RU2380623C1 - Converter of solar energy - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: power engineering. ^ SUBSTANCE: converter consists of solar energy concentrator assembled on tripod and equipped with facility of orientation by the sun. The concentrator is made in form of a symmetrical part of a parabolic cylinder including a crest and a focal line; the parabolic cylinder is installed into parabolic guides arranged along upper and lower edges of the cylinder. The guides are enclosed in a rigid frame made out of ribs connecting ends of the guides and conjugated between them. Shelves covering the converter from top and bottom are installed by upper and lower ends of the focal line and on upper and lower ribs. A solar energy receiver is made in form of a tube passing along the focal line and conjugated with an external tank. The converter is equipped with sensors determining a position and intensity of the radiation source affecting a rotary mechanism of a photo-electric panel. ^ EFFECT: complete utilisation of solar energy, more simplified design and capability to withstand strong wind loads, reduced weight and cost and simplification of assembly. ^ 3 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the use of natural energy sources and can be used in the manufacture of solar energy receivers.

A known solar energy converter comprising a solar energy receiver and a solar concentrator mounted on a tripod and equipped with a sun orientation mechanism (see, for example, AS USSR No. 823773, IPC F24J 2/52, 1981).

A disadvantage of the known Converter is that its design is heavy, difficult to manufacture and unstable under wind load.

Also known is a solar energy converter containing a solar energy concentrator, a solar energy receiver, made in the form of a heat accumulator and an electric converter (see, for example, RF patent No. 2199704, IPC F24J 2/42 "Solar energy installation", published on 02.27.03. in BI No. 6).

A disadvantage of the known converter is that it has a complex solar energy concentrator. In addition, its use is limited to southern areas having a large number of sunny days.

Closer in technical essence and adopted for the prototype is a solar energy converter containing a solar energy concentrator mounted using holders on a tripod and equipped with a sun orientation mechanism, a solar energy receiver made in the form of a thermal detector, and a sensor that determines the position of the sun (see RF patent №2002174, IPC F24J 2/52 "Device for the use of solar energy", publ. 30.10.93, bull. No. 39-40).

The known converter of solar energy has greater stability with respect to the analog when oriented to the sun, and it is more stable under wind load.

The disadvantages of the prototype are the complexity of manufacturing the body and low efficiency in the autumn-winter period and in cloudy conditions. In addition, with strong gusts of wind, the known converter can tip over.

The objective of the invention is to provide a solar energy converter capable of more fully utilizing solar energy, having a relatively simple structure and capable of withstanding strong wind loads. Additionally, the task of reducing the weight, cost of the system and simplifying installation is solved.

This problem is solved due to the fact that in the known solar energy converter containing a solar energy concentrator mounted on a tripod and equipped with a sun orientation mechanism, a solar energy receiver and sensors that determine the position of the radiation source, according to the invention, the solar energy concentrator is made in the form of a symmetrical part a parabolic cylinder containing a comb and a focal line placed in parabolic guides located along the upper and lower edges mentioned of the first cylinder, the said guides are enclosed in a rigid frame made of stiffeners connecting the edges of the guides and articulated to each other along the upper and lower edges of the focal line, at the ends of the parabolic cylinder there are shelves passing along the outer edges of the upper and lower ribs, and the solar energy receiver made in the form of a pipe located on the focal line and along the pipe, outside the focal line there is a photovoltaic panel equipped with a rotary mechanism.

In an embodiment of the technical solution, shutters are provided at the edges of the parabolic cylinder, equipped with a sliding mechanism, the converter comprising direction and wind sensors acting on the orientation mechanism.

In a variant of the technical solution, the converter contains sensors of magnitude and direction of radiation acting on the rotary mechanism of the photovoltaic panel.

The implementation of the solar energy concentrator in the form of a symmetric part of a parabolic cylinder containing a comb and a focal line, placed in parabolic guides located along the upper and lower edges of the said cylinder, can significantly simplify the manufacture of the concentrator, as well as simplify its installation.

The presence of guides enclosed in a rigid frame made of ribs connecting the edges of the guides and articulated between the upper and lower edges of the focal line, as well as the installation of shelves on the upper and lower ends of the hub, makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the structure as a whole and provide greater stability of the system.

The implementation of the solar energy receiver in the form of a pipe mounted on the focal line also contributes to the simplification and hardening of the entire design of the concentrator.

The installation of a photovoltaic panel located outside the focal line and equipped with a rotary mechanism that operates on the signals of the magnitude and direction sensors of the radiation source allows you to change the method of conversion of solar energy and allows you to more fully use solar energy, concentrating the rays on the said panel with low radiation.

The installation of curtains along the edges of the parabolic cylinder, equipped with a sliding mechanism, in the presence of wind direction and force sensors acting on the hub orientation mechanism, makes it possible to form a streamlined concentrator structure and thereby ensure its stability during strong wind loads.

The claimed invention is illustrated by drawings.

Figure 1 presents a perspective view of the design of the concentrator of solar energy.

2 shows a transducer in side view.

Figure 3 shows the Converter when viewed from above.

Figure 4 presents the control system of the electric motors of the Converter.

In Fig. 5, a system for supplying pipes to a receiving tank and a diagram of the inclusion of a hydraulic pump is drawn.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a system for using electric energy from a concentrator.

Common elements in all figures have the same designation.

The solar energy concentrator 1 (Fig. 1) is made in the form of a symmetric part of a parabolic cylinder containing a comb 2 and a focal line 3. The focal line 3 passes along the foci of the parabolas obtained by the section of the parabolic cylinder by parallel planes perpendicular to its surface. Comb 2 is a line running along the vertices of the parabolas obtained by the section of the parabolic cylinder by parallel planes perpendicular to its surface. The concentrator is placed in parabolic guides 4 located along the upper and lower edges of the said cylinder. Guides are gutters curved along a parabola. The guides 4 are enclosed in a rigid frame made of ribs 5 connecting the edges of the guides 4. The ends of the upper and lower ribs 5 are connected, respectively, with the upper and lower edges of the focal line 3 by ribs-bundles 6. On the upper and lower ends of the parabolic cylinder, shelves 7 made of hard material and passing along the edges of the guides 4 and along the ribs 6. The shelves 7 close the hub from external influences from above and below. The receiver-thermoconverter is made in the form of a pipe 8 located along the focal line 3. A pipe 9 passes along the outer surface of the upper shelf 7. A pipe 10 passes along the external surface of the lower shelf. A pipe 11 passes along the external surface of the receiver 1. the pipe 10 and the hose 12 is connected to the tank 13 (figure 2, 3) by a receiver of non-freezing liquid. The same tank is connected to the upper part of the pipe 8 by means of nozzles 9 and 11 and a hose 14. A photovoltaic panel 15 located outside the focal line 3 is installed along the pipe. In other words, if the panel is turned towards the ridge, then the distance between the surface of the panel 15 and the ridge will be less than the focal length. The photovoltaic panel is made in the form of a chute, the concave side of which is facing away from the pipe 8. The panel 15 is equipped with a rotary mechanism (not shown in Fig.) That rotates it along the axis of the pipe 8. The hub is mounted on a tripod 16 and is equipped with a mechanism 17 for orienting the radiation source .

At the edges of the parabolic cylinder 1, sliding shutters 18 are provided, equipped with a sliding mechanism (not shown in FIG.).

The Converter is equipped with a sensor 19 (figure 4), which determines the radiation intensity in the azimuthal direction and a sensor 20, which determines the radiation intensity of the radiation source in the zenithal direction. These sensors feed signals to the microprocessor unit 21. From the microprocessor unit, the signals are fed to power control systems 22 and 23, to which the motors 24 and 25 are connected, respectively, to orient the hub 1 in a position optimal with respect to the radiation source in the azimuthal and zenithal directions.

In a variant of the technical solution, the concentrator comprises a wind force sensor 26 and a sensor 27 that detects wind directions. Both sensors through the logic element 28 act on the microprocessor block 21 and through it to the control systems 22 and 23 and the electric motors 24 and 25. In this case, the sensor 26 is connected to the power supply system 29 of the engine 29 ', which controls the movement of the blinds 18. The sensors 19 and 20 also through the microprocessor unit 21 acts on the system 30, which supplies power to the electric motor 30 ', which changes the position of the solar cell - photovoltaic panel 15.

The tank 13 is equipped with a pump 31 (FIG. 5), driven by an electric motor 32. The engine 32 has a control system 33, which is connected to a sensor 34 of the temperature of the liquid present in the tank 13. The tank 13 is connected to a consumer of hot liquid by hoses 35 (in FIG. not shown). The photovoltaic panel 15 is provided with a heating element 36 (Fig.6), which is placed in the tank 13.

The solar energy converter operates as follows.

When a radiation source such as the sun appears, the radiation intensity sensors 19 and 20 provide a signal to the microprocessor unit 21. A command is sent from the unit to actuate the electric motors 24 and 25, which will move the hub until the sensors generate their maximum signal . The energy of the radiation source is generated by the concentrator in the form of a heat bundle falling on the focal line 3. Under the influence of an elevated temperature, the tubular receiver 8 converts the radiation energy into thermal energy transmitted by the non-freezing fluid contained in it. The liquid as the tank enters the tank 13 either due to free convection, or due to the operation of the pump installation, consisting of an engine 32 and a pump 33 (figure 5). The operation of the pump installation is determined by the readings of the temperature sensor 34. If the temperature of the liquid in the tank reaches a certain value, for example, 60 ° C, then the liquid through the hoses 35 enters the consumer or in the storage tank.

In cloudy weather or in seasonal periods, when the solar radiation drops to a level when the receiver pipe is not very hot, the signal from the radiation intensity sensors 19 and 20 also falls below a certain level. In this case, a command is received to rotate the photovoltaic panel 15 towards the hub. Since the surface of the panel 15 is located slightly in front of the focus, this surface is enlarged and shaped into a half-cylinder. This form allows you to more fully perceive the radiation energy. The panel manages to create a sufficient concentration of energy, increase the density of the installation of solar cells and thereby increase its energy efficiency, and reduce the cost of the panel. This panel converts the radiation energy into electrical energy with its subsequent conversion into thermal energy in the heating element 36 (Fig.6), which contributes to the heating of the liquid in the tank 13.

Currently, multilayer solar cells have been developed that can convert not only the visible part of solar radiation, but also the ultraviolet and infrared ranges of the radiation spectrum. Modern similar elements already demonstrate an efficiency of about 40%, and in the future in the near future, efficiency can reach 50% or more. The price of solar electricity tends to decrease rapidly and is already comparable to the standard power supply system and in the near future may reach 50% of the cost of electricity from the “outlet”. At the same time, the energy concentration on the panel helps to reduce the weight and cost of the photovoltaic panel, and the energy from it will be quite noticeable for the consumer. Moreover, such a panel can work at night if there is a sufficiently powerful radiation source.

In the case when there is an increase in the wind load on the transducer structure above the permissible level, signals from sensors 26 and 27 of the intensity and direction of the wind appear. After the coincidence of the signals of the sensors 26 and 27 in the logic element 28 from it, the signal enters the microprocessor unit 21, where these signals are perceived as dominant. After that, a command is given to the electric motors 24 and 25 of the rotary mechanisms, which the converter deploys so that the wind load on the structure is the smallest. With a small focal length, as shown in Fig. 3, the whole structure rotates sideways to the wind, the photovoltaic panel 15 rotates towards the hub 1. At the same time, the signal for the wind force sensor 26 sends a command to the drive mechanism for sliding the curtains 18. The curtains are opened, closing all side surfaces of the transducer, and the whole structure will acquire a position that reduces wind load to a minimum. If the design of the transducer has a large focal length, the procedure for preparing for wind action is repeated, but the transducer rotates the back with respect to the wind. At the same time, it takes a droplet shape having the least wind resistance. After the wind falls off, the converter automatically returns to its original operating position.

The implementation of the solar energy concentrator in the form of a symmetric part of a parabolic cylinder containing a comb and a focal line placed in parabolic guides located along the upper and lower edges of the said cylinder can significantly simplify the manufacture of the concentrator, as well as simplify its installation.

The presence of guides enclosed in a rigid frame made of ribs connecting the edges of the guides and articulated between the upper and lower edges of the focal line, as well as the installation of shelves on the upper and lower edges of the shelves, makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the structure as a whole and provide greater stability of the system.

The presented converter has a simpler and lighter design in comparison with the prototype, and it provides the ability to more fully receive energy from a natural source. In addition, it is able to withstand powerful gusts of wind.

Claims (3)

1. The solar energy Converter containing a solar energy concentrator mounted on a tripod and equipped with a sun orientation mechanism, a solar energy receiver and a sensor that determines the position of the radiation source, characterized in that the solar energy concentrator is made in the form of a symmetrical part of a parabolic cylinder containing a comb and a focal line placed in parabolic guides located along the upper and lower edges of the said cylinder, the said guides are enclosed in a gesture a cage made of stiffeners connecting the edges of the guides and articulated to each other along the upper and lower edges of the focal line, at the ends of the parabolic cylinder there are shelves passing along the outer edges of the upper and lower ribs, and the solar energy receiver is made in the form of a pipe located on the focal line, and along the tube, outside the focal line, a photovoltaic panel equipped with a rotary mechanism is installed. 2. The solar energy converter according to claim 1, characterized in that at the edges of the parabolic cylinder there are shutters equipped with a sliding mechanism, the converter comprising direction and wind force sensors acting on the orientation mechanism and the curtain sliding mechanism. 3. The solar energy converter according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the converter contains radiation intensity sensors acting on the rotary mechanism of the photovoltaic panel.

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