Methods and apparatuses to increase a speed of airflow through a heat exchanger are described. An optoelectronic device comprising a heat exchanger is coupled to an airflow accelerator. The airflow accelerator comprises a surface to guide the airflow towards the heat exchanger. An optical element is
Methods and apparatuses to increase a speed of airflow through a heat exchanger are described. An optoelectronic device comprising a heat exchanger is coupled to an airflow accelerator. The airflow accelerator comprises a surface to guide the airflow towards the heat exchanger. An optical element is coupled to concentrate light onto the optoelectronic device. The size of the surface, position of the airflow accelerator relative to the heat exchanger, or both can determine increase in speed of the airflow. A photovoltaic (“PV”) system comprises rows of receivers; rows of optical elements to concentrate light onto the receivers, and rows of airflow accelerators coupled to the receivers to increase the speed of airflow through heat exchangers. The airflow can be deflected by an airflow accelerator towards a heat exchanger. A wind load can be reduced by the airflow accelerator.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus to increase a speed of an airflow through a heat exchanger, comprising: a support frame;a first curved optical element supported by the support frame, the first curved optical element having a front reflective side, a back side, a top edge, and a bottom edge;a second curved optical e
1. An apparatus to increase a speed of an airflow through a heat exchanger, comprising: a support frame;a first curved optical element supported by the support frame, the first curved optical element having a front reflective side, a back side, a top edge, and a bottom edge;a second curved optical element having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the top edge of the first curved optical element is spaced apart from the top edge of the second curved optical element, and wherein the bottom edge of the first curved optical element is spaced apart from the bottom edge of the second curved optical element,wherein the first and second curved optical elements are exposed to the atmosphere and natural wind currents;an optoelectronic device mechanically coupled to the second curved optical element, the optoelectronic device comprising a heat exchanger and a solar receiver, the solar receiver having a first side configured to receive solar energy and a second opposite side connected to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including an air flow passage configured to allow a flow of air to pass through the heat exchanger on the second side of the solar receiver and in at least upward and downward directions, the optoelectronic device mounted relative to the first curved optical element such that light reflected off of the front reflective side is directed to the first side of the solar receiver; andan airflow accelerator supported by the support frame and mechanically coupled to the optoelectronic device, wherein the airflow accelerator comprises a first surface configured to guide the airflow towards the heat exchanger, the airflow accelerator configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow through a space between the second curved optical element and the optoelectronic device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator comprises a second surface coupled to the first surface, wherein the second surface is adapted to redirect the airflow that bypasses the optoelectronic device towards the first surface. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom edges of the first curved optical element are free edges, and wherein the top and bottom edges of the second curved optical element are free edges. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator comprises a metal, a plastic, a glass, or any combination thereof. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator is mounted to a support that holds the optoelectronic device. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator comprises a bent sheet of metal. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the airflow accelerator extends above the optoelectronic device and is positioned to provide a shade to a back of the optoelectronic device. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the airflow accelerator extends below the optoelectronic device. 9. A photovoltaic (“PV”) system to accelerate an airflow into one or more heat exchangers, comprising: one or more first rows of receivers;one or more second rows of curved optical elements adapted to concentrate light onto the receivers;one or more third rows of airflow accelerators mechanically coupled to the one or more first rows of receivers to increase the speed of airflow through the one or more heat exchangers; andone or more fourth rows of curved optical elements, the receivers coupled to back sides of the one or more fourth rows of the curved optical elements such that the one or more heat exchangers are disposed between the receivers and the one or more fourth rows of the curved optical elements, the one or more fourth rows of curved optical elements spaced apart from the one or more second rows of curved optical elements,wherein the one or more second rows of curved optical elements and the one or more fourth rows of curved optical elements are exposed to the atmosphere and natural wind currents, andwherein the one or more third rows of airflow accelerators are configured to guide at least a portion of an airflow through a space between the one or more fourth rows of curved optical elements and the one or more first rows of receivers. 10. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators comprise surfaces extending from the respective receivers to collect the airflow that bypasses the receivers. 11. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators include an airflow accelerator coupled to a receiver positioned at an edge row. 12. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators include an airflow accelerator coupled to a receiver positioned at an interior row. 13. The PV system of claim 9, wherein positions of the airflow accelerators relative to the respective receivers are fixed. 14. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators comprise a metal, a plastic, a glass, or any combination thereof. 15. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators are mounted to supports that hold the respective receivers. 16. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators are mounted to supports that hold the respective optical elements. 17. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the airflow accelerators comprise bent sheets of metal. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optoelectronic device is attached to a back side of the second curved optical element such that the heat exchanger is disposed between the solar receiver and the second curved optical element such that air flowing through the heat exchanger flows between the solar receiver and the back side of the second curved optical element, wherein the second curved optical element extends along a longitudinal direction, wherein the airflow accelerator extends in a longitudinal direction generally parallel to the second curved optical element and has a first end coupled to the optoelectronic device and a second end that bends away from the second curved optical element and toward a lower end of the first optical element, so as to divert a flow of air, which flows downwardly along the first curved optical element, upwardly toward the optoelectronic device. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator is disposed between the first curved optical element and the second curved optical element, and wherein the airflow accelerator is configured to deflect an airflow that otherwise passes between the first curved optical element and the solar receiver through the heat exchanger. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the airflow passes between the top edge of the first curved optical element and the top edge of the second curved optical element from outside the apparatus or between the bottom edge of the first curved optical element and the bottom edge of the second curved optical element from outside the apparatus. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first curved optical element and the second curved optical element are not disposed inside a closed housing. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator comprises a fixed end coupled to the optoelectronic device and a free end extending away from the optoelectronic device. 23. The PV system of claim 9, wherein the system is configured such that at least a portion of the airflow passes from the atmosphere between the one or more second rows of curved optical elements and the one or more fourth rows of curved optical elements. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second curved optical element is curved to define a first concave surface, wherein the airflow accelerator comprises a second concave surface, wherein the first concave surface and the second concave surface face away from one another. 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator is configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow through a space between the second curved optical element and the airflow accelerator. 26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow accelerator is separate from and angled relative to the second curved optical element.
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