Solar concentrators, method of manufacturing and uses thereof

Abstract

A solar concentrator comprising at least one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector comprising at least one parabolic reflector and at least one heat collector rigidly supported above a reflective surface of the parabolic reflector; and a positioning unit configured for positioning the solar collector into an operation position for reception of solar beams by the parabolic reflector, and into a rest position in which the reflective surface of said parabolic reflector and the heat collector are at least partly under cover of a back surface of the parabolic reflector.

1 . A concentrating solar dish unit assembly having a rotational axis, said solar dish unit assembly comprising at least:
 one unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at least one solar mirror;   at least one heat transfer collector positioned above a concave surface of said unitary self-supporting solar collector and adapted to receive light reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer collector being connected, preferably in a rigid way, to said unitary parabolic self-supporting solar collector,   a structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation around said rotational axis, the unitary parabolic self-supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning relative to the positioning of incident solar beam; and   preferably one solar beam detection system configured to analyse parameters of the incident solar beam and to send optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system, said solar beam detection system being preferably positioned on an edge of the lateral side solar mirror.   
     
     
         2 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror, said reinforced structure comprising brackets securing said solar mirror to said structural rotational system and lateral rails on said unitary solar mirror. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said unitary solar collector system comprises at least one elementary parabolic mirror to receive the solar beam and to concentrate at least portion of said solar beam on said heat transfer collector;   said heat transfer collector being a heat transfer tube positioned to receive light reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer tube being positioned at a position that is about parallel to the axis of said parabolic mirror and that is sensibly constant relative to a spatial positioning of the unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror;   said assembly further comprising a heat transfer tube support positioned under said heat transfer tube for assuring support and rigidity of said heat transfer tube;   said assembly further comprising a structural rotational system that is a wheel system comprising at least two parallel external wheels having sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of said solar dish unit assembly;   said assembly further comprising a mechanical system connected to said structural rotational system for positioning said dish unit according to the position of the solar beam; and   said assembly further comprising a beam detection system and a conversion unit for providing said mechanical system with instructions foe positioning said structural rotational system.   
     
     
         5 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror, said reinforced structure comprising brackets securing said solar mirror to said structural rotational system and lateral rails on said unitary solar mirror, and   wherein:
 said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror is attached directly or indirectly to the structural wheel system, 
 said reinforced structure comprises at least three rails including a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to an internal part of the two external wheels; each of the two lateral sides of said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least two edge rails; the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by said reinforcing elements; 
 said heat transfer tube is positioned inside a cylinder defined by the two external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the solar beam; and 
 the heat transfer tube support is attached to the spinal rail and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube. 
   
     
     
         6 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural rotational system is configured to be able to position the system from 0 to 360 degrees, in a non-use position wherein the rotational angle of the wheel system may vary from 0 to 180 degrees relative to a use position. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar mirror has one of a sandwich structure and a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the concave surface of the unitary self-supporting parabolic solar collective system is reflective. 
     
     
         13 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the mirror can be independently disassembled from the front of said solar dish unit assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforced structure is composed of three reinforced rails positioned in a triangle. 
     
     
         15 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror, said reinforced structure comprising brackets securing said solar mirror to said structural rotational system and lateral rails on said unitary solar mirror,   wherein:
 said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror is attached directly or indirectly to the structural wheel system, 
 said reinforced structure comprises at least three rails including a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to an internal part of the two external wheels; each of the two lateral sides of said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least two edge rails; the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by said reinforcing elements; 
 said heat transfer tube is positioned inside a cylinder defined by the two external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the solar beam; and 
 the heat transfer tube support is attached to the spinal rail and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube, and 
   wherein in said reinforced structure the two edge rails are identical.   
     
     
         16 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror, said reinforced structure comprising brackets securing said solar mirror to said structural rotational system and lateral rails on said unitary solar mirror,   wherein:
 said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror is attached directly or indirectly to the structural wheel system, 
 said reinforced structure comprises at least three rails including a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to an internal part of the two external wheels; each of the two lateral sides of said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least two edge rails; the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by said reinforcing elements; 
 said heat transfer tube is positioned inside a cylinder defined by the two external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the solar beam; and 
 the heat transfer tube support is attached to the spinal rail and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube, and 
   wherein in said reinforced structure the two edge rails are identical tubes and the spinal rail is a tube.   
     
     
         17 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror, said reinforced structure comprising brackets securing said solar mirror to said structural rotational system and lateral rails on said unitary solar mirror,   wherein:
 said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror is attached directly or indirectly to the structural wheel system, 
 said reinforced structure comprises at least three rails including a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to an internal part of the two external wheels; each of the two lateral sides of said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least two edge rails; the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by said reinforcing elements; 
 said heat transfer tube is positioned inside a cylinder defined by the two external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the solar beam; and 
 the heat transfer tube support is attached to the spinal rail and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube, and 
   wherein the reinforcing elements are diagonal reinforcement bars.   
     
     
         18 . The concentrating solar dish unit assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror, said reinforced structure comprising brackets securing said solar mirror to said structural rotational system and lateral rails on said unitary solar mirror,   wherein:
 said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror is attached directly or indirectly to the structural wheel system, 
 said reinforced structure comprises at least three rails including a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to an internal part of the two external wheels; each of the two lateral sides of said unitary parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least two edge rails; the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by said reinforcing elements; 
 said heat transfer tube is positioned inside a cylinder defined by the two external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the solar beam; and 
 the heat transfer tube support is attached to the spinal rail and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube, wherein the reinforcing elements are diagonal reinforcement bars; and 
   wherein the three rails are tracks adapted for riveting with said diagonal reinforcement bars.   
     
     
         19 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . Easily transportable kit constituted by:
 a unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at least one solar mirror, at least one heat transfer element being positioned above a concave part of said unitary self-supporting solar collector and to receive light reflected from said unitary self-supporting p solar collector, said heat transfer element being connected in a solider way to the said unitary self-supporting solar collector;   a structural rotational system configured for positioning the unitary self-supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning relative to the positioning of solar beams; and   a beam detection system configured to analyse the specifications of the solar beams, such as the positioning, of the solar beams and to send optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system.   
     
     
         33 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A concentrating solar dish unit assembly, comprising:
 at least one heat transfer collector;   a unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, which mirror system comprising at least one elementary mirror, to receive solar radiation and to concentrate at least portion of said solar radiation on said heat transfer collector;   a reinforced structure for supporting said parabolic mirror, which reinforcing structure being positioned under said parabolic mirror and supporting part of the back of said unitary rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, preferably said reinforced structure is a circular tube or a circular tube longitudinally cut in order to have 2 contact surfaces between said cut tube and the back of the said parabolic mirror, having an axis about parallel to the mirror axis;   wherein said heat transfer collector is positioned to receive light reflected from said unitary mirror system at a position that is about parallel to the axis of said mirror system and that is sensibly constant relative to the spatial positioning of mirror system;   a heat transfer collector support positioned under said heat transfer collector for assuring support and rigidity of said heat transfer collector;   a structural rotational system that is a wheel system comprising at least two parallel external wheels having sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of said solar dish unit;   a mechanical system connected to the said structural wheel system for positioning said dish unit according to the position of the solar beam; and   a beam detection system and a conversion unit for providing said mechanical system with instructions for positioning said structural wheel system.