Low cost parabolic cylindrical trough for concentrated solar power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10488079-B2
Application number	US-201515310536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2015
Priority date	May 13, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Reflectors for solar concentration and methods for formation thereof. A reflective assembly (1340) may include a plurality of elongate panels (370) forming a continuous trough (1330), and a frame (1230) configured to support the panels, with the frame with attached panels defining a parabolic contour on the top side of the trough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reflector for solar concentration, the reflector comprising:
a reflective assembly comprising a plurality of elongate panels each comprising a sheet joined along abutting long edges thereof, forming a continuous trough; and
a frame configured to support the panels, the frame comprising a plurality of spaced supports, wherein the frame with attached panels defines a parabolic contour on a top side of the trough,
wherein the joining of the panels along the abutting long edges thereof imparts stiffening to the trough in a longitudinal direction of the trough perpendicular to a transverse direction of the supports, and
wherein the long edges of the panels extend across the spaced supports in the longitudinal direction of the trough.

2. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels are joined using at least one of z-bends or flanges, attached to each other by at least one of adhering, bolting, and riveting.

3. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels are joined using a connecting strip or channel, attached to the panels by at least one of adhering, bolting, and riveting.

4. The reflector of claim 1 , further comprising a connecting strip disposed across a seam defined by adjacent panels.

5. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein the reflective assembly comprises at least three panels.

6. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein at least one panel comprises a metal sheet.

7. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein at least one panel comprises a film disposed on a substrate.

8. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein at least one support comprises a truss.

9. The reflector of claim 8 , wherein the truss comprises at least one rib having a surface defining an offset parabola.

10. The reflector of claim 9 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a tube.

11. A method of manufacturing a solar reflector, the method comprising the steps of:
aligning a plurality of elongate panels each comprising a sheet over an arcuate surface;
joining the panels along abutting long edges thereof to form a continuous trough; and
affixing a frame to back sides of the panels, the frame comprising a plurality of spaced supports,
wherein the joining of the panels along the abutting long edges thereof imparts stiffening to the trough in a longitudinal direction of the trough perpendicular to a transverse direction of the supports, and
wherein the long edges of the panels extend across the spaced supports in the longitudinal direction of the trough.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least three panels.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the arcuate surface defines a parabola.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one support comprises a truss.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the truss comprises at least one rib having an offset parabolic surface.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a tube.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
interconnecting the plurality of panels with flanges.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
interconnecting the plurality of panels by at least one of welding, brazing, bolting, riveting, and adhering.

19. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein the long edges of abutting panels are joined using at least one of z-bends or flanges, and wherein the supports are joined to the z-bends or flanges by brackets.

20. The reflector of claim 1 , wherein the long edges of abutting panels are joined using connecting strips or channels, and wherein the supports are affixed to the connecting strips or channels.

21. The method of claim 11 , further comprising joining the long edges of abutting panels using at least one of z-bends or flanges.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising joining the supports to the z-bends or flanges.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the supports are joined to the z-bends or flanges by brackets.

24. The method of claim 11 , further comprising joining the long edges of abutting panels using connecting strips or channels.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising affixing the supports to the connecting strips or channels.

26. The method of claim 11 , wherein the frame defines the arcuate surface.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Slocum Alexander H
• Campbell Jr Ronald B

Classifications

• B21B5/00

  Extending closed shapes of metal bands by rolling (manufacture of circular shapes, e.g. wheel rims, B21H1/06) · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F24S2025/801

  having hollow parts with closed cross-section · CPC title

• F24S2025/601

  by bonding, e.g. by using adhesives · CPC title

• F24S23/82 Primary

  characterised by the material or the construction of the reflector · CPC title