Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation

Robert L Pons

William C Cleveland

Isidore F Sobczak

Douglas B Osborn

A structure (47) is rotatable 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis. The structure (47) is mounted upon a rotating turret (6) in the general shape of an inverted pyramid, with a vertical generally cylindrical torque tube (11) protruding from the bottom of the turret (6). A drive wheel (12) is attached to the bottom of the tube (11) and provides a mechanical advantage for azimuthal rotation because it is larger than the wheel (25, 26, 30) connecting the top of the tube (11) with the bottom of the turret (6). The turret (6) rotatably turns about tripod base (46) by means of wheels (29) mounted beneath the rim (30) of said upper wheel (25, 26, 30). Elevational motion is provided by means of a lead screw (16) connecting rotating turret (6) with structure (47), which can be a modular mass-producible solar radiation reflector consisting of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere.

Method for mass producing solar radiation reflectors

A structure (47) is rotatable 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis. The structure (47) is mounted upon a rotating turret (6) in the general shape of an inverted pyramid, with a vertical generally cylindrical torque tube (11) protruding from the bottom of the turret (6). A drive wheel (12) is attached to the bottom of the tube (11) and provides a mechanical advantage for azimuthal rotation because it is larger than the wheel (25, 26, 30) connecting the top of the tube (11) with the bottom of the turret (6). The turret (6) rotatably turns about tripod base (46) by means of wheels (29) mounted beneath the rim (30) of said upper wheel (25, 26, 30). Elevational motion is provided by means of a lead screw (16) connecting rotating turret (6) with structure (47) which can be a modular mass-producible solar radiation reflector consisting of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere.

Lightweight azimuth/elevation mount

A modular solar radiation concentrator consists of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere. The panels (1) are mass produced, mounted between a pair of horizontal beams (2) so they can partially rotate about two orthogonal axes, and aligned as part of multi-beam (2) modules (3) on a test fixture so that all panels (1) reflect distant radiation upon a small aperture (36). Spaced occur between all panels (1) when mounted in the concentrator. The reflector support structure (4) has a finite number of identically angled bends so that the overall reflector (47) approximates the surface of a sphere. A solar radiation receiver (34) is hingedly suspended to the support structure (4) at the focal point of each of the panels (1). The reflector (47) is mounted upon an azimuth/elevation mount (6, 46), which rotates reflector (47) 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis.

Modular solar concentrator

A modular solar radiation concentrator consists of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere. The panels (1) are mass produced, mounted between a pair of horizontal beams (2) so they can partially rotate about two orthogonal axes, and aligned as part of multi-beam (2) modules (3) on a test fixture so that all panels (1) reflect distant radiation upon a small aperture (36). Spaces occur between all panels (1) when mounted in the concentrator. The reflector support structure (4) has a finite number of identically angled bends so that the overall reflector (47) approximates the surface of a sphere. A solar radiation receiver (34) is hingedly suspended to the support structure (4) at the focal point of each of the panels (1). The reflector (47) is mounted upon an azimuth/elevation mount (6, 46), which rotates reflector (47) 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis.

A solar converter is disclosed which has particular applicability at the focal point of a parabolic concentrator. The converter absorbs solar thermal radiation in a cavity type receiver and transports the heat via a secondary fluid to a heat exchanger which contains a primary (i.e., working) fluid used for process heating or to power a heat engine employing either Stirling, Rankine, or Brayton thermodynamic cycles. The secondary fluid is boiled within the receiver by the trapped solar radiation and the released vapor rises along an elevated path to the heat exchanger. The vapor condenses on the surfaces of the heat exchanger, thereby transferring heat to the engine working fluid. The condensed liquid then flows by means of gravity back to the solar receiver. The walls of the cavity receiver are typically comprised of two concentric cylinders joined at one end in a half toroid and at the other end in concentric half spheres. Optimum primary and secondary fluids, which may be different from each other and are different for different applications, are described.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Robert L Pons