초록 ▼

Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carb

Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention provides low-cost inflatable heliostatic solar power collectors, which can be stand-alone units suitable for flexible utilization in small, medium, or utility scale applications. The inflatable heliostatic power collectors use a reflective surface or membrane “sandwiched” between two inflated chambers, and attached solar power receivers which may be of photovoltaic and/or solar thermal types. Modest concentration ratios enable benefits in both reduced cost and increased conversion efficiency, relative to simple prior-art flat plate solar collectors.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An inflatable heliostatic solar power collector, comprising:an elongated solar power receiver;a reflection and concentration surface for reflecting and concentrating sunrays;a substantially enclosed elongated upper inflatable volume above said reflection and concentration surf

What is claimed is: 1. An inflatable heliostatic solar power collector, comprising:an elongated solar power receiver;a reflection and concentration surface for reflecting and concentrating sunrays;a substantially enclosed elongated upper inflatable volume above said reflection and concentration surface, with a transparent surface above said upper inflatable volume;a substantially enclosed elongated lower inflatable volume below said reflection and concentration surface, with a bottom surface below said lower inflatable volume;elongated side perimeter structural members that have greater length along an axis of elongation than along any other axis, wherein said elongated side perimeter structural members contribute perimeter restraint to said transparent surface above said upper inflatable volume, and wherein said elongated side perimeter structural members contribute perimeter restraint to said bottom surface below said lower inflatable volume, and wherein said elongated side perimeter structural members further contribute to supporting said reflection and concentration surface along at least portions of the perimeter of said reflection and concentration surface;support structure for supporting said solar power collector on a supporting surface;and heliostatic control means comprising at least one of powered elevation control means and powered azimuth control means for aiming said solar power collector as a function of at least one of (i) time of day, (ii) time of year, (iii) latitude of the location of installation of said heliostatic solar power collector, (iv) installation orientation of the support structure relative to the supporting surface, and (v) slope of the supporting surface, such that incoming sunrays from a sunward direction will be reflected and concentrated by said reflection and concentration surface, onto said elongated solar power receiver at a concentration ratio of at least 2 suns.