Radiant energy conversion system

Abstract

A radiant energy concentrating or collimating system comprising an enclosure that shields its contents from environmental effects while allowing radiant energy to transmit through its top window; a plurality of energy concentrating or collimating assemblies, each on its own pivot mechanism and each comprising a plurality of optics, a support structure and an energy conversion device that is mounted on a heat dissipating structure; a drive mechanism controlled by a microprocessor to rotate the said energy concentrating or collimating assemblies on two orthogonal axes in unison so the assemblies are oriented towards desired direction at any given time.

1 . An enclosed, low-profile, multi-functional, high-efficiency solar energy concentrator system, comprising:
 a first solar concentrator assembly positioned as one of a series of solar concentrator assemblies that define a perimeter of a solar concentrator array; wherein, each solar concentrator assembly among the solar concentrator array comprises:
 an optics for concentrating a solar energy onto a photovoltaic chip; 
 a base structure for supporting the optics and the photovoltaic chip, wherein the base structure has a base plate for positioning the photovoltaic chip in the path of the concentrated solar energy from the optics; 
 a bottom joint component fixably attached to the concentrator assembly for pivotally attaching the concentrator assembly to a bottom axis and forming a bottom pivot joint, wherein the bottom pivot joint is non-translational during operation of the system in relation to a total area covered by the system; and 
 an upper joint component fixably attached to the concentrator assembly for pivotally attaching the concentrator assembly to an upper axis and forming an upper pivot joint, wherein the upper pivot joint is rotational during operation of the system in relation to the bottom pivot joint and is positioned on a portion of the concentrator assembly that is located above the bottom joint; 
   a two-axis tracking mechanism having the bottom axis and the upper axis and providing an x-axis of rotation and a y-axis of rotation for each concentrator assembly among the array; wherein, the tracking mechanism functions to provide a concerted movement of each concentrator assembly in the array; and, the concerted movement maximizes the solar energy collected by moving each optics in a range of up to 180′ in the x-axis of rotation and at least 47′ in the y-axis of rotation;   a heat extraction system to collect and convert an unused solar energy from heat into a useful energy, wherein the heat extraction system comprises a heat exchanger, a heat extraction line operably attached to the heat exchanger and a base plate of one of the concentrator assemblies, and a coolant in fluid communication with the base plate and the heat exchanger to transport heat from the base plate to the heat exchanger through the heat extraction line as the useful energy; and,   a tightly fitting, enclosure comprising a transparent top cover and side walls, wherein the enclosure functions to protect the entire solar energy concentrator system including the array, the tracking mechanism, and the heat extraction system components during the operation of the system; wherein,
 the enclosure has a form-factor that closely complements the perimeter of the solar concentrator array and increases power output per area by reducing the total area covered by the system; 
 the perimeter comprises an outer edge of the optics of the first solar concentrator assembly, and an operational distance between the outer edge of the optics and the enclosure is as small as 1.0 cm, the enclosure is tightly fitting around the perimeter of the solar energy concentrator system, and the operational distance is measured when the incidence axis of the optics is orthogonal to both the x-axis of rotation and the y-axis of rotation; and, 
 the height of the enclosure is no more than 1.0 meter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein each solar concentrator assembly among the array comprises a maximum focal length between the optics and the photovoltaic chip is about 0.86w−h e , where w is the width of the optics, and h e  is the distance between the photovoltaic chip and the bottom axis. 
     
     
         3 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking mechanism operates on time-based tracking and an optical sensor for calibration and recalibration of the time-based tracking. 
     
     
         4 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking mechanism operates on time-based tracking and an optical sensor for calibration and recalibration of the time-based tracking, wherein the tracking system is controlled remotely from a controller box, and the optical sensor functions as a backup tracking control upon a failure of the time-based tracking mechanism and/or remote control. 
     
     
         5 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is stationary. 
     
     
         6 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein a gap, g, exists between concentrator assembly optics to minimize a shadow effect in the array during the tracking and maximize energy created by the system during a tracking day, wherein the maximum focal length between the optics and the photovoltaic chip is 0.86w−h e +g. 
     
     
         7 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator assemblies are aligned in rows, and the bottom axis and upper axis are parallel to the rows. 
     
     
         8 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is designed for use on a rooftop. 
     
     
         9 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the enclosure is less than 0.3 meters. 
     
     
         10 . The concentrator system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the enclosure has a preselected color that adds a desired color to the system when carried back through the transparent top cover in the form of diffused light. 
     
     
         11 . An enclosed, low-profile, multi-functional, high-efficiency solar energy concentrator system, comprising:
 a first solar concentrator assembly positioned as one of a series of solar concentrator assemblies that define a perimeter of a solar concentrator array; wherein, each solar concentrator assembly among the array comprises:
 an optics for concentrating a solar energy onto a photovoltaic chip; and 
 a base structure for supporting the optics and the photovoltaic chip, wherein the base structure has a base plate for positioning the photovoltaic chip in the path of the concentrated solar energy from the optics; 
   a means for pivotally attaching the bottom of each concentrator assembly to a bottom point of articulation that is independently positioned for each concentrator assembly and is non-translational in relation to the system;   a means for pivotally attaching a relatively higher portion of each concentrator assembly to an upper point of articulation that is independently positioned for each concentrator assembly is and rotational in relation to the bottom point of articulation;   a means for tracking a solar position for each concentrator assembly in the array; and,   a tightly fitting, enclosure comprising a transparent top cover and side walls, wherein the enclosure functions to protect the entire solar energy concentrator system including the array, the tracking mechanism, and the heat extraction system components during the operation of the system; wherein,
 the enclosure has a form-factor that closely complements the perimeter of the solar concentrator array and increases power output per area for the total area covered by the system; and, 
 the perimeter comprises an outer edge of the optics of the first solar concentrator assembly, and an operational distance between the outer edge of the optics and the enclosure is as small as 1.0 cm, the enclosure is tightly fitting around the perimeter of the solar energy concentrator system, and the operational distance is measured when the incidence axis of the optics is orthogonal to both the x-axis of rotation and the y-axis of rotation; and, 
 the height of the enclosure is no more than 1.0 meter. 
   
     
     
         12 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein each solar concentrator assembly among the array comprises a maximum focal length between the optics and the photovoltaic chip is about 0.86w−h e , where w is the width of the optics, and h e  is the distance between the photovoltaic chip and the bottom point of articulation. 
     
     
         13 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein the tracking mechanism operates on time-based tracking and an optical sensor for calibration and recalibration of the time-based tracking. 
     
     
         14 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein the tracking mechanism operates on time-based tracking and an optical sensor for calibration and recalibration of the time-based tracking, wherein the tracking system is controlled remotely from a controller box, and the optical sensor functions as a backup tracking control upon a failure of the time-based tracking mechanism and/or remote control. 
     
     
         15 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is stationary. 
     
     
         16 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein a gap, g, exists between concentrator assembly optics to minimize a shadow effect in the array during the tracking and maximize energy created by the system during a tracking day, wherein the maximum focal length between the optics and the photovoltaic chip is 0.86w−h e +g. 
     
     
         17 . The concentrator system of  claim 11  further comprising a heat extraction system to collect and convert an unused solar energy from heat into a useful energy, wherein the heat extraction system comprises a heat exchanger, a heat extraction line operably attached to the heat exchanger and a base plate of one of the concentrator assemblies, and a coolant in fluid communication with the base plate and the heat exchanger to transport heat from the base plate to the heat exchanger through the heat extraction line and convert the heat into the useful energy. 
     
     
         18 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein the height of the enclosure is less than 0.3 meters. 
     
     
         19 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is designed for use on a rooftop. 
     
     
         20 . The concentrator system of  claim 11 , wherein the interior of the enclosure has a preselected color that adds a desired color to the system when carried back through the transparent top cover in the form of diffused light.