Solar Electric Power Generator

Abstract

A solar concentrator includes a first reflective surface formed parabolic along a first axis and a second reflective surface formed parabolic along a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. The focal length of the second reflective surface is shorter than the focal length of the first reflective surface for crossing focal lines of the first and the second reflective surfaces at a point. A method of concentrating solar light includes reflecting the light off a first reflective surface having a single parabolic axis to generate a first reflected line, and reflecting the first reflected line off a second reflective surface having a single parabolic axis. The parabolic axis of the first reflective surface is oriented perpendicular to the parabolic axis of the second reflective surface to focus the light to a point.

1 . A solar concentrator, comprising: 
 a first reflective surface formed concave along a first axis that focuses light to a line; and    a second reflective surface formed concave along a second axis that focuses light to a line and is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein a focal length of the second reflective surface is shorter than a focal length of the first reflective surface for crossing focal lines of the first and the second reflective surfaces at a focal point.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective surface further comprises a section of an off-axis parabola having an off-center line focus.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second reflective surfaces further comprise a primary and a secondary mirror.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective surface is two-dimensional in shape.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first reflective surface is rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second reflective surfaces are further comprised of thermoformed plastic coated with a reflective film.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first reflective surface is mounted to a brace which is supported parallel to a short axis of the first reflective surface.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured in an image plane to coincide with a focal plane of the first and second reflective surfaces for energy conversion.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a heat source component coinciding with a focal plane of the first and second reflective surfaces for energy conversion.  
   
   
       10 . A solar concentrator, comprising: 
 a primary mirror having a single concave axis;    a secondary mirror having a single concave axis, wherein the concave axis of the secondary mirror is oriented to be perpendicular to the concave axis of the primary mirror.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a focal length of the secondary mirror is shorter than a focal length of the primary mirror allowing a focal line of the primary mirror to cross a focal line of the secondary mirror at a focal point.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the primary mirror further comprises a section of an off-axis parabola having an off-center line focus.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the primary mirror further comprises a rectangular shape.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the primary mirror is further comprised of thermoformed plastic coated with a reflective film.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further including a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured in an image plane to coincide with a focal plane of the primary and secondary mirrors.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further including a heat source component configured to coincide with a focal plane of the primary and secondary mirrors for energy conversion.  
   
   
       17 . A method of concentrating solar light, comprising: 
 reflecting the light off a first reflective surface having a single concave axis to generate a first reflected line;    reflecting the first reflected line off a second reflective surface having a single concave axis, wherein the concave axis of the first reflective surface is oriented perpendicular to the concave axis of the second reflective surface to focus the light to a focal point.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a focal length of the second reflective surface is shorter than a focal length of the first reflective surface.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective surfaces further comprise a primary and secondary mirror.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first reflective surface further comprises a section of an off-axis parabola having an off-center line focus.  
   
   
       21 . A method of assembling a solar concentrator, comprising: 
 providing a primary mirror having a single concave axis;    providing a secondary mirror having a single concave axis, wherein the concave axis of the secondary mirror is oriented to be perpendicular to the concave axis of the primary mirror.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a focal length of the secondary mirror is shorter than a focal length of the primary mirror allowing a focal line of the primary mirror to cross a focal line of the secondary mirror at a focal point.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the primary mirror further comprises a section of an off-axis parabola having an off-center line focus.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , further including providing a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured in an image plane to coincide with a focal plane of the primary and the secondary mirror.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the primary mirror is further comprised of thermoformed plastic coated with a reflective film.