Patent ID: 8033110
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: F03G,F24S,H02S,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A solar energy control method, comprising: controlling a plurality of heliostats to track the apparent movement of the sun to concentrate sunlight on a receiver including first and second adjacent receiving surfaces, the first surface being configured to convert concentrated sunlight incident thereon into heat and a second surface having a photovoltaic converter; controlling the plurality of heliostats to aim reflected light at the first receiving surface by arranging image spots thereon at edges adjacent an interface between the first and second surfaces such that sunlight that spills over the edge is substantially incident upon the second receiving surface; controlling at least one of the plurality of heliostats such that its reflected light is moved from the first surface to the second surface responsively to a higher insolation level and controlling at least one of the plurality of heliostats such that its reflected light is moved from the second surface to the first surface responsively to a lower insolation level, such that a total incident sunlight on the first surface is limited below a total of which the plurality of heliostats is capable, and energy otherwise lost by spillage at edges of the first surface due to the aiming of heliostats at the edges is captured by the second surface and converted to electrical power by the photovoltaic converter.