Man Made Island With Solar Energy Collection Facilities

Abstract

A manmade island [ 10] , adaptable for land-based or sea-based operation holds solar energy collection facilities and is rotatable to optimize the angular orientation thereof relative to the position of the sun. More particularly, the man-made island [ 10] uses a platform [ 12] that includes a large outer ring [ 14 ] that floats on a fluid, and a flexible cover [ 16] attached to the ring [ 14] to define an airtight volume [ 30 ] below the cover [ 16 ]. A plurality of rows [ 19 ] of solar radiation collector modules are located above the cover [ 16 ], and carry steam generating heat pipes [ 21] . The rows [ 19] of modules are supported laterally above the cover [ 16 ] by an upper support structure, either a space frame [ 27] , a plurality of cables [ 46] or a honeycomb [ 75 ]. A compressor [ 32 ] creates an over-pressure within the enclosed volume [ 30] to vertically support the cover [ 16 ] and the other components mounted thereabove. This structure for supporting the rows [ 19] of the solar radiation collector modules enables the man-made island [ 10 ] to be constructed with a very large surface area, eventually up to several kilometers in diameter, to better utilize the full potential of the solar concentrators [ 22] , thereby to produce electricity at an economically viable cost. The man-made island [ 10] includes a number of other structural features that enhance the practical application of solar radiation collection technology.

1 . A solar energy collection system comprising:
 a platform floating above a body of fluid, the platform including an outer ring structure and a flexible cover that sealingly encloses a top end of the outer ring structure, thereby to define an enclosed volume below the cover;   a compressor for creating a suitable over-pressure condition within the enclosed volume;   a plurality of solar radiation collector modules held above the cover;   all upper structure located above the cover and holding the solar radiation collector modules; and   the platform being rotatable about a center horizontal axis thereof, thereby to enable the orientation of the solar radiation collector modules to be variable and placed at a desired orientation depending on the angular position of the sun.   
     
     
         2 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  wherein the system is land-based and further comprising:
 a lower ring-shaped trough residing below the outer ring structure and adapted to hold a fluid of suitable viscosity, thereby to floatably support the outer ring structure on the fluid within the trough.   
     
     
         3 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 2  wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  wherein the suitable overpressure is at least 1/10 bar. 
     
     
         5 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  wherein the outer ring structure is at least several meters tail. 
     
     
         6 . The solar energy collection system of any of the prior claims wherein the cover has at least one of the following characteristics:
 a) UV resistant; and   b) of foil composition.   
     
     
         7 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a drive mechanism adapted to driveably rotate the platform about its center axis to a desired position, depending on the position of the sun; and   a computer operatively connected to the drive mechanism and adapted to control the position thereof according to a suitable algorithm.   
     
     
         8 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  and further comprising,
 a plurality of strain gauges mounted on the upper structure and operatively interconnected in a network, the strain gauges adapted to sense the strain on the upper structure; mid   a controller operatively connected to the network and also to the compressor, and adapted to dynamically adjust the over-pressure condition within the enclosed volume so as to minimize the mechanical load on the upper structure.   
     
     
         9 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 an energy conversion system operatively connected to the solar radiation collector modules.   
     
     
         10 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 9  wherein the energy conversion system comprises an electrolysis generator for producing hydrogen. 
     
     
         11 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 10  wherein the electrolysis generator is located within the outer ring structure. 
     
     
         12 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  wherein the platform is sea-based, and further comprises:
 a plurality of propulsion mechanisms located at selected positions around the periphery of the outer ring structure, and operable to move the platform to a desired location to optimize the operation of the solar radiation collector modules.   
     
     
         13 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 rainwater drainage channels formed in the cover to facilitate rainwater runoff; and   a water collection device operatively connected to the rainwater drainage channels.   
     
     
         14 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 13  and further comprising:
 a sea-water desalinization facility in cooperation with the water collection device.   
     
     
         15 . A method for collection solar energy comprising:
 floatably supporting a platform, the platform being rotatable relative to a center axis, the platform including an outer ring structure and a flexible cover extending across and sealingly enclosing an upper end of the outer ring structure, thereby to define an enclosed volume below the cover, the platform holding an upper structure that supports thereon a plurality of solar radiation collector modules; and   pressurizing the enclosed volume to a sufficient degree of over-pressurization to maintain a desired floating effect for the flexible cover and the solar radiation collector modules located thereon.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the outer ring structure of the platform floatably supports on a fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  and further comprising:
 sensing a strain condition associated with the upper structure; and   dynamically adjusting the over-pressurization of the enclosed volume in response to the sensed strain condition.   
     
     
         18 . The method of any of  claim 15  and further comprising:
 driveably rotating the platform about its center axis to maintain the solar radiation collector in a desired, optimum orientation relative to the position of the sun.   
     
     
         19 . The solar energy collection system of  claim 15  wherein the platform is sea-based, and further comprising:
 propelling the platform via controlled operation so as to steer the platform north and south across the equator, as desired, and to maintain the platform in a position that is oriented vertical to the sun.