Apparatus for concentration and conversion of solar energy

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for the collection and conversion of light energy including a collector element defining the shape of a pentagon, and a concentrator including a plurality of pentagon shaped reflector elements symmetrically arranged around the collector element. Each of the reflector elements being disposed at an angle relative to a plane of the collector element and having an edge thereof substantially aligned with and adjacent one of the sides of the collector element.

1 . An apparatus for the collection and conversion of light energy comprising: 
 a collector element defining the shape of a pentagon, and    a concentrator including a plurality of pentagon shaped reflector elements symmetrically arranged around the collector element, each of the reflector elements disposed at an angle relative to a plane of the collector element and having an edge thereof substantially aligned with and adjacent one of the sides of the collector element.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are positioned at about a 60 degree angle relative to the plane of the collection element.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are positioned relative to the collection element at angles corresponding to those in a dodecahedron Platonic solid.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the reflective elements are positioned relative to the collection element an angle thereto to uniformly distribute the reflected light across a surface of the collector element.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the shape of at least one of the reflective elements defines a regular pentagon.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the geometry of at least one of the reflective elements is that of an irregular pentagon.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements comprise one or more regular pentagons and one or more irregular pentagons.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are connected to the collection element by a connection mode selected from the group comprising: fixed, adjustable, hinged, rotatable, and remotely controllable.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a means of tracking the position of a source of incident light and adjusting the position of the apparatus with respect thereto so as to optimize the collection of light energy.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are selected from the group comprising mirrors, reflective plastic materials, reflective metal materials and elements enclosing reflective particles suspended in a fluid, gel or solid medium.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the collection element is selected from the group comprising photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic panels, coiled tubing containing a heatable fluid, light pipe, solar oven, water heater, hot water-powered turbine, and devices suitable for recharging batteries.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pentagonal reflective elements abut the adjoining such elements along most or all of their respective abutting edges.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are positioned relative to the plane of the collection element at an angle between about 50 degrees and about 72 degrees.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are positioned relative to the plane of the collection element at an angle between about 58 degrees and about 62 degrees.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements are positioned relative to the collection element at any angle that provides at least 2 suns of light concentration on the collector element.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for the collection and conversion of solar energy comprising a plurality of pentagon-shaped reflective elements symmetrically arranged around a pentagon-shaped collector element.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein at least one of the reflective elements defines the geometry of a regular pentagon.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein at least one of the reflective elements defines the geometry of an irregular pentagon and wherein the collection element defines the geometry of a regular pentagon.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reflective elements may be folded up for convenience, portability and to protect said elements and the collection element from damage, moisture environmental exposure.