US5005958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High flux solar energy transformation
Assignee: Arch Development Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-16
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Granted: 1991-04-09
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Expires: 2009-10-16
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are multi-stage systems for high flux transformation of solar energy allowing for uniform solar intensification by a factor of 60,000 suns or more. Preferred systems employ a focusing mirror as a primary concentrative device and a non-imaging concentrator as a secondary concentrative device with concentrative capacities of primary and secondary stages selected to provide for net solar flux intensification of greater than 2000 over 95 percent of the concentration area. Systems of the invention are readily applied as energy sources for laser pumping and in other photothermal energy utilization processes.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland Winston
- 👤 Philip L. Gleckman
- 👤 Joseph J. O'Gallagher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B19/00; G02B19/0033; F; F24; F24S; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/79; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0019; G02B19/0023; G02B19/0028; G02B19/0038; G02B19/0042; F24S50/00; F24S50/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A multi-stage solar radiant energy transformation system, said system comprising: (a) as a primary stage, a means for focusing solar energy; (b) as a secondary stage, a non-imaging means for concentrative transmission of solar energy to an energy exit aperture, said secondary stage disposed in energy receiving relation to said primary stage solar energy focusing means, and the concentrative capacities of said primary and secondary stages selected to provide a net solar flux intensification of at least 2000 uniformly distributed at the secondary stage energy exit aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A multi-stage solar radiant energy transformation system, said system comprising: (a) as a primary stage, a means for focusing solar energy; (b) as a secondary stage, a non-imaging means for concentrative transmission of solar energy to an energy exit aperture, said secondary stage disposed in energy receiving relation to said primary stage solar energy focusing means, and the concentrative capacities of said primary and secondary stages selected to provide a net solar flux intensification of at least 2000 uniformly distributed at the secondary stage energy exit aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the concentrative capacities of said primary and secondary edges provide a net solar flux intensification of greater than 46,000 uniformly distributed at the secondary stage energy exit aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said primary stage comprises a focusing mirror device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said primary stage comprises a focusing lens device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said primary stage device has a focal ratio of greater than 2.0.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said primary stage device has a focal ratio of 2.5 or more.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said secondary stage non-imaging means for concentrative transmission of solar energy has a concentrative capacity of greater than 50.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said secondary stage non-imaging means for concentrative transmission of solar energy comprises a non-imaging transducer shaped according to the extreme ray design principle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein said transducer shape is non-parabolic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said secondary stage non-imaging means for concentrative transmission of solar energy comprises a non-imaging transducer shaped according to the geometric vector flux principle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said secondary stage non-imaging means for concentrative transmission of solar energy comprises a refractive medium having an index of refraction greater than 1.0
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein the refractive index of said medium is 1.4. or more.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein said refractive medium is a solid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 13 wherein the solid refractive medium is clear high index glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 13 wherein said solid refractive medium is totally internally reflective.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein said refractive medium is a liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein said fluid refractive medium is an oil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said secondary stage means for concentrative transmission of solar energy provides a solar energy exit angle of less than 90°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1 further comprising heliostat means for directing solar energy to said primary stage.
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) | 1994-04-08 | 1994-10-08 | 1995-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-08 | 1998-10-08 | 1999-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-08 | 2002-10-08 | 2003-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |