Solar position tracking apparatus comprising a cylindrical light focusing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of accurately tracking the movement of the sun. More particularly, the present invention relates to a solar position tracking apparatus comprising: a cylindrical light focusing device; an absorbing device consisting of solar energy absorbing plates; and a device which measures the amount of energy absorbed into each solar energy absorbing plate, and compares the measured amounts.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A solar position tracking apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical light focusing device which is in the form of longitudinally (axially) elongate solid rod (cylinder) and transmits, refracts and focuses sunlight incident from a front surface of the device to form focal point at a position distanced from a rear surface of the rod by a focal distance;   a solar energy absorbing device comprising a plurality of solar energy absorbing plates, each plate having a width smaller than a physical diameter of the cylindrical light focusing device, the plurality of solar energy absorbing plates having the same size and shape and being successively arranged around the focusing device at a trajectory of focal points formed in a rear face of the cylindrical light focusing device depending on the movement of sun, the absorbing device being coaxial with the focusing device; and   a device for measuring the amount of energy absorbed by the respective solar energy absorbing plates.   
     
     
         2 . A solar position tracking apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical light focusing device which is in the form of longitudinally (axially) elongate solid rod (cylinder) and transmits, refracts and focuses sunlight incident from a front surface of the device to form focal point at a position distanced from a rear surface of the rod by a focal distance;   a solar energy absorbing device comprising a plurality of solar energy absorbing plates, each plate having a semi-circular strip shape, the plurality of solar energy absorbing plates having different radii and being successively arranged in a radius direction, each plate extending in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical light focusing device in the vicinity of a position of focal point formed in a rear face of the cylindrical light focusing device, and each semi-circular plate of the absorbing device being coaxial with the focusing device; and   a device for measuring the amount of energy absorbed by the respective solar energy absorbing plates.   
     
     
         3 . The solar position tracking apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cylindrical light focusing device comprises a light focusing device which forms the focal point on an opposite side with respect to an incidence direction of the sunlight and has a section of circular or oval or partially circular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The solar position tracking apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cylindrical light focusing device comprises a pipe-type light focusing device which by can adjust the temperature of the solar energy absorbing plates by allowing liquid such as water to flow inside the device to absorb a portion of the sunlight. 
     
     
         5 . The solar position tracking apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cylindrical light focusing device comprises a light focusing device of which the inside and outside consist of material having different refractive index so as to adjust a focal length. 
     
     
         6 . The solar position tracking apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the solar energy absorbing device is comprised of solar cells and the device for measuring the amount of energy comprises a device for measuring the amount of electrical energy generated from the solar cells. 
     
     
         7 . The solar position tracking apparatus according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the device for measuring the amount of energy comprises a device for measuring thermal energy absorbed by the solar energy absorbing device.