초록 ▼

This invention is a trough solar collector that uses the principles of high leverage in order to produce a lightweight, inexpensive thermal solar collector. The parabolic reflectors are held in proper shape by rigid ribs that are spaced apart along the length of the collector. The structure of the t

This invention is a trough solar collector that uses the principles of high leverage in order to produce a lightweight, inexpensive thermal solar collector. The parabolic reflectors are held in proper shape by rigid ribs that are spaced apart along the length of the collector. The structure of the trough is held rigid by a unique sun-tracking system that not only guides a long trough row to point it toward the sun, but also maintains the whole length of the row in rigid configuration. Small-diameter cables are wrapped around a rotatable pipe that extends along the row. The cables extend around circular arches attached to the parabolic ribs that provide high leverage for rotating the troughs. Since the arches rotate in unison, the long trough row is maintained in rotational rigidity. Rather than having heavy concrete foundations and heavy structures to support the troughs, lightweight support posts are placed into the ground, and guy wires maintain the position of the posts.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A solar energy collection system comprising:a set of rigid ribs spaced apart along the length of the solar energy collection system, each of which rigid ribs has an inner surface defining an approximate parabolic curvature;a set of connection assemblies to which the rigid ribs

What is claimed is: 1. A solar energy collection system comprising:a set of rigid ribs spaced apart along the length of the solar energy collection system, each of which rigid ribs has an inner surface defining an approximate parabolic curvature;a set of connection assemblies to which the rigid ribs are connected;a set of anchored support posts rotatably connected to corresponding said connection assemblies to support the connection assemblies and the rigid ribs;a reflective member, attached to the inner surface of the rigid ribs, for reflecting sunrays to a focal line, the reflective member having a curvature approximating the curvature of the inner surface of the rigid ribs thereby defining a reflective trough having a parabolic cross section, for reflecting sun rays to the focal line;a set of circular tracking arches, connected to the rigid ribs, for making the solar energy collection system rotationally rigid;a set of tracking cables attached to the circular tracking arches for rotating the circular arches and the solar energy collection system;a control system for moving the tracking cables to controllably rotate the solar energy collection system to point toward the sun;a fluid pipe, at the focal line, for carrying a flowing fluid to absorb the heat of solar energy incident on the fluid pipe; andguy wires attached to tops of the support posts to provide leveraged rigidity to stabilize the support posts, wherein the guy wires extend outward from adjacent the focal line of the trough, are perpendicular to the focal line of the trough, and extend at an angle down to an anchor point;wherein the control system moves the tracking cables to rotate the solar energy collection system toward the sun so that the sunlight striking the reflective member is reflected to the fluid pipe, which heats the flowing fluid within the fluid pipe, and wherein the tracking cables, the circular tracking arches, and the control system provide rotational rigidity for the solar energy collection system, andwherein the solar energy collection system comprises a set of modules, each of which has a circular tracking arch on each end thereof, and wherein the modules are placed end-to-end, and adjacent modules share a common support post.