Patent ID: 7797939
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: F24S,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A concentrating solar receiver that maximizes the amount of solar energy available for conversion to electricity comprising: a. a primary reflector; b. a secondary reflector; c. a thermal cycle engine receiver; d. a driveshaft; e. a Fresnel lens; f. an electric generator; g. a rotating vertical support post; h. a stationary vertical support post; i. a vertical drive motor; j. a horizontal drive motor k. a stationary gear; l. a plurality of support struts; and m. a sun tracking sensor; and n. a base wherein said stationary vertical support post is located on top of said base and said horizontal drive motor is located at the top of said stationary vertical support post and said horizontal drive motor rotates said rotating vertical support post located above said horizontal drive motor and move said rotating vertical support post in a circular motion directed by said sun tracking sensor; and wherein said stationary gear is located at the top of said rotating vertical support post and said stationary gear bisects said rotating vertical support post such that said stationary gear's long axis is parallel to the long axis of said rotating vertical support post; and wherein said vertical drive motor is mounted inside said electric generator housing and moves around said stationary gear in response to said sun tracking sensor; and wherein said electric generator is coupled to said thermal cycle engine receiver using said drive shaft to form a center of gravity between the center of said rotating vertical support post and below the center of said primary reflector; and wherein a first plurality of energy rays are focused from said primary reflector and said first plurality of energy rays are intercepted by said secondary reflector to focus said first plurality of energy rays to a first focal point located at a first empty space located above said thermal cycle engine receiver thereby protecting said thermal cycle engine receiver from high temperatures produced by said first focal point and providing uniform density of solar energy within said thermal cycle engine receiver; and wherein a second plurality of energy rays are refracted from said Fresnel lens toward the first focal point located at the first empty space which said first empty space is located above said thermal cycle engine receiver thereby protecting said thermal cycle engine receiver from high temperatures produced by said first focal point and providing uniform density of solar energy within said thermal cycle engine receiver; and wherein said primary reflector is flat in shape out to a first diameter equal to the diameter of said Fresnel lens; and wherein said plurality of support struts are mounted at the outer edge of said first diameter of said primary reflector at equidistant locations along said first diameter and extend upwards and wherein said secondary reflector and said Fresnel lens are mounted along said plurality of support struts; and wherein said thermal cycle engine converts solar energy to mechanical energy; and wherein said driveshaft connecting said thermal cycle engine and said electric generator coveys said mechanical energy to said electric generator; and wherein said electric generator converts said mechanical energy to electric energy.