Solar collectors having slidably removable reflective panels for use in solar thermal applications

摘要

Provided herein are solar collectors having reflective sheets which are slidably insertable and/or removable for quick installation, construction, removal, repair, and/or replacement. Also provided are solar collectors having reflective sheets under tension. Further provided are methods for constructing solar collectors. In another aspect, provided herein are guide rails for guiding and/or retaining slidably removable reflective sheets and holding the reflective sheets in a prescribed shape.

主权项

1. A guide rail for directing and retaining one or more slidably removable reflective sheets in a solar concentrator, and for maintaining the one or more slidably removable reflective sheets in a shape prescribed by the shape of the guide rail, the guide rail comprising a rail body, wherein the rail body comprises a first L-shaped longitudinal channel formed by first and second walls oriented substantially parallel to one another and joined at a substantially perpendicular angle to a third wall, wherein a fourth wall is joined to the first wall at an end opposite the third wall, and wherein the fourth wall extends toward, but does not touch, an unjoined end of the second wall to form an opening of the L-shaped channel for receiving a longitudinal edge of the one or more slidably removable reflective sheets.