Solar panels for concentrating, capturing, and transmitting solar energy in conversion systems

Abstract

A panel for concentrating and collecting solar energy. The panel includes light collector assemblies that are positioned side-by-side. Each collector assembly includes a receiver element with an elongate body and a light receiving surface on a first side of the body that has a curved cross section. A concentrating lens extends along the length of the receiver body, and the lens is a flat or arched Fresnel lens adapted to focus incident light onto a long, thin strip along the length of the light receiving surface. A plurality of light transmission sheets or wafers extend along the receiver element body with a first edge of the sheet abutting (e.g., to provide optical coupling) a surface opposite the light receiving surface. Light is captured by the transmission sheets at angles that allow total internal reflectance to transmit the light to a master light sheet for transmission through the panel.

1 . A panel for concentrating and collecting solar energy, comprising:
 a plurality of light collector assemblies positioned side-by-side;   each of the light collector assemblies comprising:
 a receiver element with an elongate body and a light receiving surface with a curved cross sectional shape; 
 an elongate concentrating lens extending over the receiver element body focusing incident light onto the light receiving surface in a strip extending along a length of the light receiving surface; and 
 a plurality of light transmission sheets extending along the receiver element body with an edge optically connected to the receiver element body on a surface opposite the light receiving surface, wherein a set of one or more of the light transmission sheets receives and transmits at least a portion of the light focused in the strip by the concentrating lens. 
   
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the strip of the focused light has a plurality of differing positions on the light receiving surface corresponding to a plurality of incidence angles for the incident light. 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 2 , wherein the set of one or more of the light transmission sheets receiving and transmitting the focused light includes differing ones of the light transmission sheets at least for at least some of the differing positions for the strip of the focused light. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 2 , wherein concentrating lens comprises an arched Fresnel lens. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 4 , wherein the curved shape of the light receiving surface is configured such that at least portions of the light receiving surface are proximate to a set of focal points for the Fresnel lens at differing angles of incidence for the incident light. 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 5 , wherein the curved shape of the light receiving surface is substantially coincident with locations of the set of focal points for the Fresnel lens. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver element and the light transmission sheets comprise a material that transmits light, the material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a glass, and a ceramic. 
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein the portion of light received by the set of light transmission sheets is received at angles to cause total internal reflection within the light transmission sheets of the set, whereby the portion of light received is transmitted along the set of light transmission sheets. 
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 8 , further comprising a master light transmission sheet formed of a light transmissive material spaced apart from the receiver elements of the light collector assemblies, wherein in each light collector assembly a second edge of the light transmission sheets opposite the edge optically connected to the receiver element body is optically connected to a surface of the master light transmission sheet, whereby the portion of the light focused in the strip by the concentrating lens of each of the light collector assemblies is provided to the master light transmission sheet for transmission through the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 9 , further comprising, in each light collector assembly, a plurality of intermediate light transmission sheets formed of light transmissive material positioned in optical contact with the second edges of the light transmission sheets and with the surface of the master light transmission sheet to transmit the at least a portion of the light focused in the strip by the concentrating lens between the light transmission sheets and the master light transmission sheet via total internal reflection. 
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the light transmission sheets have a thickness in the range of about 0.5 mils to about 2 inches and the edges connected to the receiver element body are spaced apart by at least about 0.5 mils from adjacent ones of the edges. 
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the light transmission sheets is less than about I mil and wherein each of the light collector assemblies includes at least about 10 of the light transmission sheets positioned along a portion of the receiver element body. 
     
     
         13 . A light concentrator assembly, comprising:
 a light receiving element formed of a substantially transparent material and having a concave light receiving surface extending a length of the light receiving element;   a lens extending over the light receiving surface, the lens receiving light from a light source at a plurality of angles of incidence and, in response, focusing the received light onto the light receiving surface in strips associated with each of the angles of incidence, the strips being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the light receiving element and differing in position based on the angles of incidence; and   a light collection and transmission subassembly configured to collect at least a portion of the received light concentrated into the strips and to transmit the collected portion of the received light to an outlet of the light concentrator assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the lens comprises an elongate, arched Fresnel lens. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the light receiving surface has a cross sectional shape at least partially coinciding with a pattern of focal points of the Fresnel lens for light striking the Fresnel lens at a set of the angles of incidence. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the light collection and transmission subassembly comprises a plurality of initial light transmission wafers each extending along the light receiving element with an edge positioned to provide optical contact with a back surface of the light receiving element opposite the light receiving surface. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the wafers comprise light transmissive material and wherein the assembly comprises at least about 10 of the wafers positioned about at least a portion of a periphery of the light receiving element. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the light in the strips is directed into a set of the edges of the initial light transmission wafers at an angle of less than about 42 degrees, whereby the received portion of the light is transmitted through the wafers associated with the set of the edges. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the light collection and transmission subassembly further comprises a planar, master light transmission wafer extending adjacent the light receiving element and formed of a light transmissive material and wherein the light collection and transmission subassembly further comprises a plurality of intermediate light transmission wafers optically coupled to a second edge of the initial light transmission wafers to receive the transmitted and collected portion of the received light and to a surface of the master light transmission wafer, whereby the transmitted and collected portions of the received light input to the master light transmission wafer for transmission out of the light concentrator assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the edges of the initial light transmission wafers are arranged to be parallel with a longitudinal axis of the lens, wherein the strips of concentrated, received light each have a width that is greater than a width of each of the edges of the wafers, and wherein a set of two or more of the initial light transmission wafers receives the collected portion of the concentrated, received light transmitted through the back surface of the light receiving element. 
     
     
         21 . A solar energy conversion system, comprising:
 a solar array comprising a plurality of solar modules, each of the solar modules comprising:
 a concentrating lens with an elongate body operable to focus light incident upon the lens into a strip-like pattern along its length; 
 a plurality of light concentrators having a light receiving trough formed of light transmissive material with a curved light receiving surface and light transmitting surface opposite the light receiving surface, wherein the light receiving surface has a cross sectional shape and position relative to the lens such that the light receiving surface is at least proximate to positions of the light focused into the strip-like pattern at a set of incidence angles; and 
 a plurality of light transmission sheets each with an edge optically coupled to the light transmitting surface and extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the light receiving trough, wherein a set of the light transmission sheets receives at least a portion of the incident light focused into the strip-like pattern via the edges; 
   wherein each of the solar module further comprises a master light transmission sheet extending adjacent and spaced apart from the light receiving trough, the master light transmission sheet being linked optically to the plurality of light transmission sheets in the light concentrators to receive the portion of the incident light from the set of the light transmission sheets; and   wherein the solar modules are arranged in the solar array with the master light transmission sheets optically coupled, whereby the incident light received by master light transmission sheets of the solar modules is combined and transmitted to a light outlet for the solar array.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the light transmission sheets are coupled to the light transmitting surface such that the light focused into the strip-like pattern enters the set of the light transmission sheets at an acceptance angle of less than about 42 degrees, whereby the entering light is transmitted within the set of the light transmission sheet by total internal reflection. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a collector positioned to receive the combined and transmitted light at the light outlet of the solar array. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising means for converting the light received at the collector into thermal energy or electricity.