver 20 may be in the shape of a cube as seen in Figures 1 and 4. Alternatively, it could have a spherical configuration 21 , as shown in Figure 5. Regardless of shape, the radiation receiver 20 or 21 is covered with photovoltaic material to convert solar energy to electricity.
  • the photovoltaic material can be flat cells 22, or a flexible thin film 23 printed as a thin film photovoltaic material or dye sensitized solar cell film (Gratzell cells) on a flexible sheet and attached to an underlying structure such as a sphere.
  • the dye sensitized solar cell film will be able to absorb solar radiation from any incident direction.
  • the thin film photovoltaic material or dye sensitized solar cell film can be deposited directly on the underlying structure. Either version can be applied to the cubical radiation receiver 20 but the thin film version is more easily applied to the spherical radiation receiver 21 .
  • the photovoltaic material 22 or 23 can be CdTe, GalnP 2 /GsAs/Ge triple junction, or CGIS/CdSe, although other photovoltaic material, such as silicon, may be employed. Advanced photovoltaic materials are more efficient but are also more expensive.
  • the device 1 collects solar radiation and concentrates it on the photovoltaic material, so that a smaller amount of expensive photovoltaic material is needed.
  • the electricity generated by the radiation receiver 20 or 21 will be transmitted via a cable 25 carried inside one or more of the rods 13 for use outside the unit 10.
  • the cable 25 is connected to an inverter 55.
  • the cable 25 could be connected to a battery or other storage system, or directly to a device such as a light.
  • the radiation receiver 20 or 21 will need to be cooled in order to maintain the photovoltaic material 22 (or 23) at an optimum temperature, such as 25 degrees Centigrade. Overheating the photovoltaic material 22 (or 23) is not desirable.
  • One system or means 40 for cooling the photovoltaic material 22 is shown schematically in Figure 1 .
  • a tank 41 containing cool water or other coolant liquid such as ethanol or water mixed with antifreeze such as glycol
  • a pipe 43 joins the tank 41 to a three-way valve 46.
  • the three-way valve 46 is also joined by a pipe 44 to the radiation receiver 20 and by a pipe 45 to the tank 42.
  • the valve 46 when placed in a first position, permits water or other coolant to flow from the tank 41 to the radiation receiver 20. In a second position, the valve 46 interrupts flow from the tank 41 and permits water or other coolant to flow from the radiation receiver 20 to the tank 42. In a third position, the valve 46 interrupts flow to or from the radiation receiver 20.
  • a thermocouple (not shown) detects the temperature of the radiation receiver 20.
  • Control circuitry (not shown) responds to the sensed temperature of the radiation receiver 20 by moving the valve 46 between its three positions as needed to maintain an optimum temperature.
  • the cooling system 40 has the further advantage of providing heated water or other coolant, which can be used for other purposes, such as a source of hot water for a plumbing system.
  • Other means for cooling the radiation receiver 20 (or 21 ) may be employed, however, such as recirculation systems in which the coolant passes through a heat exchanger external to the collecting unit 10 or cooling fans mounted in the radiation receiver 20.
  • the collecting frame 1 1 is formed of interlocking plastic frames 14.
  • the frames 14 preferably do not obstruct light. They are preferably transparent and coated with an anti-reflective coating.
  • the frames 14 are grooved lengthwise on two opposed sides (H-shaped) to receive edges of the lens faces 30.
  • the frames meet at vertexes of the polyhedron faces.
  • Plastic joints 15 have three protruding rods 16 for insertion into corresponding recesses 17 in the ends of three of the frames 14.
  • the collecting unit 10 is easy to assemble because the frames 14, the joints 15, and the lens faces 30 may be snapped together by hand from a kit. Two of the lens faces 30, at the top and bottom of the collector 10, will be provided with holes for insertion of the rods 13.
  • the device 1 may be transported as a kit of parts and assembled when at the location it is intended to operate the device 1 .
  • the device for collecting solar radiation 1 further comprises a reflector member or surface, in the form of a dish 50 having an inner reflective surface 51 .
  • the ends of the rods 13 that protrude from the collecting unit 10 attach to the middle of the reflective dish 50, preferably by being inserted into holes made or formed in the reflective dish 50.
  • the collecting unit 10 is mounted on the rods 13 above the reflective surface 51 so that solar radiation may be reflected from the reflective surface 51 to the collecting surface 12 on the lower part or bottom hemisphere of the collecting unit 10.
  • Legs 52 welded or otherwise attached to the reflective dish 50 support the reflective dish 50 above the surface on which it is placed.
  • the reflective dish 50 preferably may have the shape of a truncated paraboloid or a portion of a sphere or any other shape that will reflect solar radiation onto the collecting surface 12.
  • FIGs 7 and 8 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 60 that comprises a collecting unit 62 supported by a stand 65 above a reflective dish 64.
  • the collecting unit 62 is the same as the collecting unit 10 and the reflective dish 50 shown in Figure 1 , but adapted for desalination.
  • a radiation receiving bulb 66 is provided in the vicinity of the foci of the lens faces 68.
  • the radiation receiving bulb 66 is adapted to receive sunlight and ambient light from above and below, as shown by the exemplary schematic sunlight rays shown in Figure 7.
  • a pipe 70 leads from a source of sea water 72 to the bottom of the bulb 66 so that sea water is supplied to the bulb 66. This will be needed in order to replenish the sea water in the bulb 66 as it is evaporated when the bulb 66 is heated by the solar radiation directed to the bulb 66 by the lens faces 68. In addition, the accumulation of brine due to desalination will be removed by dilution with incoming sea water.
  • the device 60 is capable of desalinating any salty water, although the device 60 will be described in connection with sea water. It can also be used to distill dirty or contaminated water. This would be especially useful in remote areas and in emergencies when the usual sources of clean drinking water are not available.
  • the bulb 66 preferably is made of glass although another material that is generally transparent to solar radiation may be used.
  • the bulb 66 may be made of copper or copper alloy, chosen for its superior heat transmission characteristics, and provided with an absorptive coating on its exterior surface.
  • the configuration of device 60 supplies sea water to the bulb 66 automatically by locating the bulb 66 at about the height of the top surface 74 of a large container 72 of sea water, so that sea water flows through the line 70 to the bulb 66 when the height of the top surface of the sea water in the bulb 66 decreases.
  • One way of providing this configuration would be to recess the device below the top surface 74 of the sea water, using a wall 73 to keep the sea water from immersing the device 60 set in a ditch dug by the sea shore.
  • the container 72 may be an intermediate tank communicating with each of the bulb 86 and the sea, and may be provided with a feedback controlled mechanism to maintain a constant level in the intermediate lank so that the level of the seawater in the bulb 86 is always constant. This configuration will also be applicable to other desalination systems and devices described below.
  • a pipe 76 carries water vapor from the bulb 66 to a tank 78 for receiving the water that condenses from the water vapor.
  • a condenser 77 (shown schematically in Figures 7 and 8) may be used in connection with the line 76 to cool the pipe 76 for condensing the water vapor.
  • Figure 9 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 80 that comprises a collecting unit 82 supported by a stand 85 above a reflective dish 81 .
  • the collecting unit 82 is similar to the collecting unit 10 and the reflective dish 81 is similar to the reflective dish 50 shown in Figure 1 but adapted for making biodiesel by heating a vegetable oil or another suitable precursor fluid, such as animal fats, with lye in order to transesterificate it into biodiesel fuel.
  • the vegetable oil or other suitable precursor fluid and the lye are provided to the tanks 90.
  • the radiation receiving bulb 86 is heated by the solar radiation and passes the heat through the lines 84, preferably made of copper and insulated, to the tanks 90 where the vegetable oil or other suitable precursor fluid is transformed into biodiesel and glycerol.
  • the bulb 86 has a construction similar to the bulb 66 shown in Figures 7 and 8.
  • the biodiesel and the glycerol are collected in the tanks 90.
  • the tanks 90 are provided with spigots 92 for draining the tanks 90.
  • the glycerol is denser and can be drawn off first, and then the biodiesel is drawn off.
  • FIGS 10-15 depict devices for collecting solar radiation that generate electricity for providing illumination.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation 100 comprises a collecting unit 102 and a reflective dish 104 that are similar to the collecting unit 10 and the reflective dish 50 shown in Figure 1 .
  • the reflective dish 104 is shown to have a scalloped edge in Figure 8. This is for purely decorative purposes and is not required.
  • a radiation receiver 106 inside the collecting unit 102 contains photovoltaic cells that supply electricity via wires (not shown) to one or more light-emitting rings 108 mounted at the rim of a lens face 1 10.
  • the light-emitting ring 108 may be made of light emitting diodes.
  • the device 100 is mounted on a stand 1 12 so that a larger area is illuminated.
  • a battery contained in battery compartment 109 is provided below the device 100 for storing electrical energy so the light-emitting ring 108 may be energized after dark.
  • On-off switches, dimmers, timers and the like may be provided for controlling when and how much the light-emitting ring 108 will be energized but are not shown in Figure 10.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation 120 comprises a collecting unit 122 and a reflective dish 124 that is similar to the collecting unit 10 and the reflective dish 50 shown in Figure 1 .
  • a radiation receiver 126 inside the collecting unit 122 contains photovoltaic cells that supply electricity via wires (not shown) to one or more light-emitting rings 128 mounted at the rim of a lens face 130.
  • the light- emitting ring 128 may be made of light emitting diodes.
  • the device 120 is mounted on the legs 132 and is closer to the ground than the device 100. It could be used as a garden light.
  • a battery contained in battery compartment 129 is provided below the device 120 for storing electrical energy so the light-emitting ring 128 may be energized after dark.
  • On-off switches, dimmers, timers and the like may be provided for controlling when and how much the light-emitting ring 128 will be energized but are not shown in Figure 1 1.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation 140 comprises a collecting unit 142 that is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1.
  • a reflective surface 144 is provided underneath the collecting unit 140.
  • a radiation receiver (not shown) inside the collecting unit 142 contains photovoltaic cells that supply electricity via wires (not shown) to one or more light-emitting rings 148 mounted at the rim of a lens face 150.
  • the light-emitting ring 148 may be made of light emitting diodes.
  • the device 140 is mounted on the struts 152 above a base 154.
  • the reflective surface 144 is formed on the top surface of the base 154.
  • FIG. 13 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 160.
  • the device 160 comprises a collecting unit 162 that is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1 .
  • a reflective surface 164 is provided underneath the collecting unit 160 on the top of a column 172.
  • a radiation receiver (not shown) inside the collecting unit 162 contains photovoltaic cells that supply electricity via wires (not shown) to one or more light- emitting rings 168 mounted at the rim of a lens face 170 for providing illumination.
  • the light-emitting ring 168 may be made of light emitting diodes.
  • the collecting unit 162 is mounted on the column 172.
  • a battery 169 is provided in the column in the column 172 below the device 160 for storing electrical energy so the light-emitting ring 168 may be energized after dark.
  • On-off switches, dimmers, timers and the like may be provided for controlling when and how much the light-emitting ring 168 will be energized but are not shown in Figure 13.
  • a device for collecting solar radiation 180 comprises a collecting unit 182 that is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1.
  • a radiation receiver (not shown) inside the collecting unit 182 contains photovoltaic cells that supply electricity via wires (not shown) to one or more light-emitting rings 188 mounted at the rim of a lens face 190.
  • the light-emitting ring 188 may be made of light emitting diodes.
  • the device 180 is sealed against the entry of water. Being mostly hollow, it will float on water and can be used as a pool light.
  • the surface 184 of the water will provide a reflective surface that will reflect light to the collecting unit 182.
  • a battery (not shown) may be provided in the device 280 for storing electrical energy so the light-emitting ring 188 may be energized after dark.
  • On-off switches, dimmers, timers and the like may be provided for controlling when and how much the light-emitting ring 188 will be energized but are not shown in Figure 12.
  • FIG 15 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 200.
  • the device 200 comprises a collecting unit 202 that is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1 .
  • a reflective dish 204 is provided under the collecting unit 202.
  • a radiation receiver (not shown) inside the collecting unit 202 contains photovoltaic cells that supply electricity via wires (not shown) to lights 208 mounted below the reflective dish 304.
  • the device 200 is mounted on a stand 210.
  • a battery in the battery compartment 209 is provided at the base of the stand 210 and below the device 200 for storing electrical energy so the lights 208 may be energized after dark.
  • On-off switches, dimmers, timers and the like may be provided for controlling when and how much the light-emitting ring 208 will be energized but are not shown in Figure 13.
  • the electricity supply station 212 is supplied by the cable 214 from the device 200.
  • the electricity supply station 212 may be used to charge electric cars and has a battery compartment 21 1 that can accommodate a battery.
  • Figures 10-15 show only a small number of the many possible versions of the device 1 that can be made for providing lighting and electricity for uses such as charging electric cars.
  • the positions and shapes of the reflective surfaces, the stands, the locations of battery and switches, and the like can be varied considerably.
  • other lighting devices may be employed that use electricity, such as light bulbs and florescent lights, as long as sockets, inverters and other elements are provided as needed.
  • FIG 16 depicts an assemblage of devices for collecting solar radiation 220.
  • Each device 220 comprises a collecting unit 222 that is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1 and a reflective dish 224 that is similar to the reflective dish 50 shown in Figure 1 .
  • Figure 17 is a sectional view of one of the devices 220.
  • a radiation receiver 225 inside the collecting unit 222 is bulb-shaped.
  • the radiation receiver 325 is open at the bottom in order to receive air provided through a permeable support unit 226 on which the collecting unit 222 is mounted.
  • the connection of the support unit 226 to the reflective dish 224 is open to allow air to enter the collecting unit 222.
  • the pipes 228 transmit air that is heated in the radiation receivers 225 to a place where it may be used.
  • this is shown to be a central power station 230 where the hot air is used to power turbines connected to generators (not shown).
  • the hot air could also be used to heat a house and the like.
  • Figure 18 depicts a power array or factory 240 of devices for collecting solar radiation 242.
  • the devices 242 each comprise a collecting unit 244 is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1 and a reflective dish 248 that is similar to the reflective dish 50 shown in Figure 1.
  • the power array or factory 240 is an array of devices 240 like the device 1 depicted in Figure 1 and described above.
  • the collecting units 242 have radiation receivers (not shown) inside them, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
  • the radiation receivers contain photovoltaic cells and are linked by cables 245 and in order to supply electricity through a cable 246 to a central power station 250 for distribution to a grid (not shown).
  • the collecting units 242 preferably will be large, such as in the range three meters (about ten feet) to four meters (about twenty feet) in diameter, and preferably will have its own inverter so that it can supply alternating current to the central power station 250.
  • Figures 19 and 20 depict a power array or factory 260.
  • the power array 260 is a variation of the array 240 shown in Figure 18.
  • the power array 260 comprises devices for collecting solar radiation 262.
  • Each of the devices 262 is similar to the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1 and described above, and will have an inverter (not shown in Figures 19 and 20).
  • the devices 262 are mounted in a rectilinear arrangement on a foundation 265.
  • a reflector 266 Mounted on the foundation 265 in between each group of four adjacent devices 262 is a reflector 266.
  • the reflector 266 is roughly pyramid shaped, with a curved surface facing each of the adjacent devices 262 for reflecting light onto that device 262.
  • Coolant is provided to the radiation receivers 264 contained in each device 262 by means of a coolant manifold 268 that is indicated in Figure 19 in a schematic way.
  • the alternating current from each of the devices 262 is collected by cables 270 and combined into a cable 272 leading to whatever use is to be made of it.
  • a preferred diameter for the device 262 is three to six meters (about ten to twenty feet) but the device may have other diameters.
  • the foundation 265 may be a concrete pad or made of other materials. It could be mounted on the ground or on a roof of a building. It could also be made as a buoyant structure for floating on water.
  • FIGS 21 -24 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 280.
  • the device 280 comprises a collecting unit 282 that is a variation of the collecting unit 10 shown in Figure 1 .
  • the collecting unit 282 has a collecting frame 284 for holding the lens faces 288.
  • the collecting frame 284 and the lens faces 288 form a collecting surface 290, generally as was described in connection with the collecting unit 10 of Figure 1 .
  • the lens faces 288 have two shapes: a hexagonal lens face 288a and a pentagonal lens face 288b.
  • the lens faces 288a and 288b may incorporate any lens systems that focus solar radiation on the radiation receiver 295 that is supported inside the collecting surface 290.
  • the lens faces 288 may be made of a flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or be made of a rigid material such as PMMA.
  • the collecting unit 282 is mounted on and above a plate 292 that has an upper reflective surface 294.
  • the radiation receiver 295 that is held up by supports 296 at about the focal point of the lens faces 288.
  • a cable 298 extending from the radiation receiver 295 carries the electric current outside the collecting unit 282.
  • the radiation receiver 295 is shown in more detail in Figure 22 and has the same structure as the radiation receiver 390 described later in this specification in connection with Figure 34.
  • Other versions of the radiation receiver 295 may be employed, such as the radiation receiver 287 shown in Figure 23, which has the same general structure as the radiation receiver 410 described later in this specification in connection with Figure 35.
  • These radiation receivers have internal cooling systems and do not rely on an outside source of coolant.
  • the collecting frame 284 comprises inflatable tubes 283 preferably made of a flexible material such as PVC as shown in Figure 24.
  • the tubes 283 are inflated by a pump such as a foot pump.
  • the tubes 283 are interlinked and sealed so that air or other gas will circulate among them all. Pumping air or other gas into one of the tubes 283 through an inlet (not shown) will inflate all of them and thereby inflate the collecting frame 284.
  • the lens faces 288 may be attached to the tubes 283 by ultrasonic welding or the like.
  • the device 280 is especially lightweight and transportable. It is suitable for field use.
  • Figure 25 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 300 that is a variant of the device 280 shown in Figures 21 -24.
  • the main difference is the structure of the collecting surface 310, which is in the shape of a nanotube with buckyball hemispherical ends, as will be described in connection with Figure 40.
  • a second embodiment of a device for collecting solar radiation 320 comprises a collecting unit 330.
  • the collecting unit 330 comprises a collecting frame 331 and a radiation receiver 340 contained within the collecting frame 331 .
  • the collecting frame 331 preferably is made of interlocking frames 332 in the manner depicted in Figure 6 for the embodiment of Figure 1.
  • the collecting unit 330 has a collecting surface 333.
  • the collecting surface 333 is adapted to collect solar radiation from above a local or visible horizon (in this case, the local horizon is defined by the upper edge of the reflective dish 355), and concentrate that radiation onto the radiation receiver 340.
  • the collecting surface 333 does not extend beneath the radiation receiver 340, unlike previous embodiments, and therefore will not concentrate radiation coming from underneath the radiation receiver 340.
  • the collecting surface 333 comprises a plurality of lens faces 334.
  • Each lens face 334 contains one or more lenses that receive solar radiation and concentrate it on a focal point within the collecting unit 330.
  • the focal point of the lens or lenses of the lens face 334 preferably is at or near the center of a plane intersecting the bottom of the hemisphere of the collecting frame 331 .
  • the radiation receiver 340 is located at or near the focal point of the lens of each of the lens faces 334.
  • Each lens face 334 can focus the light projected from a range of directions onto the radiation receiver 340. Because the collecting surface 332 comprises lens faces 334 facing different directions, there is always one or more lens face 334 that can focus the light from the sun onto the radiation receiver 340 no matter what the position of the sun is in the sky.
  • the structure of the collecting unit 330 resembles one half of the structure of the carbon-60 Buckminster fullerene molecule, which is a strong and attractive configuration.
  • the collecting surface 333 has sixteen- two polyhedron faces, namely, four complete hexagonal faces, six partial hexagonal faces, and six pentagonal faces. All or most of the polyhedron faces are occupied by lens faces 334 having the particular polyhedron face required by its position on the collecting surface 332.
  • the collecting frame 331 will resemble a partial diagram of the covalent bonds between the carbon atoms of the carbon-60 Buckminster fullerene molecule.
  • the lens face 334 preferably contains a Fresnel lens which is made of PMMA polymer. This version is indicated by the reference numeral 334a.
  • a lens face may consist of a plurality of micro biconvex lenses, such as in a honeycomb configuration.
  • a lens face 334b having this configuration of biconvex lenses is indicated in Figure 26.
  • a lens face 334 may comprise a holographic lens.
  • a lens face 334c having this configuration is indicated schematically in Figure 26.
  • the collecting surface 332 could comprise some combination of lens faces 334a, 334b, and 334c.
  • the collecting surface also could comprise only lens faces 334a, lens faces 334b or lens faces 334c. It is understood that the lens faces may have any lens or system of lenses capable of collecting and concentrating solar radiation.
  • the radiation receiver 340 is supported in the vicinity of the focal point of the collecting unit 330 by rods 335 extending from the collecting frame 331.
  • the radiation receiver 340 is collecting solar energy to generate electricity.
  • the radiation receiver 340 may have the shapes and structures discussed in connection with the radiation receiver 21 of the embodiment of Figure 1 and thus have exterior surfaces comprising photovoltaic cells 343.
  • Figure 27 shows a larger perspective view of the radiation receiver 340 shown in Figure 26. It is similar to the radiation receiver 21 described above in connection with Figure 5.
  • the radiation receiver could have the form 341 shown in Figure 28, which is similar to the radiation receiver 20 described in connection with Figure 4.
  • the electricity generated by the radiation receiver 340 will be transmitted via cable 358 carried inside one or more of the rods 335 for use outside the unit 320.
  • the cable 358 is connected to an inverter 359.
  • the cable 358 could be connected to a battery or other storage system, or directly to a device such as a light, as in the devices of Figures 10-15.
  • the radiation receiver 340 should be cooled in order to maintain the photovoltaic material mounted on its surface at an optimum temperature.
  • One system or means 345 for cooling the photovoltaic material is shown schematically in Figure 26.
  • a tank 342 containing cool water or other coolant liquid is mounted above a tank 344 for receiving hotter water or coolant liquid.
  • a line 346 joins the tank 342 to a three-way valve 348.
  • the three-way valve 348 is also joined by a line 350 to the radiation receiver 340 and by a line 352 to the tank 344.
  • the valve 348 in a first position, permits water or other coolant to flow from the tank 342 to the radiation receiver 340. In a second position, the valve 348 interrupts flow from the tank 342 and permits water or other coolant to flow from the radiation receiver 340 to the tank 344. In a third position, the valve 348 interrupts flow to or from the radiation receiver 340.
  • thermocouple detects the temperature of the radiation receiver 340.
  • Control circuitry responds to the sensed temperature of the radiation receiver 340 by moving the valve 348 between its three positions as needed to maintain an optimum temperature.
  • the cooling system 345 has the further advantage of providing heated water or other coolant, which can be used for other purposes.
  • Other means for cooling the radiation receiver 340 may be employed, however, such as recirculation systems in which the coolant passes through a heat exchanger external to the collecting unit 330 or cooling fans mounted in the radiation receiver 340.
  • the collecting frame 331 is formed of interlocking plastic frames 14.
  • the device for concentrating solar radiation 320 further comprises a reflector dish 355 having an inner reflective surface 356.
  • the ends of the rods 335 that protrude from the collecting unit 330 attach to the middle of the reflective dish 355, preferably by being inserted into holes made or formed in the reflective dish 355.
  • the collecting unit 340 is mounted on the rods 335 above the reflective dish 355 so that solar radiation may be reflected to the radiation receiver 340.
  • the bottom of the collecting frame 331 has a peripheral frame 336 that bounds the lower edges of the bottom ones of the lens faces 334 of the collection surface 332.
  • the peripheral fame 336 is preferably made of interlocking frame elements snapped or detachably connected to each other, such as the frame elements 14 shown in Figure 6.
  • the peripheral frame 336 is also connected to the rim 356 of the reflective dish 355 by the struts 337.
  • the struts 337, the peripheral frame 336, and the rim 356 border the polygonal windows 338.
  • the edges of the windows 338 fit into slots in the struts 337 and the peripheral frame 336 so the windows 338 are detachably held by the struts 337 and the peripheral frame 336.
  • the windows 338 may rest on or against the reflective dish 355.
  • the windows 348 preferably are made of clear acrylic with an anti-reflective coating, but it will be understood that sheets of other materials may be used if they will transmit light into the reflective dish 355.
  • Seals such as O-rings, silicone gel and the like may be applied at the intersections of the windows 338 with the struts 337, the peripheral frame 336, and the reflective dish 355 so that dust, rain, dew, snow and other atmospheric deposits will not be deposited in the reflective dish 355 or enter the collecting unit 330 from below.
  • FIGs 31 and 32 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 360 that comprises a collecting unit 362 and reflective dish 364 that is the same as the collecting unit 330 and the reflective dish 355 shown in Figure 26 but adapted for desalination.
  • a radiation receiving bulb 366 is provided in the vicinity of the foci of the lens faces 368.
  • the lens faces 368 could comprise any combination of Fresnel lens face 368a, multiple biconvex lens face 368b, and holographic lens faces 368c, or any other lens face that can collect and concentrate light.
  • a pipe 376 leads from a source of sea water 372 to the bottom of the bulb 368 so that sea water is supplied to the bulb 366 in order to replenish the sea water in the bulb 366 as it is evaporated when the bulb 366 is heated by the solar radiation directed to the bulb 366 by the lens faces 368.
  • the bulb 366 preferably is made of glass although another material that is generally transparent to solar radiation may be used. Alternatively, the bulb 366 may be made of copper, copper alloy or other metal chosen for its superior heat transmission characteristics. The bulb 366 may be provided with an absorptive coating on its exterior surface.
  • the configuration of device 360 in Figure 31 supplies sea water to the bulb 366 automatically by locating the bulb 366 at about the height of the top surface 374 of the large container 372 of sea water, so that sea water flows through the pipe 376 to the bulb 366 when the height of the top surface of the sea water in the bulb 366 decreases.
  • the arrangement of the bulb 366 shown in Figures 31 and 32 is much like that described in connection with the device 60 in Figures 7 and 8.
  • a pipe 378 carries water vapor from the bulb 366 to a tank 379 for receiving the
  • a condenser 377 (desalinated) water that condenses from the water vapor.
  • a condenser 377 (shown schematically) is used in connection with the line 378 to cool the vapor emerging from the bulb 366 so that it condenses into the liquid phase.
  • Figures 33-36 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 380 that comprises a collecting unit 382, a radiation receiver 390, and a balloon 400. This embodiment is intended to be very portable.
  • the collecting unit 382 is similar to the collecting unit 330 shown in Figures 26-
  • the collecting unit 382 is hemispherical or convex upward and open at its bottom for receiving radiation reflected upward by the balloon 400.
  • the collecting surface 384 will collect radiation received from substantially all directions above a local or visible horizon.
  • the local horizon in this case is generally defined by the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400.
  • the collecting surface 384 has lens faces 386 that can be any desired combination of Fresnel lens faces 386a, honeycombed biconvex lens faces 386b, holographic lens faces 386c or any other lens that collects and concentrates light on the radiation receiver 390.
  • the lens faces 386 preferably are made of PVC and are flexible in order to be inflatable.
  • the collecting unit 382 is located above the top surface 401 of an inflated balloon 400.
  • the balloon 400 is shaped so that, when inflated, its bottom portion 402 has a bowl shape.
  • the inside surface of the bottom portion 402 of the balloon 400 is provided with a reflective surface 403 so that it can serve as a reflective dish when the balloon 400 is inflated.
  • the reflective surface 403 can be made by coating the inside of the bottom portion 402 of the balloon 400 with a metallic foil or silvered plastic film.
  • the balloon 400 itself can be made of high Daniel count PVC or nylon balloon fabric.
  • the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400 is generally transparent to permit light to enter and be reflected from the reflective surface 403 in the bottom portion 402 of the balloon 400 onto the radiation receiver 390, which will be located above the balloon
  • the balloon 400 is anchored at its bottom portion 402. Rings 406 are attached to the bottom portion 402 by welding, adhesives or the like and can be secured to the ground by stakes 407. It will be understood that other means of securing the balloon 400 to the ground could be employed. For example, the rings 406 could be tied to anchors or attached to them by snap-links.
  • the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400 supports the collecting unit 382 and the radiation receiver 390.
  • the radiation receiver 390 will be heated by the concentrated light that will be focused on it by the lens faces 386 and the reflective surface 403. It preferably should not touch the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400.
  • the struts 389 are provided to maintain the position of the radiation receiver 390 above the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400 so that it will not touch the material of the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400.
  • the struts 389 are each attached at one end to one of the anchors 405 formed in the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400 and at the other end to the radiation receiver 390, passing through the collecting unit 382.
  • the struts 389 are preferably made of a material that is generally transparent to light such as clear plastic pipes.
  • the collecting unit 382 is connected to the upper portion 401 of the balloon 400.
  • the interior of the collecting unit 382 is open to the interior of the balloon 400.
  • the radiation receiver 390 has photovoltaic material on its exterior, as will be discussed in greater detail below in connection with Figures 34 and 35.
  • a cable 398 connects the radiation receiver 390 to an inverter 399. It will be understood that the cable 398 could supply power to a battery, to a lighting device, a recharging unit, or any other device.
  • the device 380 is easily erected by inflating the balloon 400 by pumping it full of air or other gas. This will cause the device to assume the shape shown in Figures 33 and 36. Hot air emitted from an air cooling unit in the radiation receiver 390
  • FIG 34 depicts the radiation receiver 390 of the device 380.
  • the radiation receiver 390 is generally cubical. Its six external walls are coated with photovoltaic cells 391 .
  • the side walls 392 are spaced from the top wall 393 so as to define four ventilation windows 394 that will permit air to circulate into and out of the interior of the radiation receiver 390 for the purpose of cooling it.
  • Posts 395 connect the side walls 362 to the top wall 393.
  • a bottom wall (not shown) is attached to the side walls 392.
  • the walls of the radiation receiver 390 are preferably made of aluminum alloy but it will be understood that other materials will be acceptable if they have the characteristics of high thermal conductivity such as beryllium oxide.
  • the top wall 393 is attached at each of its corners to the struts 389.
  • the top wall 393 is larger than the side walls 362 so that its edges overhang the side walls 392 so that the radiation reflected from the reflective surface 403 can hit the lower side of the photovoltaic cells 391 in the top wall 393, which will cause those cells to absorb more solar radiation.
  • the interior of the radiation receiver 390 preferably will contain an air ventilation unit, such as that shown in Figures 66 and 67 for cooling the radiation receiver 390 in order to maintain the photovoltaic cells 391 at a suitable temperature, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
  • An exemplary air ventilation unit has a motor that rotates a fan.
  • a heat sensor (not shown) actuates the motor so that the motor is energized by the electric current generated by the photovoltaic cells 391 on the exterior walls of the radiation receiver 390 or the photovoltaic film 413 on the exterior of the body 412 of the radiation receiver 410 via cables or wires leading from the cable 398 (not shown).
  • the structure of the air ventilation unit is much like that of a CPU cooling unit.
  • Figure 35 depicts an alternative version 410 of the radiation receiver for the device 380.
  • the radiation receiver 410 has a hollow and generally spherical body 412. Its external surface is coated with photovoltaic laminated thin film 413.
  • the struts 389 are attached to the ring 414, which in turn is attached to the body 412. This attachment is preferably not permanent, so that the struts 389 can be removed later in order to disassemble the device 380.
  • the ring 414 defines a ventilation hole 415 which permits air to enter and leave the interior of the radiation receiver 410 for the purpose of cooling the body 412.
  • An air circulation cooling unit may be provided in the interior of the body 412.
  • Figures 37-39 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 420 that comprises a collecting unit 422, a radiation receiver 430, and a balloon 440. This embodiment also is intended to be very portable.
  • the radiation receiver 430 is adapted to receive sunlight and ambient light from above and below, as shown by the exemplary schematic sunlight rays shown in Figure 37.
  • Current is supplied from the radiation receiver 430 by a cable 432 to an inverter 434
  • the collecting unit 422 shown in Figures 37-39 is substantially the same as the collecting unit 382 shown and described in connection with Figures 33 and 36.
  • the radiation receiver 430 is substantially the same as the radiation receiver 390 shown and described in connection with Figures 33, 34, and 36. The reader is referred to the earlier discussion of the collecting unit 382 and the radiation receiver 390.
  • the balloon 440 is preferably square when seen from above and comprises six external walls joined at their edges: a top wall 442, four side walls 444, and a bottom wall 446.
  • the top wall 442, the side walls 444, and the bottom wall 446 are made of a gas-tight flexible material such as high Daniel count balloon PVC or nylon fabric.
  • the balloon 440 is inflatable with air or another fluid, such as another gas or a liquid such as water, so that it will obtain the shape shown in Figure 37.
  • the balloon 440 contains an internal wall 450 that is attached at its edges to the juncture of the top wall 442 and the side walls 444.
  • the internal wall 450 is shaped so that it is concave upwards when the balloon 440 is inflated. In the embodiment shown in Figure 37, this shape is accomplished by forming the internal wall 450 of eight generally triangular segments 452 that are welded or adhered to each other to form the con cave upward shape when the internal wall 450 is suspended from the junctures of the top wall 442 and the side walls 444.
  • internal lines 454 join the middle of the internal wall 450 to the lower corners 441 of the balloon 440.
  • the upper surface of the internal wall 450 is silvered to provide a reflective surface 456.
  • the reflective surface is also concave upward and will reflect light onto the radiation receiver 430 from below.
  • the top wall 442 is made of a transparent material in order to allow light to pass through to the reflective surface 456 from above.
  • the collecting unit 430 rests on top of the top wall 442 of the balloon 440.
  • the radiation receiver 430 is supported by the rods 431 .
  • the balloon 440 may be staked to the ground at its lower corners 441 by stakes 445 driven through rings 443 attached to the corners 441 .
  • Other means of attachment to a lower surface can be provided, such as snap links for attachment to fixed anchors in a lower surface.
  • Zippers halves 447 are attached to the balloon 440 in the vicinity of the edges of the top wall 442 and the top edges of the side walls 444. As shown in Figure 39, the zipper halves 447 may be mated to corresponding zipper halves 447 of other balloons 440 of similar devices 420 in order to join the devices 420 into a rectangular closely-packed array.
  • Figures 40-43 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 460.
  • the device 460 comprises a collecting unit 470.
  • the collecting unit 470 comprises a collecting frame 471 and a radiation receiver 480 contained within the collecting frame 471.
  • the collecting unit 470 has a collecting surface 472.
  • the collecting surface 472 is adapted to collect solar radiation from different directions, and concentrate the radiation onto the radiation receiver 480.
  • the collecting frame 471 and the collecting surface 472 have the shape of a tube with hemispherical caps or ends.
  • the collecting surface 472 comprises a plurality of lens faces 474.
  • Each lens face 474 contains one or more lenses that receive solar radiation and concentrate it on a focal axis 475 within the collecting unit 470.
  • the focal point of the lens or lenses of each lens face 474 preferably is at or near the axis 475of the collecting frame 471 .
  • the radiation receiver 480 is located at or near the focal axis 475 of the lens of each of the lens faces 474.
  • Each lens face 474 can focus the light projected from a range of directions onto the radiation receiver 480. Because the collecting surface 472 comprises lens faces 474 facing different directions, there is always one or more lens face 474 that can focus the sun rays onto the radiation receiver 480 no matter what the position of the sun is with respect to the device 460.
  • the collecting frame 471 of the collecting unit 470 resembles a diagram of the covalent bonds of a carbon nanotube capped at each end with one half of the carbon-60 version of the Buckminster fullerene molecule, which is a strong and attractive configuration.
  • the lens faces 474 may comprise any lens or lenses for collecting and concentrating light, such as a Fresnel lens (indicated by reference numeral 474a), a plurality of micro biconvex lenses, such as in a honeycomb configuration (indicated by reference numeral 474b) or a holographic lens (indicated by reference numeral 474c). It is to be understood that the collecting surface 472 could comprise any combination of lens faces 474a, 474b, and 474c. The collecting surface 472 also could comprise only lens faces 474a or only lens faces 474b or only lens faces 474c. It will be appreciated that the lens faces 474 may have any lens or system of lenses capable of collecting and concentrating solar radiation.
  • the radiation receiver 480 is supported in the vicinity of the focal axis 475 of the collecting unit 470 by two posts 482 extending from the collecting frame 471.
  • the posts 482 are preferably made of a clear or transparent acrylic material.
  • the radiation receiver 480 is collecting solar energy to generate electricity.
  • the radiation receiver 480 may be in the shape of a hollow cylinder capped with hemispheres at each end as seen in Figures 40, 42, and 43.
  • the radiation receiver 480 is preferably made of a dielectric material such as glass.
  • the radiation receiver 480 is covered with photovoltaic material 486 to convert solar energy to electricity.
  • the photovoltaic material can be solar cells or a flexible thin film adhered to the dielectric material of the radiation receiver 480.
  • the photovoltaic material shown in Figures 40-43 is in the form of discrete cells, namely, triple junction photovoltaic cells which are expensive and efficient.
  • the electricity generated by the radiation receiver 480 will be transmitted via cable 487 carried inside one or more of the posts 482 for use outside the collecting unit 470.
  • the cable 487 is connected to an inverter 488.
  • the cable 487 could be connected to a battery or other storage system, or directly to a device such as a light.
  • the radiation receiver 480 will need to be cooled in order to maintain the photovoltaic material 486 at an optimum temperature, such as 25 degrees Centigrade. Overheating the photovoltaic material 486 is not desirable.
  • One system or means 490 for cooling the photovoltaic material 486 is shown schematically in Figure 40.
  • a tank 491 containing cool water or other coolant liquid is mounted above a tank 492 for receiving hotter water or coolant liquid.
  • a line 493 joins the tank 491 to a three-way valve 496.
  • the three-way valve 496 is also joined by a line 494 to the interior of the radiation receiver 480 and by a line 495 to the tank 492.
  • the valve 496 when in a first position, permits water or other coolant to flow from the tank 491 to the radiation receiver 480. In a second position, the valve 486 interrupts flow from the tank 491 and permits water or other coolant to flow from the radiation receiver 480 to the tank 492. In a third position, the valve 496 interrupts flow to or from the radiation receiver 480.
  • a thermocouple (not shown) detects the temperature of the radiation receiver 480.
  • Control circuitry (not shown) responds to the sensed temperature of the radiation receiver 480 by moving the valve 495 between its three positions as needed to maintain an optimum temperature.
  • the cooling system 490 has the further advantage of providing heated water or other coolant, which can be used for other purposes. Other means for cooling the radiation receiver 480 may be employed, however, such as recirculation systems in which the coolant passes through a heat exchanger external to the collecting unit 470 or cooling fans mounted in the radiation receiver 480.
  • the collecting frame 471 is formed of interlocking plastic frames 14.
  • the device for collecting solar radiation 460 further comprises a reflector trough 500 having an inner reflective surface 501.
  • the trough 500 is generally aligned along the axis 475 and is concave upward to reflect light upward to the radiation receiver 480.
  • FIG. 41 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the radiation receiver 480 in which the photovoltaic material 486 is shown in the form of cells in the shape of squares laminated on the surface of the radiation receiver 480 and connected by conducting wires 489.
  • Figures 44 and 45 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 510 that comprises a collecting unit 512 and reflective trough 514 that is similar to the collecting unit 470 and reflective trough 500 shown in Figures 40-43 but adapted for desalination.
  • a radiation receiving tube 520 is provided in the vicinity of the foci of the lens faces 516.
  • a pipe 522 leads from a source of sea water 524 to the bottom of the tube 520 so that sea water is supplied to the tube 520 in order to replenish the sea water in the tube 520 as it is evaporated when the tube 520 is heated by the solar radiation directed to the tube 520 by the lens faces 516.
  • the tube 520 preferably is made of glass, although another material that is generally transparent to solar radiation may be used.
  • the tube 520 may be made of copper or copper alloy, due to its superior heat transmission characteristics and provided with an absorptive coating on its exterior surface.
  • the configuration of the device 510 in Figures 44-45 supplies sea water to the tube 520 automatically by locating the tube 520 at about the height of the top surface 526 of the source of sea water 524, so that sea water flows through the line 522 to the tube 520 when the height of the top surface of the sea water in the tube 520 decreases.
  • Other means could be provided for supplying the sea water to the tube 520, such as pipes or lines from the sea water reservoir 524 with pumps controlled by circuits that receive signals from sensors associated with the tube 520 that detect the lowering of the level of the sea water in the tube 520.
  • a pipe 528 carries water vapor from the tube 520 to a tank 530 for receiving the water that condenses from the water vapor.
  • a condenser 529 (shown schematically) may be used in connection with the line 528.
  • Figure 46 depicts an array 540 of collecting units 550 that have the same general structure as the collecting unit 470 shown in Figures 40-43 and the collecting unit 512 shown in Figure 44-45.
  • the collecting units 550 are preferably mounted above a surface 552 that can be a foundation, a platform, a roof, or the like.
  • the collecting units 550 are preferably aligned in parallel.
  • the overall orientation in the Northern Hemisphere, for example, should face true south.
  • Reflective members or units 554 are placed on the surface 552 between adjacent collecting units 550.
  • the reflecting units 554 are elongated and roughly triangular in cross-section, like prisms, although each upper surface 556 is convex and bears a reflective material in order to reflect light onto an adjacent collecting unit 550.
  • Adjacent collecting units 550 are connected to each other by frame members 558 that are preferably made of a clear acrylic material that will not interfere greatly with the passage of light.
  • the frame members 558 rest on and preferably are attached to the reflective units 554 so that the collecting units 550 are supported above the surface 552.
  • the surface 552 is preferably painted or lined with a reflective paint or layer to reflect light onto the collecting units 550.
  • each collecting unit 550 a radiation receiver 560 for receiving the light collected by the collecting unit 550.
  • the radiation receiver 560 can have the structure of the radiation receiver 480 described above and shown in Figures 40-43, that is, having photovoltaic material on its exterior for generating electricity.
  • the radiation receiver 560 may have the structure of the radiation receiving tube 520 described above in connection with Figures 44-45, in which a fluid in the tube is heated for the purpose of desalination or for providing a source of heated fluid.
  • auxiliary equipment such as pipes, tanks, cooling systems, and the like are not shown in Figure 46 in order to simplify the drawing.
  • the radiation receivers 560 shown in Figure 46 are supported above the surface 552 by supports 562.
  • the radiation receivers 560 are generally mounted along the long axes of each of the collecting units 550 where they will be able to receive light from the collecting unit as described earlier in connection with the radiation receiver 480 and the radiation receiving tube 520.
  • Figure 47 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 570 that comprises a collecting unit 580 and a reflective dish 590.
  • the device 570 is shown in a partial cutaway view to expose its interior.
  • the collecting unit 580 is generally spherical and comprises a number of reflective channels 582 that direct incident light onto a radiation receiver 575 at the center of the collecting unit 580.
  • the reflective channels 582 are formed by three or more walls 584 that diverge outwardly from the center of the collecting unit 580, from a smaller opening 583 to a larger opening 585.
  • the walls 584 generally lie along planes that pass through the center of the collecting unit 580.
  • the walls 584 are lined with a reflective material such as aluminized thin film, aluminum sheet, vacuum metalized mirror coating on plastic or metal sheets.
  • Polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) coated with aluminized thin film can reflect 99% of sunlight including a range of frequencies in the infrared spectrum.
  • the walls 584 could be submerged in a silvering wet solution of a well known process.
  • the large openings 585 give the appearance of a geodesic dome.
  • Other configurations of reflective channels 582 might be employed.
  • the reflective channels might be provided in a configuration that will terminate in the triangular faces of a regular icosahedron. The reflective channels will thereby each have three walls and the same shape.
  • Other configurations might be employed, such as the dodecahedron.
  • the outside or exterior edges of the reflective channels may also be provided with lens faces as in the embodiments of collecting units discussed above, such as the collecting unit 10 of the device 1 .
  • clear panels may be placed over the openings to the reflective channels 582 in order to keep out moisture and dust.
  • the radiation receiver 575 can be formed in the manner shown above for the radiation receivers provided for the devices described above, such as in reference to Figure 1 .
  • the radiation receiver 575 shown in Figure 47 contains photovoltaic material.
  • a cooling system is preferably provided if the radiation receiver 575 is lined or coated with photovoltaic material as discussed, for example, in connection with the device 1 but is not depicted in Figure 47.
  • the radiation receiver 575 may be adapted to heat a fluid such as water, biodiesel precursor or air, or heat seawater so as to cause a phase change that will be useful for desalination.
  • the collecting unit 580 is mounted above the reflective dish 590 by a post 588.
  • the post 588 can be made of metal alloy and the dish 590 of a metal alloy or a plastic.
  • the cable 577 passes through the post 585 from the radiation receiver 575 to provide electric current to an inverter 579. It will be understood that other devices may be supplied with current or direct current electricity by the cable 577, such as a battery.
  • the post 588 is mounted on the reflective dish 590.
  • the reflective dish 590 may be built the same way of the same materials as the reflective dish 50 of the device 1 .
  • the reflective dish 590 contains a reflective coating or lining 592 on its upward concave-shaped surface that will reflect sunlight into one or more of the reflective channels 582c.
  • the reflective dish 590 is mounted on legs 594.
  • the collecting unit 580 of the device 570 is capable of receiving sunlight from any direction. As with the device 1 and the other devices for collecting solar radiation discussed above, it need not be mounted in any particular orientation other than being generally level. This may be accomplished by placing the device 570 on a generally level surface.
  • FIGS 48 and 49 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 600 that is light weight and easily deployed.
  • the device 600 comprises an inflatable balloon 610.
  • the inflatable balloon 610 shown in the drawings has the general shape of a diagram of a C-60 Buckminster fullerene molecule, with a combination of hexagonal faces 61 1 and pentagonal faces 612 joined by inflatable tubing 613.
  • the balloon 610 may be kept inflated with a gas pump 602 by pumping a gas through a hose or pipe 604 running up the mast 606 to the inflatable tubing 613.
  • the balloon 610 is then inflated by inflating the inflatable tubing 613. In this configuration the balloon 610 is not inflated by pumping air or another gas into the central cavity defined by the faces 611 and 612.
  • the inflatable tubing 613 between the faces 61 1 and 612 is inflated.
  • the balloon 610 could be configured to be inflated by pumping air or gas into the central cavity. However, air may circulate into and out of the balloon 610 through gaps in between the faces 611 and 612 because consideration is needed for cooling requirements.
  • the balloon 610 is attached to the mast 606 by a tether 608.
  • An uninflated balloon 61 Oa is shown in Figure 48 at the base of the mast 606.
  • One of the hexagonal faces 611 is shown in cross-section in Figure 49.
  • the structure of the face 611 is similar that of the pentagonal face 612.
  • Either one comprises a generally transparent surface layer 614 mounted on and above a holographic lens 616.
  • a photovoltaic layer 618 is mounted between the surface layer 614 and the holographic lens 616.
  • the photovoltaic layer 618 is mounted in substantially the middle of the face 611 , as may be seen schematically in three of the faces in Figure 48.
  • the holographic lens 616 is adapted to receive light passing through the surface layer 614 and reflect/refract the light so received to the photovoltaic layer 618.
  • a version of this configuration was developed by the company Prism Solar Technologies, Inc.
  • the use of holographic components to concentrate incident radiation is disclosed in U.S. patents 6,274,860 and 5,877,874 to Rosenberg and U.S. patent 4,863,224 to Afian, et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference for all purposes allowed by law.
  • Wiring collects current from each of the faces 611 and 612 and passes it to the cable 605.
  • the cable 605 passes the current on to an inverter 607.
  • the balloon 610 is provided with ventilation panels 619 at the interstices of the faces 611 and 612 for permitting air to pass into and out of the balloon 610 for the purpose of cooling.
  • the photovoltaic layer 618 needs cooling for greater efficiency, for the reasons mentioned above.
  • the balloon 610 may have other configurations of faces than those shown in the drawing.
  • the balloon need not have a generally spherical shape as shown in Figure 48.
  • it could be hemispherical and rest on a flat surface such as a roof.
  • a reflective surface 603 may be placed under the balloon 610.
  • the reflective surface 603 is indicated schematically in Figure 48.
  • Aluminized Mylar film is currently preferred for being light weight and easily deployed, but a surface painted white might suffice.
  • Figure 50 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 620 that is similar to the device 600 of Figure 48. It differs in having balloons 625 that have a capped nanotube shape as in the collecting units 550 of Figure 46. In this configuration, the balloons 625 have a more aerodynamic shape for windy conditions. The balloons 625 can stream from the mast 627 like flags or moored dirigibles. As in the device 600, reflective surfaces 626 placed under the balloons 625 will improve the efficiency of the device 620 by reflecting light onto the balloons 625 from below, as indicated in Figure 50.
  • Figures 51 -56 depict three embodiments of a device for collecting solar radiation 630.
  • the device 630 has a generally regular three-dimensional shape that will expose a generally equal amount of exterior surface to any direction.
  • the device 630 has a photovoltaic material on substantially its entire exterior surface for the conversion of solar radiation into electricity.
  • the device 630 will generate generally the same amount of electricity regardless of the position of the sun because the device 630 will expose a generally equal amount of exterior surface to any direction. (It will be understood that the intensity of the solar radiation will vary due to such factors as the elevation of the sun in the sky, weather, the season, and the like.) Accordingly, no special care need be taken in placement of the device 630 with respect to the position of the sun and the device 630 does not need to be moved during the day.
  • the device 630 is made of a flexible material that either retains its shape due to its resilience or is inflated like a balloon to form the generally regular three- dimensional shape surface of the device 630.
  • the photovoltaic material lines the exterior surface of the flexible material of the device.
  • the photovoltaic material is preferably a flexible thin film and may be include as semiconductor elements CdTe, GalnP 2 /GsAs/GE triple junction, or CGIS/CdSe.
  • U.S. patents 6,566,153 and 6,576,975 to Yang Yang Yang concerning the fabrication of organic semiconductor devices teach processes for forming thin film semiconductors. The disclosures of U.S. patents 6,566,153 and 6,576,975 are hereby incorporated into this specification by reference for all purposes allowed by law.
  • Figures 51 and 52 depict a first embodiment 630a of the device for collecting solar radiation 630.
  • the embodiment 630a is formed from twelve pentagonal segments 632 and twenty hexagonal segments 634 that are joined to each other at their edges in the pattern shown in Figure 52 by ultrasonic welding or adhesives or any other suitable means to form a structure that can be inflated.
  • the embodiment 630a when assembled and then folded and glued into a three-dimensional form or inflated by pumping air or other fluid into its central cavity, will resemble a soccer ball or a "buckyball.” Current generated by the photovoltaic material will be collected and directed from the embodiment 630a by a cable 631.
  • Figures 53 and 54 depict a second embodiment 630b of the device for collecting solar radiation 630.
  • the embodiment 630b is formed from twelve gores 636 that are joined to each other at their edges in the pattern shown in Figure 54 by ultrasonic welding or adhesives or any other suitable means.
  • the embodiment 630b when assembled and then folded and glued into a three-dimensional form, or inflated by pumping air or other fluid into it, will resemble a beach ball.
  • Figures 55 and 56 depict a third embodiment 630c of the device for collecting solar radiation 630.
  • the embodiment 630c is formed from twenty triangular segments 638 that are joined to each other at their edges in the pattern shown in Figure 56 by ultrasonic welding or adhesives or any other suitable means.
  • the embodiment 630c when assembled and then folded and glued into a three-dimensional form, or inflated by pumping air or other fluid into it, will resemble an icosahedron.
  • Figure 57 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 640 that comprises the collecting device 630a as shown in Figure 51 and a reflective dish 642.
  • the collecting device 630a is mounted on a post 646 at an appropriate distance above the upwardly concave reflective surface 644 of the reflective dish 642.
  • the reflective dish 642 may be designed and shaped like the reflective dish 50 of the device 1 discussed above.
  • the collecting device 630a will receive solar radiation directly from the sun and by reflection from the reflective surface 644.
  • the cable 631 transfers electricity from the collecting unit 630a to an inverter 645. It will be understood that the cable 631 may transfer direct current electricity to other devices such as a battery and the like.
  • the collecting device 630a could be suspended above any reflective surface, including a flat one. It will also be appreciated that the collecting devices 630b and 630c could be employed instead of collecting device 630a.
  • FIGS 58-60 depict a solar collection panel 660.
  • the solar collection panel 660 has a platform 670 on the upper surface 672 of which is mounted an array of collecting units 680.
  • Each of the collecting units 680 shown in Figure 58 is a hemispherical version of the collecting unit 10 of device 1 .
  • the collecting unit 680 may be thought of as the top half of the collecting unit 10, with a collecting frame, a collecting surface, and lens faces supported by the collecting frame and comprising the collecting surface.
  • Each of the collecting units 680 focuses light on a photovoltaic cell 690 situated at the focus of the lens faces of the collecting unit 680 within a well 674 formed in the platform 670 and situated under the collecting unit 680.
  • Printed circuit board leads 691 join the photovoltaic cells 690 in a series configuration for use outside the panel 660.
  • the printed circuit board leads 691 may be made of Dupont's silver conductive ink by a silk screen printed circuit process.
  • the platform 670 is shown to be formed as a slab and provides a structural support for the array of collecting units 680 mounted on the top surface 672, in addition to a heat transfer system.
  • the heat transfer system comprises a plurality of pipes 676 mounted in the platform 670 or on its upper surface 672.
  • Each column of the collecting units 680 (columns follow the direction indicated by reference numeral 682 and rows follow the direction indicated by reference numeral 684) has at least one of the pipes 676 in the platform 670 beneath the collecting units 680 that form that column.
  • the pipes 676 carry a coolant or heat transfer fluid, preferably water, underneath the column.
  • the coolant is circulated through the pipes 676 by a circulation system (not shown in Figures 58 and 59) and on to a heat exchange system (not shown) that will remove heat acquired by the coolant.
  • the solar collection panel 660 can share a common set of pipes 676 with an adjacent panel 661 .
  • the four pipes 676 shown in each panel 660 can be spliced or joined together to conduct the coolant to a tank.
  • Curved pyramid reflectors 678 are mounted on or preferably formed with, the upper surface 672 of the platform 670 between each of a set of four adjacent collecting units 680 in order to reflect incident solar radiation onto the adjacent collecting units 680.
  • the four faces of the curved pyramid reflectors 678 preferably have a concave shape such as parabolic.
  • the platform 670 shown in Figures 58-60 has twelve collecting units 680 arranged in four columns and three rows with two curved pyramid reflectors 678 between each of the columns of the collecting units 680.
  • the expanded and partial sectional view of Figure 59 and the sectional view of Figure 60 show best how a photovoltaic cell 690 is mounted on a heat absorbing block 692 that is in contact with a cooling pipe 676.
  • the heat absorbing block 692 may be made of beryllium oxide, which has good thermal conductivity and is a dielectric for electrically insulating the photovoltaic cell 690 from the cooling pipe 676 while conducting heat to the cooling pipe 676. Alternatively, it could be made of aluminum oxide. Heat from the solar radiation that is collected and directed by the collecting unit 680 at the photovoltaic cell 690 is absorbed by the block 692. The block 692 in turn heats the water in the cooling pipe 676.
  • the block 692 will also receive solar radiation directly when the solar radiation is not in focus on the photovoltaic cell 690.
  • the block 692 will be heated by absorbing infrared radiation and will pass that heat to the coolant.
  • In the winter heated coolant may be directed into the cooling pipe 676 in order to heat the block 692 in order to heat the air in the associated collecting unit 680. This will cause any snow or ice that has been accumulated on the collecting unit 680 to melt away that has been blocking solar radiation from entering the collecting unit 680.
  • the coolant in the cooling pipe 676 will be heated and carried away with the circulation of the coolant.
  • a sensor (not shown) and feedback circuit (not shown) regulates the circulation of the coolant as needed to maintain the temperature of the photovoltaic cells 690 beneath a selected temperature in order to maintain its efficiency.
  • the selected temperature is 25 5 Centigrade or 77 5 Fahrenheit when the photovoltaic cell 690 is either a triple junction photovoltaic cell or a silicon photovoltaic cell.
  • the heated coolant if it is water, may be sent to secondary solar hot water system to be further heated to 71 Q Centigrade (160 Q Fahrenheit), which is recommended by the California Energy Commission for household hot water uses.
  • Figures 61 -67 show alterative variations of generally dome-shaped devices for collecting solar radiation.
  • Figures 61 -63 depict all or part of a dome-shaped device for collecting solar radiation 700.
  • Figures 64-63 depict all or part of a dome-shaped device for collecting solar radiation 730.
  • the dome-shaped device for collecting solar radiation 700 comprises a collecting unit 701 that in turn comprises a set of adjoining three-walled reflective channels 702 that focus incident light to a radiation receiver 710.
  • the structure of one of the three-walled reflective channels 702 is shown in greater detail in Figure 63.
  • the interior side of each of the walls 704 is reflective. Incident light is reflected down the channel 702 from an open outer end 706 to an open inner end 708 facing the radiation receiver 710.
  • the three-walled reflective channels 702 of the collecting unit 701 adjoin each other side by side in a generally dome-shaped configuration.
  • the open ends 706 of the three-walled reflective channels 702 will resemble a portion of a geodesic dome.
  • the radiation receiver 710 shown in Figures 61 and 62 comprises a block 712 bearing photovoltaic cells, preferably triple-junction photovoltaic cells 714.
  • the block 710 is preferably made of beryllium oxide (BeO) because it is an electrical insulator with a thermal conductivity higher than any other non-metal except diamond, and actually exceeds that of some metals, and has a high melting point.
  • BeO beryllium oxide
  • AIO aluminum oxide
  • silicon carbide silicon carbide or some other suitable heat absorbing material with these characteristics may be employed.
  • the block 712 is mounted on a tank 714 that receives a flow of coolant from the cooling system 718.
  • the coolant system 718 provides coolant from the tank 716 through the pipe 713 to the cooling tank 714. The coolant then passes out of the cooling tank 714 through the pipe 715 to the tank 717. It will be understood that other cooling systems could be employed with the device 700, such as the one provided for the device 730 described below.
  • the collecting unit 701 is supported by a wall 720, preferably in a level position so that the collecting unit 701 is capable of receiving solar radiation from any point of the sky.
  • the wall 720 supports a weather cover 705.
  • the weather cover 705 is generally transparent in order to admit solar radiation but exclude moisture, dust, and other contamination.
  • the weather dome 705 is preferably coated with an anti- reflective material.
  • a cable 722 transmits current from the photovoltaic cells 712 to a regulator 723. Direct current passes from the regulator 723 to a battery 724, an outlet 725, and to an inverter 726, which in turn is connected to the outlet 728.
  • the device 700 is therefore capable of storing electrical energy (the battery 724) and providing direct current electricity (the outlet 725) or alternating current electricity (the outlet 728).
  • Figures 64-67 depict a dome-shaped device for collecting solar radiation 730.
  • the device 730 comprises a collecting unit 731 mounted on top of a support unit 750 that has a floor 752.
  • the support unit 750 is provided with wheels 754 so the device 730 may be moved across a support surface (not shown).
  • the collecting unit 731 in turn comprises a set of adjoining compound parabolic concentrators 732 that focus incident solar radiation to a radiation receiver 740.
  • the compound parabolic concentrators 732 is a solid unit of material with a parabolic-shaped reflective wall 734. Incident light is reflected down the compound parabolic concentrators 732 from an outer end 736 to an inner end 738 facing the radiation receiver 740.
  • Isuzu Glass Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, is one of many manufacturers that make compound parabolic concentrators of this kind.
  • An alternative version of the collector 732 is made of a magnifying lens attached above a mirrored solar trap as in the solar energy collection system disclosed in U.S. patent 6,881 ,893 to Cobert, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference for all purposes allowed by law.
  • the compound parabolic concentrators 732 of the collecting unit 731 adjoin each other side by side in a generally dome-shaped configuration that is supported by a wall 750.
  • a weather dome 735 is supported above the collecting unit 731 and is generally transparent.
  • the weather dome 735 is preferably coated with an anti- reflective material.
  • the radiation receiver 740 shown in Figures 66 and 67 is mounted on the floor 752 comprises a block 742 bearing photovoltaic cells, preferably triple-junction photovoltaic cells 744.
  • the block 742 is preferably made of beryllium oxide (BeO) or aluminum oxide (AIO), silicon carbide or some other suitable heat absorbing material.
  • the block 742 is mounted on an air-cooling unit 746.
  • the air-cooling unit 746 has a motor and a fan, similar to the central processing unit cooler of a computer.
  • the photovoltaic cells should be kept from overheating in order to function more efficiently and avoid damage. It will be understood that other cooling systems could be employed with the device 730, such as the cooling system 718 provided for the device 700 described above or the cooling system 40 provided for the device 1 described above.
  • a concentrating funnel 739 is positioned above the radiation receiver 740 and below the collecting unit 731. It has a mirrored surface just like the concentrating parabolic concentrators 732 and its purpose is to lead the radiation collected by the collectors 732 and emitted at their inner ends 738 to the block 742.
  • Figures 64-67 generally do not show the equipment by which current from the photovoltaic cells 744 is stored and supplied for use, although a power outlet 748 is depicted in Figures 64 and 67.
  • Figure 61 shows equipment for this purpose and it, or any suitable equipment, could be used for the device 730.
  • the device 730 is portable and is capable of providing direct current and alternating current electricity as needed.
  • FIG. 68-71 Another embodiment of a unit having the capability of collecting solar radiation from above is shown in Figures 68-71 .
  • This embodiment is adapted to buildings and is an example of building integrated concentrating photovoltaics (BICPV).
  • Figures 68- 71 depict all or part of a collecting unit 760 mounted on the roof 751 of a building 750.
  • the collecting unit 760 is generally shaped like a dome or hemisphere and comprises, in the embodiment shown, a number of adjoining three-walled reflective channels 762 extending from the exterior to a common focus, as in the device 700 of Figure 61 -63.
  • the collecting unit 760 could have the structure of the collecting device 730 shown in Figures 64-67 or the collecting units 680 shown in Figures 58-60.
  • the roof 751 of the building 750 is recessed and has an angled parapet 752 facing the collecting unit 760.
  • the parapet 752 is painted or lined with a reflective coating in order to reflect light back to the collecting unit 760.
  • the roof 751 will tend to collect rainwater and other precipitation since the roof 751 is concave upwards.
  • a drain 753 is provided to allow rain water and other precipitation to leave the roof 751 .
  • a tank 754 is provided to catch the water draining from the roof 751 .
  • the light transmitted by the reflective channels 762 is directed onto a homogenizer 764.
  • the homogenizer 764 is an optical element that diffuses the light incident from the reflective channels evenly and preferably perpendicularly onto a photovoltaic cell panel 766.
  • the homogenizer 764 may be omitted if the photovoltaic cells underneath are high efficiency triple junction cells. In that case, fewer photovoltaic cells are needed and they may have a small enough area that they will all be the focal area of the reflective channels 762.
  • the panel 766 bearing photovoltaic cells will supply electricity for storage or for direct use in the building 750.
  • Related equipment for electrical power storage and distribution, such as cables, inverters, batteries, and the like are not specifically shown in Figures 68-71 but will be understood to be present.
  • a cooling tank 768 is attached to the bottom of the panel 766. As explained earlier, the photovoltaic cells will function more efficiently and avoid damage if they are not overheated.
  • the cooling tank 768 receives a flow of coolant, preferably water, from a system not shown in the drawings but comparable to cooling system 718 shown in Figure 61.
  • the cooling tank 768 can supply hot water to the water supply system of the building 750 if the coolant is water.
  • the cooling tank temperature preferably stays below 25 degrees Centigrade (77 degrees Fahrenheit) and the water will be sent to a secondary solar hot water system to heat up to 71 degrees Centigrade (160 degrees Fahrenheit) for the household hot water use.
  • the light from the reflective channels 762 can be shut out of the building 750 by moving a shutter 770. This will be done when it is desired to shut down the collecting unit 760 because electricity and/or hot water are not currently needed.
  • the shutter 770 preferably has a reflective upper surface so that it will not absorb the light from the collecting unit 760, and is movable between an open position (shown in Figure 71 ) and a closed position above the homogenizer 764.
  • a hydraulic system (not shown) that can be monitored indoors is preferable for moving the shutter 770.
  • the collecting unit 760 can be used to provide either or both electricity and hot water. It will be further understood that more than one collecting unit 760 may be employed on a building, and that it may be deployed on side walls as well as roofs.
  • Figure 72 depicts a building 780 having a number of collecting units 785 mounted on its roof 782 and side walls 784.
  • the collecting units 785 that are shown in Figure 72 have the structure of any of the collecting unit 750 of Figures 68-71 , the collecting unit 730 shown in Figures 64-67, the collecting unit 700 shown in Figures 61-63, or the buckydome configuration of the collecting units 680 shown in Figures 58- 60.
  • the collecting units 785 are preferably mounted on those of the side walls 784 that will have exposure to the sun during the year. Reflective pyramids and awnings may be provided to reflect solar radiation onto the collecting units 785.
  • Figures 73-74 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 800.
  • the device 800 is shown in Figure 73 in a generally schematic form and is adapted to both desalinate water, such as seawater, and generate electricity.
  • the operation of the device 800 is a miniature of the hydrologic cycle but speeds up the process of that cycle by collecting and concentrating solar radiation to desalinate water and generate electricity as well.
  • a source of feed water is connected to the device 800 by a feed line or pipe
  • the ring-shaped boiler tube 804 that can be made either of a transparent material such as glass or of a metal, preferably coated with a light-absorbent material.
  • the boiler tube 804 is surmounted by a nanotube collecting ring 806 that has lens faces 808 of the same sorts as discussed in connection with previous embodiments of collecting units, such as collecting unit 10 in Figure 1 .
  • the nanotube collecting unit 470 of Figure 40 may be imagined to have been elongated and the ends joined to form a ring that is cut into two along a horizontal plane.
  • the lens faces 808 are held in place by a collecting frame 810.
  • the nanotube collecting ring 806 collects and concentrates light onto the boiler tube 804.
  • the focused light heats the boiler tube 804 and boils the feed water contained in the boiler tube 804.
  • the resulting steam passes up from the boiler tube 804 through steam pipes 812 to a turbine-generator 814.
  • the blades of the turbine 814 and the ceiling and wall of the turbine chamber are all preferably coated with thermal photovoltaic cells or the new nano-sized gold antennas for conversion of the thermal radiation of the steam into direct current electricity.
  • the thermal photovoltaic cells and the nano-sized antennas can remove and absorb the thermal energy from the steam. The steam will then be condensed into water droplets to be collected as desalinated fresh water.
  • the turbine 814 vents the condensed steam into the fresh water collector or tank 816.
  • the fresh water is one of the valuable products of the device 800, the other being electricity from the turbine-generator 814.
  • a dome 818 surmounts and protects the turbine-generator 814 in the space between the nanotube collecting ring 806.
  • the dome 818 has a collecting surface with lens faces like that of such devices as the device 1 of Figures 1 -6. Underneath the dome 818 and at the focus of its collecting surface is a set of photovoltaic cells 820 for generating direct current electricity.
  • the photovoltaic cells 820 preferably are triple junction solar cells due to their greater efficiency.
  • the lower portion 822 of the dome 818 is painted or lined with a reflecting film such as silverized Mylar film in order to reflect light onto the nanotube collecting ring 806.
  • the nanotube collecting ring 806 is positioned above a reflective dish 824 that has the appearance of a mold for half of a donut or bagel due to its shape.
  • the reflective dish 824 reflects incident solar radiation to the nanotube collecting ring 806, which then concentrates it onto the boiler tube 804.
  • FIGs 75-81 show various vehicles equipped with devices for collecting and concentrating radiation.
  • a collecting unit 830 comprises one-half of the modified nanotube-like collecting unit 400 of the device 390 shown in Figure 24 which focuses light on an internal radiation receiver (not shown).
  • the modified nanotube-like collecting unit 600 is relatively streamlined for mounting on different vehicles, such as the travel trailer 840 and car 845 depicted in Figure 75, the Class A motor home 850 of Figure 76, the watercraft 855 of Figure 77, the panel van 860 of Figure 78, the bus 865 of Figure 79, the rail car 870 of Figure 80, and the airplane 875 of Figure 81 .
  • the vehicles depicted in the drawings are merely a representative sample of the vehicles that may be equipped with a collecting unit 830.
  • Figures 82-84 depict the steps of a process for making a three-dimensional collector of solar radiation.
  • the process comprises the steps of preparing planar material printed with a flexible photovoltaic layer, cutting the material into pieces that are shaped to fit onto a vehicle or other structure such as a building, wiring the pieces together, and applying the pieces to the vehicle or other structure such as a building.
  • Figure 82 depicts a printer 880 with a planar material or sheet 881 that is being printed.
  • Hewlett Packard of the United States and Roland DG Corporation of Hamamatsu, Japan make suitable inkjet printer/cutters for this purpose.
  • the sheet 881 preferably is made of polyvinyl chloride film.
  • the film preferably has an adhesive backing.
  • the film has semi conducting layers and conducting leads sprayed on by an inkjet process.
  • the process of spraying on semiconductor layers is known.
  • U.S. patents 6,566,153 and 6,576,975 to Yang Yang concerning the fabrication of organic semiconductor devices teach processes of this kind.
  • the disclosures of U.S. patents 6,566,153 and 6,576,975 are hereby incorporated into this specification by reference for all purposes allowed by law.
  • the semi-conductor layers are chosen to serve as a photovoltaic thin-film.
  • the sheet 881 is fed into a cutter 886 in order to cut pieces 882 from the sheet 881 .
  • the cutter 886 and the printer 880 could be the same machine with appropriate modifications if a printer/cutter is used.
  • Figure 83 shows the sheet 881 after the cutter 886 has cut a piece 882 from the sheet 881 .
  • the shape of each piece 882 is preferably designed using computer aided design software so that instructions for cutting the piece are easily generated and loaded into the cutter 880.
  • the pieces 881 will have various outlines depending on the outline of the surface to which they will be applied.
  • Figure 84 the pieces 882 for application to a vehicle 888, seen on the right of this expanded view, are shown with wires 883 joining the electrodes of the photovoltaic material on the pieces 882 to a battery 885 in the appropriate electrical direction for current flow.
  • This suit 884 of pieces 882 is then applied to the vehicle 888.
  • the adhesive backing on the pieces will adhere the pieces 882 to the vehicle 888.
  • the vehicle 888 will be a three- dimensional collector of solar radiation that will provide a charge to the battery 885 during daylight.
  • FIG. 85 Other three-dimensional objects, such as the building 890 shown in Figure 85, may be equipped with a suit 894 of pieces 892 of the photovoltaic film described above.
  • the pieces 892 are cut to fit the available surfaces of the building 890 except the collecting unit 896, which has lens faces that cannot be obscured if they are to collect solar radiation and focus it on a radiation receiver inside.
  • Figures 86-90 depict a device for collecting solar radiation 900 that comprises a collecting unit 901 and a reflective dish 920.
  • the collecting unit 901 is based on the principle of the Crooke's radiometer, which is a heat engine in which a rotor with blades having one light-colored or polished surface and an opposed dark-colored surface is placed in a rarified atmosphere and exposed to light in order to cause rotation of the rotor.
  • the dark-colored side of a rotor blade retreats from the light source and the light sides of the rotor advance towards the light source.
  • the rotor will rotate in the opposite direction when the radiometer is being cooled.
  • the principle is described at more length in U.S. patent 4,410,805 to Berley, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference for all purposes allowed by law.
  • the rotor 903 preferably comprises the two intertwining and helically shaped blades 904 and 905 joined by the caps 906.
  • the lower cap 906 is attached to an axle 907.
  • the axle 907 is rotatably supported and attached to a transmission unit that will pass its torque to an alternating current generator in the generator/vacuum maintaining unit 910.
  • the blade 904 has a dark-colored side 904a and a light-colored side 904b.
  • the blade 905 has a dark-colored side 905a and a light-colored side 905b.
  • the dark- colored sides 904a and 905a preferably are coated with printed thin-film photovoltaic material in order to generate direct current power in addition to the alternating current generated by the temperature gradient that causes the rotor 903 to rotate.
  • the light- colored sides 904b and 905b preferably have mirrored surfaces.
  • the generator/vacuum maintaining unit 910 is attached to and under the reflective dish 920 and the rotor 903 is above the reflective dish 920.
  • the rotor 901 is surrounded by an optically transparent and airtight cover 905.
  • the reflective dish 920 reflects light through the cover 905 onto the rotor 903 to increase the intensity of light being received by the rotor 903
  • the reflective dish 920 has three wheeled legs 922 that bear the weight of the device 900.
  • the wheels 923 contact the surface on which the device 900 rests and permit the device 900 to be moved easily.
  • Figure 91 is a schematic of a device for collecting light radiation 930.
  • the device 930 without movement and aiming, is capable of receiving radiation from a plurality of directions and concentrating it on appropriate receivers.
  • the device 930 is able to concentrate solar radiation on a photovoltaic cell and thermal or infrared radiation on a thermal radiation collection material.
  • the device 930 has a reverse diffuser 932 that receives incident light radiation from any number of directions, as shown by the exemplary light rays 940, and collimates it into more nearly parallel rays generally perpendicular to the diffuser 932.
  • Reverse diffusers may be made of thin polymer film substrates with surface-relief manufactured patterns, such as those made by Wavefront Technology Inc. of Paramount, California. Reverse diffusers of this kind are oriented to present the smooth side to the incident light radiation. (If oriented the other way, so that the rough side is presented to the incident light radiation, the reverse diffuser would act as a regular diffuser and cause the light to spread out.)
  • the reverse diffuser 930 will collimate both optical and infrared radiation.
  • the now-collimated light radiation is directed onto a holographic diffraction grating 934 that splits and directs the radiation according to its frequency.
  • the holographic lens 934 directs visible light radiation, that is, radiation having optical frequencies, onto the photovoltaic cell 952 of the radiation receiver 950.
  • the optical radiation is shown as exemplary rays 942.
  • the photovoltaic cell 952 absorbs the visible light optical radiation to produce electricity.
  • the holographic diffraction grating 934 directs infrared radiation onto the plate 954 of the radiation receiver 950.
  • the infrared radiation is shown as exemplary rays 944.
  • the plate 954 absorbs the infrared radiation as heat which will be passed on to a fluid such as water.
  • the plate 954 also absorbs heat from the photovoltaic cell 952.
  • the majority of the optical radiation absorbed by the photovoltaic cell 952 will not be used for the photovoltaic production of electricity and will heat the photovoltaic cell 952.
  • the temperature of the photovoltaic cell 952 should be kept at 25 Q Centigrade as described earlier in this specification.
  • the plate 954 therefore provides a means to maintain the temperature of the photovoltaic cell 952 within its appropriate limit by removing excess heat form the photovoltaic cell 952. It will be understood that the plate 954 may have any number of shapes and need not be circular as shown in Figure 91 .
  • the plate 954 may be cooled by air cooling, as discussed below, or a heat exchange system (not shown in Figure 91 ) of any suitable kind, such as the one shown in and discussed in connection with Figures 1 and 58.
  • a preferred choice for the material of the plate 954 preferably is made of beryllium oxide (BeO) due to its superior thermal conduction.
  • BeO beryllium oxide
  • Another choice would be a material that absorbs infrared radiation and produces current, such as nanoantennas.
  • Figure 92 depicts a top view of another version of the radiation receiver 950.
  • the radiation receiver 960 includes a photovoltaic cell 962.
  • a block of insulating material 964 supports the photovoltaic cell 962 above the plate 966.
  • the photovoltaic cell may be silicon or triple junction.
  • a triple junction photovoltaic cell will have a smaller area for a given output compared to a silicon photovoltaic cell, because of its greater efficiency.
  • a preferred material for the block 964 is BeO for the reasons described earlier.
  • the block 964 will pass heat from the silicon photovoltaic cell 962 to the plate 966.
  • a preferred material for the plate 966 is copper or aluminum alloy.
  • the plate 966 has heat sink fins 968 on the side opposite to the photovoltaic cell 962.
  • the heat sink fins 968 permit the plate 966 to dissipate heat to the atmosphere. Additional cooling could be provided by adding a fan system to direct a flow of air through and around the fins 968.
  • An off-the-shelf central processing unit (CPU) cooling unit might be employed for this purpose.
  • Triple junction photovoltaic cells can be supplied with concentrated light. Some triple junction cells are effective at concentrations of several hundred suns. It is reported that the maximum tolerance at present technology is 3000 suns while silicon photovoltaic cells will have a tolerance of less than 300 suns. In that case, a more powerful cooling system will likely be appropriate, such as the water or other fluid cooling systems described earlier.
  • Figures 94 and 95 depict a panel for generating electricity and hot water 970.
  • the panel 970 comprises an array of devices for collecting light radiation 971 that have the structure of the device 930 depicted in Figure 91 , as is best seen in the sectional view of Figure 95.
  • Each device 971 has a reverse diffuser 972, a holographic lens 973, a photovoltaic cell 974, a conductive block 975 as in Figures 92 and 93, and a plate 976.
  • the devices 971 are supported and confined by a frame 977.
  • the photovoltaic cells 974 are joined electrically by PCB leads 978 (negative: 978a; positive: 978b)), as is shown schematically in Figure 94.
  • the pipes 979 are in contact with the plates 976 and contain a circulating coolant, preferably water because of its availability and its uses when heated.
  • the panel 970 can be employed by itself to collect and use radiation. It will not have to be tracked to keep it perpendicular to a source of radiation such as the sun because of the capability of the reverse diffusers 972 to collimate the radiation, although the panel 970 preferably should be directed in an appropriate direction, as for known solar cell panels.
  • an anti-reflective coating of angled silicon dioxide nanorods may be employed to reduce reflective losses.
  • the photovoltaic cells 974 can dye- sensitized solar cells (DSSC), also called Gratzel cells, which can absorb solar radiation from any direction. In fact, this type of photovoltaic cell can absorb even indoor lighting.
  • DSSC dye- sensitized solar cells
  • the panel 970 can also be used with concentrating devices such as the buckydome collecting units 680 of Figure 58, the device for collecting solar radiation 700 of Figure 61 , and the device for collecting solar radiation 730 of Figure 64 by mounting such units and devices above the devices 971.
  • the devices 971 become the radiation receiving units of these collecting units.
  • FIG 96 depicts a schematic view of systems for supplying light and heat to a house from solar collecting units.
  • the roof 982 of a structure 980 (shown to be a house in Figure 96) bears a first device for collecting solar radiation 984 and a second device for collecting solar radiation 988.
  • the first device for collecting solar radiation 984 is shown to have the same general structure as the device 700 of Figure 61 but could have other structures such as the collecting unit 680 of Figure 58.
  • the second device for collecting solar radiation 988 is a barrel solar collecting unit that has a generally half-cylinder shape but could have any of the forms of solar radiation collectors described above.
  • a barrel solar collecting unit is depicted as a roof of a building in Figures 106 and 107.
  • the first device 984 has means 986 such as holographic lenses or the prisms described later to separate the collected light into visible light and infrared radiation.
  • the infrared radiation, converted to heat, is directed by a conductor cable 990, preferably made of a copper pipe insulated with PVC to a stove 992.
  • the visible light is sent by the optical fiber cable 994 to the lights 996.
  • the second device 988 collects solar radiation in the form of light and sends some of it by the optical fiber cable 994 to the lights 996.
  • the rest of the collected light is converted to electricity by photoelectric cells in the device 988 and sent by cables 998 to the electrical supply of the structure 980.
  • FIG 97 depicts a solar powered outdoor range top oven 1000.
  • a "buckydome" type of device for collecting solar radiation 1002 has a radiation receiver 1004 that preferably is a copper sphere heated by the collected light.
  • the radiation receiver 1004 is connected by a heat conductor, preferably in the form of a copper pipe insulated by PVC (not shown in Figure 97) to the heating elements 1006 on the range top of the oven 1000 and heating elements inside the oven (not shown in Figure 97).
  • the controls 1008 on the front of the stove 1000 determine how much heat is delivered to the heating elements 1006, as described below in connection with Figures 99 and 100, as well providing an on-off function.
  • a lighting device 1010 next to the oven 1000 has a design similar to that of the light-providing device of Figure 15.
  • the oven 1000 may be provided with electrically activated heating elements of a conventional design for use at night.
  • Figure 98 depicts a portable solar powered outdoor grill 1020. It is an outdoor grill version of the oven 1000, minus the internal oven, and is much more portable.
  • a "buckydome" type of device for collecting solar radiation 1022 has a radiation receiver 1024 that is a bulb heated by the collected light.
  • the radiation receiver 1024 is connected by a heat conductor 1028 to the heating elements 1026 on the stove 1020.
  • the controls 1028 on the front of the stove 1020 determine how much heat is delivered to the heating elements 1028, as described below in connection with Figures 99 and 100, as well providing an on-off function.
  • FIGs 99 and 100 depict heating elements 1040 like the heating element 1006 used in the oven 1000 of Figure 97 and the heating element 1026 used in the stove 1020 of Figure 98.
  • Each heating element 1040 comprises two sets of concentrically disposed circular members 1042 and 1044 preferably made of copper.
  • the circular members 1042 and 1044 alternate radially and have diminishing diameters going to the center.
  • a first heat supply member 1046 is connected to the undersides of the circular members 1042 and a second heat supply member 1048 to the undersides of the circular members 1044.
  • the user operates the controls (see Figures 97 and 98) to connect one or the both of the heat supply members 1046 and 1048, depending on how much heat is needed for cooking.
  • Figure 101 depicts a schematic side view of a device for collecting solar radiation 1050.
  • the device 1050 is able to collect and then separate the solar radiation into ultraviolet, optical, and infrared radiation for use in different applications.
  • the device 1050 has a collecting unit 1052 that collects solar radiation and sends it to a holographic diffraction grating lens 1054.
  • the collecting unit 1052 may have any of the designs for a hemispherical or dome collecting unit described above or even be a unidirectional collecting unit (in which case tracking means must be provided).
  • the holographic lens 1054 is comprised of an ultraviolet reflective block 1056 and an infrared reflective block 1058 that are shaped like wedges and joined at a slanting junction 1060.
  • Infrared light represented by exemplary infrared ray 1062 in Figures 101 and 102, will be diffracted by the ultraviolet reflective block 1056 and then reflected from the infrared reflective block 1058 and on to a heat pipe 1064 where the infrared light can be used for a thermal engine or heating water.
  • Ultraviolet light represented by exemplary ultraviolet ray 1066 in Figures 101 and 102, will be diffracted by the ultraviolet reflective block 1056 and then reflected from the infrared reflective block 1058 and on to a mirror lined interior venting duct 1068 that will direct the ultraviolet light to any of a number of uses, such as energizing a gas in a tube for lighting, disinfection, and electricity generation using, for example, Octillion Corporation's nanosilicon particle photovoltaic solar cells.
  • the optical light represented by exemplary optical frequency ray 1070 in Figures 101 and 102, will pass through the holographic lens 1054 to a photovoltaic cell 1072 where it can be used to generate electricity.
  • the photovoltaic cell will need cooling if the radiation is concentrated on it.
  • a heat sink 1074 is provided under the photovoltaic cell 1072.
  • Figure 103 depicts a schematic side view of a device for collecting solar radiation 1080.
  • the device 1080 is able to collect and then separate the solar radiation into light of various wavelengths to be directed to receivers appropriate to those wavelengths for generating electricity.
  • the device 1080 has a collecting unit 1082 that collects solar radiation and sends it to a holographic diffraction grating lens 1084.
  • the collecting unit 1082 may have any of the designs for a hemispherical or dome collecting unit described above or even be a unidirectional collecting unit (in which case tracking means must be provided).
  • the holographic diffraction grating lens 1084 separates the collected solar radiation into a number of wavelengths, illustrated in Figure 103 by exemplary rays 1086, 1090, 1094, and 1098, and directs them to appropriate receivers 1088, 1092, 1096, and 1 100.
  • An optical prism or a diffraction grating may be substituted for the holographic diffraction grating lens 1084.
  • the first group of wavelengths will be in the high energy gap, namely the range of about 300 nanometers (nm) to about 680 nm (corresponding to photons having energies in the range of about 3.2 electron volts (eV) to about 1.88 eV).
  • An appropriate receiver would be an InGaP photovoltaic cell.
  • the second group of wavelengths will be in the middle energy gap, namely the range of about 680 nm to about 900 nm (corresponding to photons having energies in the range of about 1 .5 eV to about 1 .4 eV).
  • An appropriate receiver would be an InGaAs photovoltaic cell.
  • the third group of wavelengths will be in the low energy gap range, namely the range of about 900 nm to about 1800 nm (corresponding to photons having energies in the range of about 1 .1 eV to about 0.7 eV).
  • An appropriate receiver would be one of Ge, GaSb, or InP photovoltaic cells which cover this range.
  • the fourth group of wavelengths will be in the infrared energy gap range, namely the range of about 3 microns to about 15 microns.
  • An appropriate receiver would be one of a nano antenna from Microcontinuum, Inc., which converts infrared radiation and converts it to alternating current, a thermal-electric cell such as those available from Eneco, a thermo-acoustic piezo cell developed by the University of Utah, and a quantum tunneling chip available from Power Chip.
  • An additional group of wavelengths that may be separated out and used to generate current are in the range of ultraviolet light, such as wavelengths shorter than 380 nanometers that can be exploited by the nanosilicon particle photovoltaic solar cells mentioned above.
  • Figure 104 depicts a schematic side view of an alternative version of the device of Figure 103, namely device 1 1 10.
  • the device 1 1 10 has a collecting unit 1 1 12 that collects solar radiation and sends it to a high chromatic aberration Fresnel lens 1 1 14.
  • the collecting unit 1 1 12 may have any of the designs for a hemispherical or dome collecting unit described above or even be a unidirectional collecting unit (in which case tracking means must be provided).
  • the high chromatic aberration Fresnel lens 1 1 14 separates the collected solar radiation into a number of wavelengths, illustrated in Figure 104 by exemplary rays 1 1 16, 1 120, 1 124, and 1 128, and directs them to appropriate receivers 1 1 18, 1 122, 1 126, and 1 130.
  • the exemplary rays 1 1 16, 1 120, 1 124, and 1 128 and the receivers 1 1 18, 1 122, 1 126, and 1 130 correspond to the exemplary rays 1086, 1090, 1094, and 1098 and the receivers 1088, 1092, 1096, and 1 100 discussed above in connection with Figure 103.
  • Figure 105 depicts a schematic side view of a trichoic prism 1 1 10 that may be used with devices for collecting solar radiation such as those of Figures 101 and 104, which split the solar radiation by wavelength.
  • a dichroic prism is a prism that splits light into two beams of differing wavelength. They are usually constructed of one or more glass prisms with dichroic optical coatings that selectively reflect or transmit light depending on the light's wavelength. That is, certain surfaces within the prism act as dichroic filters. These are used as beam splitters in many optical instruments.
  • the trichroic prism 1 1 10 is a combination of two dichroic prisms, namely three prism components 1 1 14, 1 1 16, and 1 1 18, with the appropriate dichroic coatings, which are used to split an incident beam 1 1 12 into red, green and blue components 1 120, 1 122, and 1 124, respectively. These components will be directed to appropriate receivers for the wavelength of their light.
  • the red component 1 120 may be used to ripen tomatoes and the blue component 1 124 may be used to cause pea plants to bud faster.
  • the blue component 1 124 may be used to irradiate an algae biofuel reactor.
  • the green component 1 122 may be directed onto photovoltaic cells for power generation.
  • Figure 106 depicts another example of building integrated concentrating photovoltaics.
  • the house 1 130 and an attached garage 1 140 having roofs that are solar radiation collectors.
  • the house 1 130 has a barrel roof solar radiation collector 1 132.
  • the garage has a hemispherical roof solar radiation collector 1 142.
  • the barrel roof solar radiation collector 1 132 and the hemispherical roof solar collector 1 142 may have any construction in which a collecting surface receives solar radiation from above a local or visible horizon as described above.
  • the hemispherical roof solar collector 1 142 has the design of the collecting unit 760 in Figure 68.
  • the barrel roof solar radiation collector 1 132 is like the collecting unit 760 but has an elongated and rounded shape like that of half a barrel and better adapted to cover an elongated rectangular roof.
  • Both roofs 1 132 and 1 142 will have transparent panels fitted over the mirrored collection channels in order to keep out dust and precipitation.
  • the roofs 1 132 and 1 142 are surrounded by parapets 1 132 and 1 142 that have internal reflective walls as described above in connection with the building 750 and illustrated in Figure 70.
  • FIG 107 depicts a building 1 190 having a Fresnel dome collecting unit 1 192 as part of its roof.
  • the Fresnel dome collecting unit 1 192 collects solar radiation for heating water, generating electricity, providing heat to stoves (as in the solar stoves described in connection with Figures 96-100), and the like.
  • Figure 108 depicts a building 1200 having a buckydome type collecting unit 1202 as part of its roof.
  • the structure of the buckydome type collecting unit 1202 will be like that of the collecting unit 331 described above and collects solar radiation for heating water, generating electricity, providing heat to stoves, and the like.
  • Figure 109 depicts a building 1210 having a nanotube type collecting unit 1212 as part of its roof.
  • the structure of the nanotube type collecting unit 1212 will be like that of the collecting unit 830 described above and collects solar radiation for heating water, generating electricity, providing heat to stoves, and the like.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic of a system 1220 for extracting ultraviolet radiation for use in a building.
  • the collecting unit 1222 is placed on the roof 1223 of a building 1222 and can have any of the forms for a solar radiation collecting unit described in this specification, including (but not limited to) those of the collecting units 1 192, 1202, 1212 described above.
  • the solar radiation symbolized by exemplary ray 1226, is reflected horizontally by a first mirror 1228 to a second mirror 1230.
  • the second mirror 1230 directs the solar radiation downwardly into the building 1222.
  • An ultraviolet filter 1232 removes the ultraviolet light, leaving the visible light portion of the solar radiation to pass through for use in indoor lights 1234, and the infrared portion to heat solar stoves, and to heat water for the building 1222's hot water system. It will be understood that many variants of this system are possible.
  • the visible light portion of the collected solar radiation can be used for indoor lighting and photovoltaic direct current electric power generation.
  • the infrared portion of the collected solar radiation can be used for the hot water system, air conditioning, refrigeration, and solar stoves.
  • a house therefore can be equipped with a vertical self-regulated system to use the daily free solar radiation for various household uses.
  • Figure 1 1 1 depicts a device for collecting solar radiation 1 150 in the form of an umbrella positioned above a picnic table 1 152 by a stand 1 174.
  • the device 1 150 has an internal radiation receiver (not shown) and has the design of the collecting unit 701 described above.
  • the device 1 150 therefore generates electricity which can be stored in a battery (not shown) and used for such purposes as powering laptop computers or providing lighting at night.
  • the mirrored channels 1 156 of the device 1 150 are covered with transparent panels to keep out dust and precipitation.
  • the device 1 150 will serve an umbrella by acting as a portable roof that protects those under it from excessive sunlight and rain.
  • FIGS 1 12 and 1 13 depict all and part, respectively, of a solar radiation collecting roof 1 160 for a road having road lanes 1 180.
  • the roof 1 160 has the same design as the collecting unit 830 described above in connection with various vehicles and has a collecting frame 1 162 shaped generally like about one half of the depiction of the molecular bonds of a nanotube split lengthwise.
  • the ceiling 1 168 also supports the collecting frame 1 162 (and thus the lens faces 1 164).
  • the ceiling 1 168 is supported by the posts 1 174 and the wall 1 176 above the road 1 1800. It will be understood that the ceiling 1 188 could be supported by any number of means. It will also be understood that the ceiling 1 168 may not be necessary because the photovoltaic cell line 1 166 could be supported by a separate unit from that supporting the collecting frame 1 162.
  • the solar radiation collecting roof 1 160 uses the otherwise unused space above roads to provide alternating current electricity while also providing shade and protection from rain to the roads.
  • the solar radiation collecting roof 1 160 can also provide power for electric vehicle charging stations 1 175.
  • Figure 1 14 depicts a building 1250 with a barrel roof solar radiation collector 1252, but no parapets.
  • Figure 1 15 depicts a building 1260 with a gable roof solar radiation collector 1262.
  • the gable roof solar radiation collector 1262 is like that of barrel roof solar radiation collector 1252, but pointed. The difference is merely one of appearance.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur des systèmes destinés à collecter le rayonnement solaire et à le convertir en une énergie utilisable. Les systèmes selon l'invention ne font pas appel à la poursuite solaire pour augmenter la quantité de rayonnement solaire collectée. Les systèmes précités peuvent être des dispositifs autonomes qui collectent le rayonnement solaire et le convertissent en énergie utilisable, un ensemble de tels dispositifs, des bâtiments équipés desdits dispositifs et des véhicules équipés de ces dispositifs.
PCT/US2009/034580 2008-02-19 2009-02-19 Systèmes de collecte de rayonnement solaire WO2009105587A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6608108P 2008-02-19 2008-02-19
US61/066,081 2008-02-19
US6648208P 2008-02-21 2008-02-21
US61/066,482 2008-02-21
US12/154,211 2008-05-20
US12/154,211 US20090078249A1 (en) 2007-05-24 2008-05-20 Device for concentrating optical radiation
US13043708P 2008-06-02 2008-06-02
US61/130,437 2008-06-02
US13397708P 2008-07-02 2008-07-02
US61/133,977 2008-07-02

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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ES2373302A1 (es) * 2011-12-29 2012-02-02 Juan Martínez Vázquez Concentrador solar.
GB2492063A (en) * 2011-06-15 2012-12-26 Rania Gideon Solar Panel unit comprising of a plurality of pyramidal solar panels on a dome or elliptically shaped base.
WO2013131048A1 (fr) * 2012-03-01 2013-09-06 Jonathan David Chelf Diffuseur de lumière rétractable et gonflable, écran de lumière et système d'isolation thermique
TWI425163B (zh) * 2010-11-22 2014-02-01 Univ Nat Central Polyhedron lamps
WO2014039289A1 (fr) * 2012-09-06 2014-03-13 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Système de conversion de puissance solaire à propriétés sélectives en direction et en spectre basé sur une cavité réfléchissante
WO2016042186A1 (fr) * 2014-09-15 2016-03-24 Instituto Holografico Andaluz, S.L. Système modulaire à concentration solaire holographique intégré dans des éléments urbains et routiers
WO2016119916A1 (fr) * 2015-01-30 2016-08-04 Herkommer, Alois Collecteur solaire pourvu d'une technique de concentrateur à deux étages
WO2018125601A1 (fr) * 2016-12-30 2018-07-05 Symantec Corporation Système d'antenne pour dispositifs de communication sans fil et autres applications sans fil
CN111052399A (zh) * 2017-08-24 2020-04-21 拉杰什·达纳拉尔·贾恩 通过菲涅耳透镜通道实现的改进的聚光太阳能发电设备
TWI738127B (zh) * 2019-11-25 2021-09-01 國立澎湖科技大學 適用於深水域之漂浮型太陽能追日系統
US20220340031A1 (en) * 2021-04-26 2022-10-27 Yonghua Wang Mobile inflatable hybrid concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic system based electric vehicle charging station
WO2023141151A1 (fr) * 2022-01-18 2023-07-27 Giga Mega Joules Inc. Ensemble vitrage solaire
EP4328517A1 (fr) * 2022-08-23 2024-02-28 Edip Özkan Dispositif de collecte d'énergie solaire, collecteur de chaleur, installation de production de chaleur et son procédé de commande
CN117729760A (zh) * 2024-02-07 2024-03-19 广州市嘉品电子科技有限公司 一种光伏逆变器用防护设备

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5795546A (en) * 1980-12-03 1982-06-14 Kuniyuki Shigeyasu Solar light collector device
EP0882937B1 (fr) * 1997-06-05 2003-01-15 Nunzio Dr. La Vecchia Dispositif pour utiliser l'énergie solaire
JP2005164123A (ja) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-23 Dainatsukusu:Kk ソーラーヒートコレクターユニット

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI425163B (zh) * 2010-11-22 2014-02-01 Univ Nat Central Polyhedron lamps
GB2492063A (en) * 2011-06-15 2012-12-26 Rania Gideon Solar Panel unit comprising of a plurality of pyramidal solar panels on a dome or elliptically shaped base.
GB2492063B (en) * 2011-06-15 2013-08-28 Rania Gideon Hill Three dimensional solar panel base
ES2373302A1 (es) * 2011-12-29 2012-02-02 Juan Martínez Vázquez Concentrador solar.
WO2013098453A1 (fr) * 2011-12-29 2013-07-04 Juan Martinez Vazquez Concentrateur solaire
WO2013131048A1 (fr) * 2012-03-01 2013-09-06 Jonathan David Chelf Diffuseur de lumière rétractable et gonflable, écran de lumière et système d'isolation thermique
US10060129B2 (en) 2012-03-01 2018-08-28 Jonathan David Chelf Inflatable, retractable light diffuser, shading and thermal insulation system
US9917221B2 (en) 2012-09-06 2018-03-13 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Solar power conversion system with directionally- and spectrally-selective properties based on a reflective cavity
WO2014039289A1 (fr) * 2012-09-06 2014-03-13 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Système de conversion de puissance solaire à propriétés sélectives en direction et en spectre basé sur une cavité réfléchissante
ES2563680R1 (es) * 2014-09-15 2016-04-08 Instituto Holografico Terrasun,S.L. Sistema modular de cocentración solar holográfica integrado en elementos urbanos y viales.
WO2016042186A1 (fr) * 2014-09-15 2016-03-24 Instituto Holografico Andaluz, S.L. Système modulaire à concentration solaire holographique intégré dans des éléments urbains et routiers
WO2016119916A1 (fr) * 2015-01-30 2016-08-04 Herkommer, Alois Collecteur solaire pourvu d'une technique de concentrateur à deux étages
WO2018125601A1 (fr) * 2016-12-30 2018-07-05 Symantec Corporation Système d'antenne pour dispositifs de communication sans fil et autres applications sans fil
US10553930B2 (en) 2016-12-30 2020-02-04 Symantec Corporation Antenna system for wireless communication devices and other wireless applications
CN111052399A (zh) * 2017-08-24 2020-04-21 拉杰什·达纳拉尔·贾恩 通过菲涅耳透镜通道实现的改进的聚光太阳能发电设备
EP3673515A4 (fr) * 2017-08-24 2021-08-11 Rajesh Dhannalal Jain Appareil d'énergie solaire concentrée amélioré activé par un tunnel de lentille de fresnel
TWI738127B (zh) * 2019-11-25 2021-09-01 國立澎湖科技大學 適用於深水域之漂浮型太陽能追日系統
US20220340031A1 (en) * 2021-04-26 2022-10-27 Yonghua Wang Mobile inflatable hybrid concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic system based electric vehicle charging station
WO2023141151A1 (fr) * 2022-01-18 2023-07-27 Giga Mega Joules Inc. Ensemble vitrage solaire
EP4328517A1 (fr) * 2022-08-23 2024-02-28 Edip Özkan Dispositif de collecte d'énergie solaire, collecteur de chaleur, installation de production de chaleur et son procédé de commande
CN117729760A (zh) * 2024-02-07 2024-03-19 广州市嘉品电子科技有限公司 一种光伏逆变器用防护设备
CN117729760B (zh) * 2024-02-07 2024-05-10 广州市嘉品电子科技有限公司 一种光伏逆变器用防护设备

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