Radiation collection utilizing total internal reflection and other techniques for the purpose of dispatchable electricity generation and other uses

Abstract

A device for collection, concentrating and storing solar energy comprises an optical concentrator in operative connection with a transmission means which is also operatively connected to an energy recovery device. Concentrated solar energy is transmitted from the optical concentrator to the energy recovery device where it is stored until it is deployed as an energy source for generating electricity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for collecting and storing solar energy, the device comprising: (a) an optical concentrator configured to receive incident solar radiation and conduct the Incident solar radiation to a means far transmission of the received solar radiation to an energy recovery device, wherein the optical concentrator and the energy recovery device are operatively connected through the transmission means. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical concentrator is a panel of material characterised by total internal reflection. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical concentrator is a panel of a material selected from acrylic polymer and glass. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission means is a fiber optic device. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to claim L wherein the energy recovery device contains a heat storage medium. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat storage medium is a salt. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical concentrator comprises a primary collection region for receiving the incident solar radiation at a first angle, shifting the received solar radiation within the panel to a second angle, transmitting the solar radiation shifted to the second angle to a secondary region, in operative communication with the primary collection region, said secondary collection region shifting the solar radiation at a second angle to a third angle. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the secondary collection region is in operative communication with the transmission means. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery device is operatively connected to a device for converting the energy to work. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to claim L wherein the energy recovery device is operatively connected to a device for converting the energy to electricity. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means of orienting the position of an upper surface of the optical concentrator. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the orienting means is configured to orient the position of the upper surface attitudinally, azimuthally and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the orienting means is a motor. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a member selected from the primary collection region, the secondary collection region, the transmission means and a combination thereof is not a photovoltaic. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a member selected from the primary collection region, the secondary collection region, the transmission means and a combination thereof is not configured to convert the solar radiation directly into electricity. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a member selected from the primary collection region, the secondary collection region, the transmission means and a combination thereof is not a mirror. 
     
     
         17 . A system for collecting and storing solar energy, comprising a plurality of optical concentrators, each of which is configured to receive incident solar radiation and conduct the received solar radiation to a transmission means for transmitting the received solar radiation to an energy recovery device, wherein each of the optical concentrators is operatively connected to the energy recovery device through the transmission means. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , comprising a single energy recovery device operatively attached to each member of the plurality of optical concentrators through the transmission means. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the transmission means of a first member of the plurality is connected to the transmission means of a second member of the plurality. 
     
     
         20 . A method of collecting and storing solar energy, comprising:
 (a) collecting incident solar radiation in an optical concentrator configured to concentrate the solar energy to a beam focused for transmission through a transmission means into an energy recovery device; and   (b) transmitting the beam through the transmission means to the energy recovery device, transferring energy stored in the beam to the energy recovery device, thereby storing the energy,   wherein the optical concentrator and the energy recovery device are operatively linked through the transmission means.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein neither step (a) nor step (b) includes using a photovoltaic or a mirror. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the stored energy is transferred to a device for generating electricity. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the heat storage medium stores the energy as a member selected from sensible energy, phase transition energy and a combination thereof.