Concentrating Solar Energy System

Abstract

Systems and methods for concentrating solar energy in the high earth atmosphere and transmitting the concentrated solar energy to the earth's surface. A system includes a light weight solar concentrator, supported by a light weight, rigid, buoyant, structure ( 36 ). The buoyant structure is suspended high in the earth's atmosphere above clouds and weather. Steerable mirrors, and/or a steerable structure, enable the concentrator to track the sun. In one embodiment, a buoyant light pipe ( 20 ) enables the transmission of concentrated solar energy from the high altitude concentrator to the earth's surface for further use. The system provides concentrated solar energy for use at any location on the earth, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat. A high solar concentration ratio enables high temperature, and hence high efficiency heat engine operation. With the provision of a thermal storage unit a system can provide utility scale continuous electricity generation at any location on the planet.

1 . A method of providing concentrated solar energy for use at any location on the earth irrespective of weather, comprising:
 a) providing a light weight solar concentrator,   b) providing a rigid buoyant structure supporting the solar concentrator,   c) suspending the buoyant structure high in the earth's atmosphere,   d) pointing the concentrator continuously at the sun, collecting solar energy,   e) concentrating solar energy,   
       whereby concentrated solar energy can be provided for use at high altitude at any location on the earth, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) providing a collimator coupled to the solar concentrator of  claim 1 ,   b) providing a light pipe coupled to said collimator high in the earth's atmosphere at one end and connected to the earths surface at the other end,   c) transmitting the concentrated solar energy from the solar concentrator, through said collimator, and then through said light pipe to the earth's surface,   
       whereby concentrated solar energy can be provided for use at any location on the earth's surface, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a) providing a second concentrator at earth's surface coupled to said light pipe,   b) concentrating solar energy with said second concentrator,   c) providing a solar receiver optically coupled to said second concentrator,   d) receiving said concentrated solar energy,   e) heating a first working fluid in said receiver,   f) providing a thermal storage element thermally coupled to said receiver,   g) storing heat in said thermal storage element by transferring heat from said first working fluid,   h) heating a second working fluid from heat stored in said thermal element when needed to generate electricity,   i) providing a heat engine thermally coupled to said thermal storage element,   j) expanding said second working fluid to drive said heat engine,   k) providing a generator mechanically coupled to said heat engine,   l) driving said generator to produce electricity,   
       whereby electricity can be continuously provided at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a) providing a second concentrator at earths surface coupled to said light pipe,   b) concentrating solar energy with said second concentrator,   c) providing a solar receiver optically coupled to said second concentrator,   d) receiving said concentrated solar energy,   e) heating a working fluid in said receiver,   f) expanding said working fluid to drive said heat engine,   g) providing a generator mechanically coupled to said heat engine,   h) driving said generator to produce electricity,   
       whereby electricity can be provided during daylight at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the light pipe is a buoyant, pressurized, thin walled tube structure with an air tight structural skin and a highly reflective inner wall surface.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) providing a light pipe coupled to said concentrator high in the earth's atmosphere at one end and connected to the earths surface at the other end,   b) transmitting the concentrated solar energy from the solar concentrator, through said light pipe to the earth's surface,   
       whereby concentrated solar energy can be provided for use at any location on the earth's surface, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a) providing a solar receiver optically coupled to said light pipe,   b) receiving said concentrated solar energy,   c) heating a first working fluid in said receiver,   d) providing a thermal storage element thermally coupled to said receiver,   e) storing heat in said thermal storage element by transferring heat from said first working fluid,   f) heating a second working fluid from heat stored in said thermal element when needed to generate electricity,   g) providing a heat engine thermally coupled to said thermal storage element,   h) expanding said second working fluid to drive said heat engine,   i) providing a generator mechanically coupled to said heat engine,   j) driving said generator to produce electricity,   
       whereby electricity can be continuously provided at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a) providing a solar receiver optically coupled to said light pipe,   b) receiving said concentrated solar energy,   c) heating a working fluid in said receiver,   d) providing a heat engine thermally coupled to said thermal storage element,   e) expanding said second working fluid to drive said heat engine,   f) providing a generator mechanically coupled to said heat engine,   g) driving said generator to produce electricity,   
       whereby electricity can be provided during daylight at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) providing energy conversion means to convert the concentrated solar energy to high voltage electricity,   b) Providing buoyant high voltage transmission lines connected from the high altitude high voltage convertor to the earths surface,   c) Transmitting high voltage electricity from said high altitude high voltage convertor to the earths surface,   
       whereby high voltage electricity can be provided during daylight at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator is a large multi element mirror array. 
     
     
         11 . A system capable of concentrating solar energy at any location on the earth irrespective of weather, the system comprising:
 a) a light weight solar concentrator,   b) a light weight rigid buoyant structure connected to and supporting the solar concentrator suspended high in the earth's atmosphere,   c) means for said concentrator to track the sun, such means including steerable mirrors, and a steerable structure,   
       whereby uninterrupted concentrated solar energy can be provided for use at any location at high altitude on the earth, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a) a collimator optically coupled to the solar concentrator of  claim 11 ,   b) a light pipe optically coupled to said collimator high in the earth's atmosphere at one end and connected to the earths surface at the other end, said light pipe capable of transmitting the concentrated solar energy received from said solar concentrator, through said light pipe to the earth's surface,   
       whereby concentrated solar energy can be provided for use at any location on the earth's surface, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 h) a second concentrator at earth's surface optically coupled to said light pipe, said second concentrator further concentrating said solar energy,   i) a receiver, optically coupled to said second concentrator, receiving said concentrated solar energy, said receiver heating a first working fluid,   j) a heat storage element in fluid communication with said receiver, storing heat transferred from said first working fluid, said heat storage element heating a second working fluid when needed to generate electricity,   k) a heat engine in fluid communication with said heat storage element, expanding said second working fluid generating work,   l) a generator, mechanically connected to said heat engine, generating electricity from said work,   
       whereby electricity can be continuously provided at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a) a second concentrator at earth's surface optically coupled to said light pipe, said second concentrator further concentrating said solar energy,   b) a receiver optically coupled to said second concentrator, receiving said concentrated solar energy, said receiver heating a working fluid,   c) a heat engine in fluid communication with said receiver expanding said working fluid, generating work,   d) a generator, mechanically connected to said heat engine, generating electricity from said work,   
       whereby electricity can be provided during daylight at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said light pipe is a buoyant, pressurized, thin walled tube structure with an air tight structural skin and a highly reflective inner wall surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a light pipe coupled to said concentrator high in the earth's atmosphere at one end and connected to the earths surface at the other end, said light pipe capable of transmitting the concentrated solar energy received from said solar concentrator, through said light pipe to the earth's surface,   whereby concentrated solar energy can be provided for use at any location on the earth's surface, such use including generation of electricity via thermal or photovoltaic means and, direct and indirect process heat.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a) a solar receiver at earth's surface optically coupled to said light pipe, receiving said concentrated solar energy, said receiver heating a first working fluid,   b) a heat storage element in fluid communication with said receiver, storing heat transferred from said first working fluid, said heat storage element heating a second working fluid when needed to generate electricity,   c) a heat engine in fluid communication with said heat storage element, expanding said second working fluid generating work,   d) a generator, mechanically connected to said heat engine, generating electricity from said work,   
       whereby electricity can be continuously provided at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a) a receiver optically coupled to said light pipe, receiving said concentrated solar energy, said receiver heating a working fluid,   b) a heat engine in fluid communication with said receiver expanding said working fluid, generating work,   c) a generator mechanically connected to said heat engine, generating electricity from said work,   
       whereby electricity can be provided during daylight at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a) power conversion means to convert the concentrated solar energy to high voltage electricity,   b) buoyant high voltage transmission lines connected from the high altitude high voltage power convertor to the earths surface, said transmission lines transmitting high voltage electricity from said high altitude high voltage power convertor to the earths surface,   
       whereby high voltage electricity can be provided during daylight at any location on the earth's surface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said concentrator is a large multi element mirror array.