US5177977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar energy collector and reradiation apparatus for localized climate control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-09-06
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2011-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A solar energy collector and reradiation apparatus and method for use in energy production and localized climate control includes structure for storing energy; structure for concentrating solar radiation into a collection domain and structure for transferring energy from the collection domain to the storing structure. The apparatus also includes structure for radiating energy skywardly; structure for transmitting energy from the storing structure to the radiating structure; and optionally structure for extracting energy from the environment; structure for utilizing energy extracted from the storing means to elevate the temperature of the fluid carrying energy extracted from the environment, whereby environmental heat may be reradiated into space at a higher rate and at wavelengths less likely to be absorbed by the atmosphere than would naturally occur, thus permitting localized cooling and climate control. The invention provides a built-in economic incentive to potential developers, because it encompasses proven technology for the collection of solar energy and is thus capable of doubling as a solar energy source for commercial, residential and industrial applications. The invention has particular utility for solving the global warming that is presently occurring due to such gases as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, both locally and on a global scale.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore E. Larsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:42
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B27/00; F25B27/002; F25B27/005; F24; F24S; F24S20/00; F24S20/20; F24S23/00; F24S23/70; F24S23/82; F24S90/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A solar energy collector and reradiation apparatus for use in energy production and climate control comprising: means for storing energy within a storage media without allowing significant energy to escape to the environment; means for concentrating solar radiation into said storage media at a temperature above approximately 400 degrees Kelvin; means for transferring energy from the concentrating means to said storing means; means for radiating energy skywardly; and means for transmitting energy from said storing means to said radiating means, whereby solar energy may be reradiated into space at wavelengths principally between 2 and 12 micrometers and thus is less likely to be absorbed by the atmosphere than would naturally occur, thus permitting localized cooling and climate control.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A solar energy collector and reradiation apparatus for use in energy production and climate control comprising: means for storing energy within a storage media without allowing significant energy to escape to the environment; means for concentrating solar radiation into said storage media at a temperature above approximately 400 degrees Kelvin; means for transferring energy from the concentrating means to said storing means; means for radiating energy skywardly; and means for transmitting energy from said storing means to said radiating means, whereby solar energy may be reradiated into space at wavelengths principally between 2 and 12 micrometers and thus is less likely to be absorbed by the atmosphere than would naturally occur, thus permitting localized cooling and climate control.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for extracting energy from the environment; and means for providing energy so extracted to said radiating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storing means comprises an insulated high temperature storage tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concentrating means comprises a reflective concentrator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said concentrator comprises an inner transparent protective layer, a reflective layer which is adhered to an outer surface of said protective layer, and an outer protective layer which is adhered to an outer surface of said reflective layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transparent inner protective layer consists of a material having high transmission characteristics over the range of wavelengths from 0.3 micrometers to 14 micrometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transparent inner protective layer consists of plastic materials selected from the group consisting essentially of polytetrafluoroethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene and trifluorochloroethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transparent inner protective layer consists essentially of silicon oxide applied with a uniform thickness which is less than the shortest wavelength of the radiation desired to be transmitted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said transparent inner protective layer has a uniform thickness of 0.125 micrometers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transparent inner protective layer comprises a film of synthetic diamond.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transferring means comprising a collector tube which extends through the collection domain, and means for circulating a heat transfer medium from said storing means, through said collector tube and back into said storing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said collector tube is partitioned to provide two separate channels for fluid flow through the collection domain.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein one channel of said partitioned collection tube is part of a path for circulating a heat transfer medium from said storing means through said tube, and the second channel of the partitioned collector tube is part of a path for circulating heat extracted from the environment by said extracting means therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radiating means includes an electric heating element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said transmitting means includes means for generating electricity entirely from energy in said storing means, and means for supplying the electricity to said electric heating element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concentrating means and said radiating means include a common partitioned collector tube located at the focal point of the concentrating reflector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concentrating means includes a collector tube located at a focal point of said concentrating means, sand said radiating means includes a separate tube which is not located at the focal point.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for collecting and reradiating solar energy for purposes of energy production and localized climate control, comprising: (a) concentrating solar radiation into a collection space at a temperature above approximately 400 degrees Kelvin; (b) transferring energy from the collection space to a storing means without allowing significant energy to escape to the environment during transfer or storage; (c) transmitting energy from the storing means to a radiating means; and (d) radiating the transmitted energy skywardly, whereby solar energy is reradiated into space at wavelengths principally between 2 and 12 micrometers and thus is less likely to be absorbed by the atmosphere than would naturally occur, thus permitting localized cooling and climate control.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for collecting and reradiating solar energy for purposes of energy production and localized climate control, comprising: (a) concentrating solar radiation into a collection space at a temperature above approximately 400 degrees Kelvin; (b) transferring energy from the collection space to a storing means without allowing significant energy to escape to the environment during transfer or storage; (c) transmitting energy from the storing means to a radiating means; and (d) radiating the transmitted energy skywardly, whereby solar energy is reradiated into space at wavelengths principally between 2 and 12 micrometers and thus is less likely to be absorbed by the atmosphere than would naturally occur, thus permitting localized cooling and climate control.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of: (c) (1) adding energy extracted from the environment to that which is transmitted from the storing means in step (c), whereby energy radiated in step (d) includes both energy extracted directly from the environment and solar energy that has been previously collected and stored.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |