Solar Collecting System Using a Rock Mass

Abstract

A solar collecting system is incorporated into a natural rock mass having an upright face with a substantially direct exposure to the sun, for example a south facing granite cliff. A solar passage is formed in the rock mass to extend between an opening in the upright face of the rock mass and an internal collection area within the rock mass. One or more converging elements, for example solar converging lenses, are aligned with the solar passage and arranged to focus solar rays from the sun onto a target within the collection area. The target is in communication with a surrounding portion of the rock mass so as to be arranged to transfer heat from the target to the surrounding portion of the rock mass. A heat transfer fluid conduit may further be arranged to communicate a heat transfer fluid between the rock mass and an auxiliary device.

1 . A solar collecting system in combination with a natural rock mass having an upright face with a substantially direct exposure to the sun, the solar collector comprising:
 a solar passage formed in the rock mass to extend between an opening in the upright face of the rock mass and an internal collection area in the rock mass;   a target in the collection area in communication with a surrounding portion of the rock mass so as to be arranged to transfer heat from the target to the surrounding portion of the rock mass;   at least one converging element in alignment with the solar passage and arranged to focus solar rays from the sun onto the target; and   a heat transfer fluid conduit arranged to communicate a heat transfer fluid between the surrounding portion of the rock mass and an auxiliary device so as to be arranged to transfer heat from the surrounding portion of the rock mass to the auxiliary device.   
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one converging element is supported adjacent to the upright face of the rock mass. 
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 2  wherein the solar passage decreases in width in a lateral direction from the upright face to the target so as to correspond in shape to a focusing plane of the solar rays focused by said at least one converging element onto the target. 
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one converging element is supported externally of the solar passage adjacent the upright face of the rock mass. 
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 4  wherein there is provided an enclosure about said at least one converging element. 
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one converging element comprises an array of converging lenses adjacent one another and commonly focused on the target. 
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one converging element comprises a biconvex lens. 
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one converging element comprises a heliostat. 
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the upright face of the rock mass comprises a geological cliff face. 
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the upright face comprises a blasted rock face which is substantially vertical in orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the rock mass comprises a geological mass of granite rock. 
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the upright face is oriented to face in a southern direction. 
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a plurality of targets within respective collection areas at laterally spaced apart positions in the rock mass, each target having a respective solar passage associated therewith in communication from the target to a respective opening in the upright face and at least one converging element in alignment with the respective solar passage so as to be arranged to focus solar rays from the sun onto the respective target. 
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 13  wherein there is provided an access passage in communication between adjacent ones of the collection areas so as to be arranged to provide access between the collection areas by authorized persons. 
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein there is provided a secondary passage in the rock mass which is spaced from the access passage and which extends substantially parallel to the access passage, the secondary passage and the access passage being interconnected at longitudinally spaced positions along the access passage so as to be arranged to provide secondary access to the collection areas by authorized persons. 
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the access passage is in communication with a respective exterior opening in the natural rock mass. 
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the exterior opening is located in a secondary face of the rock mass which is separate from the upright face which has the substantially direct exposure to the sun. 
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a tracking mechanism arranged to steer said at least one converging element relative to the upright face such that said at least one converging element is arranged to remain focused on the target as the position of the sun varies throughout the day. 
     
     
         19 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary device comprises a greenhouse arranged to be heated by the heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the target comprises a metallic member in heat exchanging communication with the surrounding rock mass.