Patent ID: 8088994
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: F24S,H01L,H02S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A light concentrating module to be coupled in flow communication with a fluid conversion module for at least one of storing, using, converting, or disposing of thermal energy, the light concentrating module comprising: a primary optical element having a reflective surface comprising a plurality of contoured sections, each contoured section shaped to reflect and substantially concentrate impinging light toward a corresponding focal point at a point-focal region; and a receiver system joined to the primary optical element and having a plurality of energy conversion members positioned proximate to respective point-focal regions for transforming the reflected light into at least one of electrical and thermal energy, the energy conversion members having different orientations for receiving the reflected light from the contoured sections, the receiver system having at least one working fluid passage for carrying a working fluid proximate to the energy conversion members to absorb the thermal energy, the at least one working fluid passage being configured to fluidicly couple to a fluid circuit to convey the working fluid between the energy conversion members and the fluid conversion module; wherein the receiver system includes a plurality of secondary optical elements positioned proximate to the energy conversion members, the secondary optical elements configured to direct the light toward corresponding energy conversion members; wherein the energy conversion members are located a distance away from the primary optical element, the energy conversion members having respective surfaces that are configured to receive and transform the reflected light, each of said surfaces facing in respective downward directions back toward the corresponding contoured sections to receive the reflected light; and wherein the energy conversion members are clustered around a central axis extending from the primary optical element, the central axis extending parallel to light rays of the impinging light when the primary optical element is at a desired alignment, wherein the downward directions form acute angles with respect to said central axis.