Solar energy conversion system

Abstract

A solar energy conversion system comprising: a solar radiation reflector having a plurality of elongate reflective members that are fixed in position relative to each other, said solar radiation reflector being mounted for rotation about a single axis; a rotation device operatively connected to said radiation reflector for rotating said radiation reflector about said single axis; at least one solar radiation transducer located at a position coincident with at least one focal area of the plurality of angled reflective members of said solar radiation reflector; and a solar tracking unit for tracking the relative movement of the sun relative to the earth; said solar tracking unit causing said rotation device to rotate said solar radiation device toward the sun.

1 . A solar energy conversion system comprising: 
 a solar radiation reflector having a plurality of elongate planar reflective members that are fixed in position relative to each other, said solar radiation reflector being mounted for rotation about a single axis;    a rotation device operatively connected to said radiation reflector for rotating said radiation reflector about said single axis;    at least two solar radiation transducers located at positions coincident with at least two focal areas of said plurality of angled reflective members of said solar radiation reflector; and    a solar tracking unit for tracking the relative movement of the sun relative to the earth; said solar tracking unit causing said rotation device to rotate said solar radiation device toward the sun;    
     
     
         2 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 1  wherein at least one reflective member is joined to an adjacent reflective member to form a corrugated reflector.  
     
     
         3 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 1  wherein said reflective members reflect incident solar radiation to at least two focal areas coincident with said solar radiation transducers.  
     
     
         4 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 1  wherein the rotation device includes a rotatable shaft that is rotated by a drive mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 4  wherein the drive mechanism is a dc motor.  
     
     
         6 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 1  wherein the solar tracking unit includes two solar radiation converters mounted on a pair of the angled reflective members that have opposing orientations.  
     
     
         7 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 6  wherein the solar radiation converters are electrically connected to a decision circuit.  
     
     
         8 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 7  wherein the solar radiation converters provide an input for determining the amount of incident radiation upon each of the angled reflective members.  
     
     
         9 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 7  wherein the decision circuit comprises voltage comparators for comparing the voltage potentials of the two solar radiation converters.  
     
     
         10 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 9  wherein the decision circuit causes said rotation device to rotate the reflector when the measured voltage potentials of the two solar radiation converters are not balanced.  
     
     
         11 . The solar energy conversion system of  claim 7  wherein each of said solar radiation converters are two small photovoltaic cells.