Solar Concentrator

Abstract

A solar concentrator comprises an upper transparent surface and a lower transparent surface. A reflective layer is on the lower transparent surface. The lower transparent surface is shaped such that the reflective layer reflects and concentrates incident light.

1 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 an upper transparent surface;   a lower transparent surface; and   a reflective layer on the lower transparent surface,   wherein the lower transparent surface is shaped such that the reflective layer reflects and concentrates incident light.   
     
     
         2 . The solar concentrator of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the lower transparent surface is one of a parabola or a parabolic trough. 
     
     
         3 . The solar concentrator of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective layer is one of a metal or at least one mirror film. 
     
     
         4 . The solar concentrator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper transparent surface and the lower transparent surface create a bottle structure. 
     
     
         5 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein the bottle structure further comprises a bottle neck and the bottle is a one-piece construction with no seams joining the upper transparent surface to the lower transparent surface. 
     
     
         6 . The solar concentrator of  claim 5 , wherein the bottle structure is formed by blow molding a preform, the preform comprising the bottle neck. 
     
     
         7 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein the bottle structure further comprises a bottle neck and the bottle is formed by joining the upper transparent surface to the lower transparent surface. 
     
     
         8 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein the bottle structure creates an enclosed body of thin walled transparent material. 
     
     
         9 . The solar concentrator of  claim 8 , wherein the enclosed body comprises a bottle neck as an opening, and the bottle neck has an opening to connect the interior of the enclosed body to the atmospheric pressure of the exterior of the enclosed body. 
     
     
         10 . The solar concentrator of  claim 9 , wherein the bottle neck is a rigid structure. 
     
     
         11 . The solar concentrator of  claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the transparent material of the enclosed body is sufficient to form a non-deformable bottle structure. 
     
     
         12 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein the bottle structure is a non-inflatable rigid structure. 
     
     
         13 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein the bottle structure is a single integral piece. 
     
     
         14 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein an exterior surface of the lower portion is coated with the reflective layer. 
     
     
         15 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , wherein an interior surface of the lower portion is coated with the reflective layer. 
     
     
         16 . The solar concentrator of  claim 4 , whereby the bottle structure is designed such that incident light penetrates the upper transparent surface to reflect from the lower transparent surface back through the upper transparent surface to one of a focal point or a focal line. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making a solar concentrator, the solar concentrator comprising an upper transparent surface, a lower transparent surface, and a reflective layer on the lower transparent surface for reflecting and concentrating incident light, the method comprising:
 injection molding a preform of transparent material, the preform comprising a bottle neck;   blow molding the preform into a bottle with at least the lower transparent surface having a parabolic or parabolic trough shape; and   coating the lower transparent surface with a reflective layer.   
     
     
         18 . A method of making a solar concentrator, the solar concentrator comprising an upper transparent surface, a lower transparent surface, and a reflective layer on the lower transparent surface for reflecting and concentrating incident light, the method comprising:
 thermoforming sheets of transparent material against molds to form the upper transparent surface and the lower transparent surface;   coating an interior or exterior side of the lower transparent surface with a reflective layer; and   sealing the upper transparent surface to the lower transparent surface.