US4581897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solar power collection apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-09-29
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2002-09-29
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a solar power collection apparatus, with a plurality of Earth surface supported reflectors (heliostats) which reflect sunlight onto a solar receiver which is upheld in an elevated position by one or more tethered aerostats. Variants of the invention may be sited over land or water surfaces. The solar receiver will typically convert light energy into heat energy, which may be used directly or converted into electricity (e.g. by a steam, Brayton cycle, or Rankine cycle turbine power plant). The aerostat(s) which support the solar receiver may obtain lift from helium, hydrogen, or hot air (heated using heat from the receiver/power plant). Automatic control means may be provided for the reflectors to track motions of the aerostat supported solar receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:03
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S20/00; F24S20/20; F24S20/80; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S2023/87; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A solar power collection apparatus, comprising a tethered aerostatic device, a solar receiver upheld in an elevated position by said tethered aertostatic device, a plurality of reflectors supported by the Earth surface, and means for aiming said reflectors so that they reflect light from the Sun onto said solar receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A solar power collection apparatus, comprising a tethered aerostatic device, a solar receiver upheld in an elevated position by said tethered aertostatic device, a plurality of reflectors supported by the Earth surface, and means for aiming said reflectors so that they reflect light from the Sun onto said solar receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tethered aerostatic device comprises a single tethered balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tethered aerostatic device includes at least two balloons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerostatic lift of said tethered aerostatic device is primarily provided by helium gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerostatic lift of said tethered aerostatic device is primarily provided by hydrogen gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tethered aerostatic device is a tethered hot air balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the hot air in said hot air balloon is at least partially heated by residual heat from said solar receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solar receiver includes means for converting solar light energy into heat energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 8, wherein said heat energy is used to heat a solar heater.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solar receiver is a solar thermal receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for conveying heat from said solar thermal receiver to a heat powered electrically generating device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heat powered electricity generating device comprises a steam turbine power plant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heat powered electricity generating device comprises a Brayton cycle turbine power plant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 13, wherein the working fluid of said Brayton cycle turbine power plant is primarily air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 13, wherein the working fluid of said Brayton cycle turbine power plant is primarily gaseous helium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 4, wherein said solar receiver is connected to a Brayton cycle turbine power plant, and wherein said helium gas providing aerostatic lift is also used as the working fluid of said Brayton cycle turbine power plant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heat powered electricity generating device comprises a Rankine cycle turbine power plant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the working fluid of said Rankine cycle turbine power plant is primarily molten salt.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the working fluid of said Rankine cycle turbine power plant is primarily liquid sodium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heat powered electricity generating device is also upheld in an elevated position by said tethered aerostat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heat powered electricity generating device is supported by the Earth surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for conveying power down from said elevated position of said solar receiver to Earth surface level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solar receiver is cable suspended from said tethered aerostat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 23, wherein said solar receiver can be winched down from said elevated position to a position in which it is supported by the Earth surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solar receiver is located within said aerostatic device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflectors are substantially planar heliostatic mirrors.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tethered aerostatic device is tethered above a land surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tethered aerostatic device is tethered above a water surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 28, wherein said tethered aerostatic device is tethered to a float on said water surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 28, wherein said reflectors are float supported.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, with means for said tethered aerostatic device to be tethered in different positions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, with tethering means which include guy wires inclined from the vertical, for tethering said tethered aerostatic device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means include means for compensating for motions of said solar receiver upheld by said tethered aerostat.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 30, wherein said means include means for compensating for motions of the reflector supporting floats.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solar power collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising automatic control means for reducing externally stimulated motions of said solar receiver with respect to an Earth fixed reference frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |