The United States of America As Represented by the United States

The University of Chicago

The United States of America As Represented by the United States Energy

Other

University Patents, Inc.

Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corporation

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated

Roland Winston

William A Parkyn, Jr

Abraham I Mlavsky

Arnulf Rabl

George W Panagotacos

Devices for transmission of radiant energy from a convex source to a convex receiver wherein a concave wall reflects rays of selected angularity of source onto the receiver at a selected angularity and in a single reflection. Preferred devices permit transmission of extreme energy rays from a tubular source to a tubular receiver with one or less reflection.

Energy transmission with respect to convex sources and receivers

A compond parabolic concentrator with a V-shaped cavity is provided in which an optical receiver is emplaced. The cavity redirects all energy entering between the receiver and the cavity structure onto the receiver, if the optical receiver is emplaced a distance from the cavity not greater than 0.27 r (where r is the radius of the receiver).

Compound parabolic concentrator with cavity for tubular absorbers

A specular cavity is provided in which an optical receiver is emplaced. The cavity is provided with a series of V groove-like indentations (or pyramidal-type indentations) which redirect energy entering between the receiver and cavity structure onto the receiver. The aperture opening of each V groove is less than half the cavity opening and in most preferred embodiments, much less than half. This enables the optical receiver to be emplaced a distance g from the cavity wherein 0.414r&lt;g.ltoreq.r (r is the radius of the receiver) leading to an attendant increase in energy concentration capability.

Controlled directional scattering cavity for tubular absorbers

Disclosed are radiant energy transmitting devices operative selectively in concentrative and emissive modes, having transmitting elements including radiant energy transmitting and guiding surfaces at the interface of media of differing indices of refraction for radiant energy. Surfaces generally are of a concavely sloping configuration consistent with reflecting, for example, extremal energy rays entering the element from within a defined field of acceptance at an energy inlet onto an energy trap or, in the alternative, extremal rays from an energy source through an energy outlet within a defined field of emission. The energy source or trap is preferably an energy transducer such as a photoelectric device.

Energy transmission

A raidant energy nonimaging light direction device is provided. The device includes an energy transducer and a reflective wall whose contour is particularly determined with respect to the geometrical vector flux of a field associated with the transducer.

Nonimaging radiant energy direction device

A cylindrical or trough-like radiant energy concentration and collection device is provided. The device includes an energy absorber, a glazing enveloping the absorber and a reflective wall. The ideal contour of the reflective wall is determined with reference to a virtual absorber and not the actual absorber cross section.

Ideal light concentrators with reflector gaps

A device is provided for the collection and concentration of radiant energy and includes at least one reflective side wall. The wall directs incident radiant energy to the exit aperture thereof or onto the surface of energy absorber positioned at the exit aperture so that the angle of incidence of radiant energy at the exit aperture or on the surface of the energy absorber is restricted to desired values.

Solar concentrator with restricted exit angles

A device is provided for directing radiant energy and includes a refractive element and a reflective boundary. The reflective boundary is so contoured that incident energy directed thereto by the refractive element is directed to the exit surface thereof or onto the surface of an energy absorber positioned at the exit surface.

Cylindrical radiant energy direction device with refractive medium

The invention provides a unique arrangement for cooling solar cells that are associated with collectors for collecting solar radiation and concentrating the same on the solar cells.The solar energy concentrators are each characterized by having a chamber with a solar radiation transmissive entrance wall, sidewalls adapted to concentrate solar radiation, one or more solar cells disposed in each chamber, and means for passing a dielectric, transparent cooling fluid through each chamber. The cooling fluid has an index of refraction which promotes solar energy concentration onto the solar cells in addition to that provided by the sidewalls.

Solar cells with concentrators

Disclosed are non-imaging systems and devices for collection and concentration of electromagnetic energy and particularly solar energy including one or more longitudinally-extending, generally trough-shaped bodies having curving inner reflective walls for concentration of energy from a relatively large entrance aperture toward a relatively small exit aperture. Solar energy concentrators of the invention include energy traps and collect and concentrate substantial amounts of direct solar energy, even at solstice, without substantial diurnal tracking.

Radiant energy collection

An electromagnetic energy collection device is provided which does not require a solar tracking capability. It includes an energy receiver positioned between two side walls which reflect substantially all incident energy received over a predetermined included angle directly onto the energy receiver.

Radiant energy collector

A device is provided for collecting electromagnetic energy developed by an energy source of finite dimension and of finite distance from the collection device. It includes an energy absorber positioned between two side walls which reflects substantially all incident energy received from the energy source onto the energy absorber.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Roland Winston