Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Power Kinetics, Inc.

Other

Solar Age Technologies

David Newbold Borton

Anna H Dyson

Michael K Jensen

William E Rogers

David H Walker

John E Durnin

A solar powered aquatic vessel includes a hull having an overall length equal to a length of a waterline and a maximum hull draft at station that is located at a position that is approximately 30% of the overall length of the hull. A bottom of the hull has an approximately linear slope from a maximum beam to a transom forming a stern of the hull. A canopy is connected to the hull of the solar powered aquatic vessel and supports at least one photovoltaic panel connected to a photovoltaic system positioned in the hull. The photovoltaic system generates electrical power from a sun that is equal to or greater than an electrical power necessary to propel the solar powered vehicle, and a motor operatively connected to the photovoltaic system.

Solar powered boat

A Fresnel lens comprising a substantially polygonal focusing portion adapted to focus solar radiation to a area having the same geometry as the focusing portion of the lens. Also a solar module comprising the Fresnel collecting lens and a substantially polygonal photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is mounted at distance from the Fresnel collecting lens so that the size of the area substantially matches the size of the photovoltaic cell. Also a solar panel having multiple modules within a glazed building envelope system. The solar panel also includes an actuating mechanism within the glazed window envelope system. The actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the plurality of solar modules and is adapted to move the solar modules to track the sun.

Concentrating type solar collection and daylighting system within glazed building envelopes

A solar energy concentrator system includes a supporting structure and a plurality of solar modules coupled to the supporting structure. Each module of the plurality of solar modules includes a plurality of Fresnel reflectors. The plurality of reflectors is arranged to focus solar radiation linearly onto a photovoltaic cell providing two axis concentration. The supporting structure is rotatably connected to a plurality of support members and aligned to allow the supporting structure to rotate about a polar axis. A plurality of optical trusses is connected to the plurality of solar modules and rotatably connected to the supporting structure to allow the plurality of solar modules to be rotated about a declination axis to track a motion of the sun through seasons of the year.

Solar concentrator system

A Fresnel lens including a substantially polygonal focusing portion adapted to focus solar radiation to a area having the same geometry as the focusing portion of the lens. Also a solar module including the Fresnel collecting lens and a substantially polygonal photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is mounted at distance from the Fresnel collecting lens so that the size of the area substantially matches the size of the photovoltaic cell. Also a solar panel having multiple modules within a glazed building envelope system. The solar panel also includes an actuating mechanism within the glazed window envelope system. The actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the plurality of solar modules and is adapted to move the solar modules to track the sun.

A solar radiation collector system includes a curved rim, a collector assembly including a plurality of solar radiation transducer elements passing through the plane of and connected to the curved rim, and a plurality of relatively small diameter tension members connected in distributed manner between the curved rim and the collector assembly and forming a stiff, lightweight, bicycle wheel-type tension-compression support structure. The support structure is rotatably supported from the ground in a manner to allow for three dimensionally stable support and rotation of at least ninety degrees with respect to the ground. Rotation of the bicycle wheel-type tension-compression support structure provides for a desired primary tracking motion to adjust for the apparent motion of the sun, and movement of the transducer elements provides for a second dimension adjustment for the apparent motion of the sun.

Lightweight, distributed force, two-axis tracking, solar radiation

A demand defrost controller employs temperature measurements taken at the outlet of the discharge air curtain and the inlet of the air return to determine the need for defrost. If the difference between these temperature measurements exceeds a set point for a predetermined sustained period of time and a minimum amount of time has elapsed since the last defrost of the case, defrost is initiated. Regardless of the value of the temperature difference, defrost is initiated if elapsed time since the last defrost exceeds a specified maximum time between defrosts for the case. Defrost can be terminated on the basis of time and/or temperature. The demand defrost controller can also control display case temperature and can be applied to independently control multiple display case circuits.

Demand defrost controller for refrigerated display cases

A normally flat, rectangular mirror element is supported on the front surface of a normally flat, rectangular backing element, which is more rigid than the mirror element. A pair of spacer elements are positioned between the mirror element and the backing element to raise the mirror element above the backing element. The spacer elements are located adjacent one pair of parallel edges of the mirror element. To curve the mirror about a central longitudinal bending axis which is parallel to the spacer elements, the mirror is depressed at its center, along the longitudinal axis, and secured to the backing element by a strip of double sided adhesive tape, which maintains the mirror element in the depressed position. To impart a concave curvature to the mirror element, the mirror element and the backing element are both curved about a transverse bending axis, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal bending axis, by pulling the backing element in a direction away from the mirror element while supporting two edges of the backing element on a frame to provide resistance to the pulling. The backing element is pulled by a rod which is secured by one end to the backing element and which threads into a turnbuckle at the other end. The turnbuckle is joined to a portion of the frame by another rod which extends from the frame and which also threads into the turnbuckle. Rotation of the turnbuckle varies the degree of curvature of the backing element and the mirror element about the transverse axis.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, NY, United States of America

David Newbold Borton