Patent ID: 8794229
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: F24S,G02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A solar concentrator comprising: a closed chamber defined by a rigid hemispherical parabolic top portion and a rigid hemispherical parabolic reflective bottom portion opposite the top portion, wherein the rigid hemispherical parabolic top portion and the rigid hemispherical parabolic reflective bottom portion are configured to maintain the shape of the closed chamber without the use of additional support elements; wherein the top portion is transparent except for a hemispherical reflective concave inverse parabolic structure at a central area of the top portion that is concave with respect to the chamber, and wherein the reflective concave inverse parabolic structure is at a focal point of the bottom portion, and wherein a parabola defined by the reflective concave inverse parabolic structure is not coincident with a parabola defined by the top portion; and wherein the bottom portion is coupled with a hemispherical compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) at a focal point of the reflective concave inverse parabolic structure, and wherein a parabola defined by the bottom portion is not coincident with a parabola defined by the CPC.