초록 ▼

A light weight arcuate reflector facet, for a solar concentrator is disclosed, which comprises a thin mirrored glass sheet such as a microsheet, and a backing sheet or substrate, the glass sheet being bonded to the backing sheet, with the backing sheet providing a smooth surface to the glass sheet.

A light weight arcuate reflector facet, for a solar concentrator is disclosed, which comprises a thin mirrored glass sheet such as a microsheet, and a backing sheet or substrate, the glass sheet being bonded to the backing sheet, with the backing sheet providing a smooth surface to the glass sheet. A support member or support structure is attached to the backing sheet and maintains the mirrored glass sheet at a desired radius of curvature. The backing sheet is preferably a composite, and according to one embodiment of a fixed focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a resin-impregnated fiberglass sheet having a rib structure. In another embodiment of a variable focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a mechanical structure comprising a circular support structure having intersecting center support beams positioned diagonally across the circular support structure. An actuator rod is mounted at the center of the support beams and attached to the backing sheet, and is effective when actuated, to deflect the mirrored glass sheet to a desired curvature, and including corner supports for the circular support structure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A light weight arcuate reflector facet for a solar concentrator which comprises:a mirrored glass sheet having a small radius of curvature, a highly reflective and non-wavy specular surface, and a thickness in the range of 0.002 to 0.010 inch;a backing sheet bonded to said

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A light weight arcuate reflector facet for a solar concentrator which comprises:a mirrored glass sheet having a small radius of curvature, a highly reflective and non-wavy specular surface, and a thickness in the range of 0.002 to 0.010 inch;a backing sheet bonded to said mirrored glass sheet and conforming to the small radius of curvature of the mirrored glass sheet such that substantially the entire surface of the mirrored glass sheet is supported by the backing sheet, wherein said backing sheet includes a smooth surface for bonding to said mirrored glass sheet such that essentially no pattern print forms on the surface of said mirrored glass sheet, thereby reducing undesired light scattering, and wherein said backing sheet has a thermal expansion coefficient similar to said mirrored glass sheet such that changes in temperature do not cause said backing sheet to alter the curvature of the mirrored glass sheet;an adhesive securing the mirrored glass sheet to the backing sheet, wherein said adhesive is compliant to allow the backing sheet to conform to the curvature of the mirrored glass sheet; anda support member attached to said backing sheet, wherein said support member maintains said mirrored glass sheet at the small radius of curvature for relatively short focal distances.