Synchronized solar concentrator array

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to solar energy collection, and in particular, to solar tracking and sunlight concentration and collection.

2. Description of the Related Art

Effective use of solar energy has been an important research subject. Various applications on concentrated or non-concentrated solar energy have been invented. The main obstacle is the cost. There is no successful for-profit solar utility exists today. Recently solar panels have been widely installed on roof tops, however, solar panel is still expensive because it uses photovoltaic solar cells at non-concentrated solar illumination condition. Photovoltaic solar cell, made from semiconductor materials such as silicon or gallium arsenide, is the most expensive part of the solar panel. It would use much less solar cell if sunlight is first concentrated; also the sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of the solar cell can be improved under the concentrated sunlight intensity.

Solar concentrator can reduce the energy receiver size and cost. However, solar concentrator usually needs to track sun\'s motion, and tracking systems tend to be bulky, complicated, expensive, and unreliable and awkward to implement. One type of solar tracking systems uses dual axial tracking, where continuous rotation around two non-parallel axes is required. Another type of tracking systems uses polar tracking, where the solar energy receiver or concentrator rotates around a polar axis, i.e. an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the earth. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,968 describes a “solar-tracking system that provides a polar rotation at a constant velocity of 366.25 revolutions clockwise per year, and orbital revolution that is one revolution per year in the counter-clockwise direction. The support for the orbital drive system is tilted from polar drive system at an angle of 23.45 degrees, and is constant, which angle is equal to the earth\'s axis tilt from orbital axis.” (Abstract.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,823 also describes a solar tracking system using polar tracking, where the inclination angle (i.e. the angle between the solar collector and the polar rotation axis) is adjusted empirically: “The sun shadow of a pointer normal to the solar collector panel serves to properly align the panel. Alternately, the current generated by the solar cells is measured and its maximum indicates that the solar panel is properly aligned with the sun.” (Abstract.)

The present invention is directed to a solar energy collecting device and system that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polar tracking system for solar energy collection that has a simple structure and is easy to implement.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the descriptions that follow and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a solar energy collecting device which includes a rotation axis; a solar energy collector mounted for rotation around the rotation axis, the solar energy collector defining a tilt angle with respect to the rotation axis; a driving mechanism for driving the solar energy collector to rotate around the rotation axis at a predetermined rotation speed during at least part of a day; and a tilt angle adjustment mechanism for automatically and intermittently adjusting the tilt angle. Various configurations of the solar energy collector are possible, and the rotation speed may be one revolution per day or half a revolution per day depending on the solar energy collector configuration. Various drive modes are possible, including rotating continuously throughout a day or rotating during daylight hours and rotating backward or forward at night to a starting position and restarting the rotation the next day.

One embodiment of the tilt angle adjustment mechanism includes a handle fixed to the solar energy collector and a tilt angle change guide.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a solar energy collecting system comprising a plurality of such solar energy collecting devices, the system further including a base on which the rotation axes of the plurality of solar energy collecting devices are mounted and an enclosure for enclosing the plurality of solar energy collecting devices.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for collecting solar energy, the method including mounting a rotation axis parallel to a polar axis of the earth; mounting a solar energy collector for rotation around the rotation axis, the solar energy collector defining a tilt angle with respect to the rotation axis; rotating the solar energy day; and automatically and intermittently adjusting the tilt angle.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a solar energy collection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a solar energy collection unit with alternative configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the solar energy collection unit of FIG. 1 when the incident sunlight is partially blocked.

FIG. 4 illustrates the solar energy collection unit of FIG. 1 when the incident sunlight is from a direction that is deviated from the desired angle.

FIG. 5 is a global view of a polar axis at any place with latitude θ.

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