CONCENTRATING PHOTOVOLTAIC-THERMAL SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTOR

摘要

Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide electricity or a combination of heat and electricity are disclosed herein. Examples of solar energy receivers are disclosed that may be used to collect concentrated solar radiation.

主权项

1. A solar energy collector comprising:
a rotation shaft, a reflector comprising a plurality of linearly elongated flat mirrors having their long axes oriented parallel to the rotation shaft and supported by supports extending transversely from the rotation shaft to approximate a parabolic trough, the reflector having a linear focus oriented parallel to the rotation shaft; and a linearly elongated receiver oriented with its long axis parallel to the rotation shaft and fixed in position with respect to the reflector above the rotation shaft, the linearly elongated receiver comprising a linearly elongated substrate having front and rear flat surfaces on opposite sides of the substrate with the front surface oriented horizontally above the rotation shaft at or at about the linear focus of the trough reflector and facing the reflector, a plurality of solar cells disposed on the front surface of the substrate, and one or more coolant channels extending through the substrate parallel to the receiver's long axis; wherein the reflector and the receiver rotate together about a pivot axis defined by the rotation shaft to orient the reflector to concentrate solar radiation onto the solar cells.