Two-part Solar Energy Collection System with Replaceable Solar Collector Component

摘要

A two-part solar energy collection system (100) for installation on a planar support surface (e.g., a rooftop) includes a permanent positioning component (110) including a base structure (120) and a replaceable solar collector component (150) including solar energy collection elements (160) fixedly mounted on a support frame (170). Each collection element (160) includes an optical element (161) arranged to focus solar radiation onto a focal line (FL), and a linearly-arranged solar energy collector (165) (e.g., PV cells) fixedly maintained on the focal line. The replaceable solar collector component (150) is secured to a rotating platform (125) of the base structure such that the focal lines of the solar energy collection elements are maintained in a plane that is substantially parallel to the support surface, and the rotating platform and replaceable solar collector component are collectively pivoted by a positioning system around a rotational axis to align the PV cells) parallel to the received sunlight beams.