Solar refraction device for heating industrial materials

Abstract

Disclosed is a solar refraction device (“SRD”) for heating industrial materials in a heating container, having a bottom, with diffuse solar energy that impinges on an outside surface of the SRD and is refracted through the SRD. The SRD may include a lens array assembly and a plurality of lens panes attached to the lens array assembly. The lens array assembly may include an outside surface corresponding to the outside surface of the SRD, an inside surface, and a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for heating contents in a container using a solar refraction device, the method comprising:
 refracting solar energy impinging on a first surfaces of a lens array assembly of the solar refraction device through the lens array assembly toward second surfaces of the lens array assembly, the lens array assembly having a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies;   refracting the solar energy at the second surfaces of the lens array assembly to focus refracted solar energy at a plurality of focal points of the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies, wherein each focal point corresponds to a lens array sub-assembly of the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies; and   creating a heating area within the container with the refracted solar energy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of focal points are below a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies have different focal lengths. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies include a plurality of Fresnel lenses arranged on a curved frame of the lens array assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies are arranged on a curved frame of the lens array assembly such that light from multiple directions is focused through the lens array sub-assemblies toward the container. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a curved frame is curved along at least two orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of focal points includes multiple locations in the container. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contents are metals, non-metals, gasses or liquids. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the non-metals comprise plastics. 
     
     
         10 . A method for heating contents in a container using a solar refraction device, the method comprising:
 refracting solar energy impinging on the solar refraction device through a lens array assembly having a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies, wherein a first lens array sub-assembly of the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies has a substantially parabolic shape and is configured to maintain a plurality of lens panes arranged in an array of columns and rows in a fixed relationship, and wherein the lens array assembly is configured to have a plurality of focal lengths;   focusing refracted solar energy at a plurality of focal points with the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies, wherein each focal point corresponds to a lens array sub-assembly of the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies; and   creating a heating area within the container with the refracted solar energy.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising moving the solar refraction device to track movement of the sun. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising moving the container from a first location that receives the refracted solar energy from the solar refraction device to a second location that receives second refracted solar energy from a second solar refraction device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 placing solid contents in the container; and   melting the solid contents in the container to a liquid phase with heat from the heating area.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising removing liquid phase material from the container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 placing liquid contents in the container; and   heating the liquid contents in the container.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the contents are metals, non-metals, gasses or liquids. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the non-metals comprise plastics. 
     
     
         18 . A method for fabricating a solar refraction device for heating industrial materials in a heating container having a bottom, the method comprising:
 determining a first amount of energy needed to melt or heat an amount of an industrial material;   determining an array size of a lens array assembly for focusing the first amount of energy, the array size based on the amount of the industrial material, wherein the lens array assembly is configured to refract solar light impinging on the lens array assembly to the industrial material;   assembling a support frame to support the lens array assembly; and   assembling the lens array assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 determining that the first amount of energy needed to melt or heat an amount of an industrial material exceeds a second amount of energy that a single solar refraction device can redirect;   assembling one or more additional lens array assemblies; and   assembling a track system to move the heating container to a first focus area associated with the lens array assembly and to second focus areas associated with the one or more additional lens array assemblies.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein assembling the lens array assembly includes:
 assembling a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies; and   attaching the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies to the support frame, wherein each lens array sub-assembly has a corresponding focal length, and   wherein each lens array sub-assembly has a convex shape.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein assembling the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies includes attaching a plurality of lens panes to each plurality of lens array sub-assemblies. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein attaching the plurality of lens panes includes attaching a plurality of Fresnel lenses to each of the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the lens array assembly is shaped to form an approximate parabolic shape. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein assembling a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies further includes assembling a first lens array sub-assembly with a different corresponding focal length than a second focal length corresponding to a second lens array sub-assembly.