CAPTEUR-CONCENTRATEUR DE L'ENERGIE DEGAGEE PAR LES RAYONS DU SOLEIL

ENERGY RADIATION REFLECTOR

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The "ENERGY RADIATION REFLECTOR" is a reflective surface
for the concentration of light and heat from the sun's
radiation to a particular area. Its unique shape will
accept incident rays from a large variety of solar zenith
angles and reflect them into a focusing pattern of one
long narrow straight line which falls mostly within the
confines of the shape of the reflective surface and the
encompassing enclosure into which it is mounted onto a
heat and light receptor structure containing a circulating
heat transfer medium, either liquid or gaseous.
This reflective surface is three dimensional and bent in its
long horizontal plane in accordance with the following
mathematical equation, in which "x" is the vertical
axis and "y" is the horizontal axis, then, expressed by
the following 8TH degree polinomial, with minor
deviations:
y ? -(6.4550 x 10-13)x8 + (2.7799 x 10-10)x7
-(4.9542 x 10-8) x6 + (4.7343 x 10-6) x5
-(2.6403 x 10-4) x4 + (8.8896 x 10-3) x3
-(1.9194 x 10-1) x2 + (2.7232)x (2.1227 x 10-1).

Revendications

The embodiment in which on exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A concave solar reflector having a reflective surface thereon, the
shape of the concave-reflector approximating the mathematical formula of
Y = -(6.4550 x 10-13) X8 + (2 7799 x10-10) X7
-(4.9542 x 10-8) X6 + (4.7343 x 10-6) X5
-(2.6403 x 10-4) X4 + (8.8896 x 10-3) X3
-(1.9194 x 10-1) X2 + (2.7232)X+ (2.1227 x 10-1)
the X axis of the reflector in it's position of use being upright, which
reflector, in its vertical position of use, gathers, focuses and concen-
trates the sun's rays from a wide range of incident angles onto a heat and
light receptor structure containing a circulating heat transfer medium,
either liquid or gaseous, the reflector concentrating the sun's rays with
concentration ratios of up to 20:1, the collected energy being utilized
for heating or cooling purposes.
2. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which the energy radiation
relector may have its heat gathering capacity augmented and amplified
with auxiliary reflective panels arranged adjacent the peripheral
edges of the reflector
3. The combination as recited in claim 2 in which the energy radiation
reflector is tilted backward from the vertical to face the concave
surface more upwardly for more efficient gathering of the sun's rays.
4. The combination as recited in claim 3, in which the energy radia-
tion reflector is mechanically rotated and/or tilted horizontally and/or
vertically to follow the sun.

Description

-`- 113737~
SU~RY OF THE INVENTION
Our invention is a uniquely shaped reflective surface
which will concentrate incident light and heat rays from a
large variety of solar zenith angles along a long thin
horizontal line within the confines of the reflective shape
and the encompzssing enclosure into which it is mounted onto
a heat and light receptor structure containing a circulating
heat transfer medium either liquid or ~aseous.
For its primary purpose of concentration and collection
of heat from solar energy the ends of the reflective shape
are filled in vertically with a smooth insulated material with
a reflective surface facing inward, also the front face of
the main "energy radiation reflector" shall be covered with one or
more sheets of transparent or translucent glass or plastic
material, and a heat collection and transfer apparatus will
be located along the horizontal line of maximum heat concen-
tration. The heat collection and transfer medium may be either
liquid or gaseous.
The "energy radiation reflector" may or may not, depending
on circumstances, be augmented and amplified with an auxiliary
reflective surface attached along the horizontal panel of
the base or top of the reflective shape by hinges and capable
of being tilted a variety of angles upward from the horizontal
from O degrees to 90 degrees or until it completely covers th~
face.

1~37371
The "energy radiation reflector" may or may not, depending
on circumstances, be augmented and amplified with auxiliary
reflective surfaces attached along the front panels of the
vertical ends of the reflective shape by hinges and capable
of being opened and closed like doors through a variety of
angles.

1~37371
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the invention may be
understood with reference to the following detailed de-
scription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention,
taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
F~G. 1 is a perspective view of the "energy radiation
reflector" embodied as part of a solar heat energy collector
with a variety of optional auxiliary reflective panels.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the "energy radiation reflector"
embodied as part of a solar heat energy collector with a
variety of optional auxiliary reflective panels.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the "energy radiation reflector
embodied as part of a solar heat energy collector with a
variety of optional auxiliary reflective panels.
PIG. 4 is a side view of the "energy radiation reflector"
embodied ~s part of a solar heat energy collector with a
variety of optional auxiliary reflective panels.
FTG. 5 showing how a variety of incident solar rays
both direct and reflected are reflected and concentrated by
the "energy radiation reflector" to a particular area within the shape
of the collector and the encompassing enclosure into which it is
mounted onto a heat and light receptor structure containing a
circulating heat transfer medium, either liquid or gaseous.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the axes upon which the
descriptive mathematical equation is based which describes
the "energy radiation reflector'!

1137371
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which
similar reference characters denote similar elements through-
out the several views, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the "energy radiation
reflector" (101) embodied in a solar heat collector in
which a heat collection and transfer apparatus ~102) contai-
ning a circulating heat transfer medium, either liquid or
gaseous of any appropriate shape, size, design or material will
be mounted on an approximately horizontal plane along the line
of major reflected heat concentration as in (FIG. 5) on
its top surface (103) and or on its bottom surface (104),
or both surfaces at the same time.
The energy radiation reflector's (101) front surface (105)
should be enclosed by one or more sheets of transparent or
translucent glass or plastic to most efficiently allow for
the maximum penetration of the surface by the shorter
wavelengths of the heat spectrum and the least penetration of
the surface, from the inside out, by the longer wavelengths
of the heat spectrum to minimize the heat loss from the solar
furnace.
The ends of the reflective shpae should be sealed with
insulated upright end panels (106~ preferably mirrored on
the inside surface.
The "energy radiation reflector", may or may not, depending
on circumstances, be augmented and amplified with an auxiliary
reflective panels (201) attached along the horizontal surface

1137371
of the base or top of the energy radiation reflector by hinges (202)
and capable of being tilted a variety of angles from the
horizontal upwards until it covers the face (105) or, in the
case of upper hinging, from the vertical position downward
until it covers the face (105).
Similarly the "energy radiation reflector" may or may not,
depending on circumstances, be augmented and amplified with
auxiliary reflective panels (301) attached along the front
surfaces of the vertical ends (106) by hinges (302) and
capable of being opened and closed like doors, through a
variety of angles until they cover the face (105).
In use at latitudes of 40 to 45 degrees N the reflective
shape will accept and concentrate as in FIG. 5 most of the sunls
rays between 30 - 60 degrees altitude measured upward from the
horizontal (or 60 - 30 degree zenith angles) and when the horizontal Y
axis of the mirror (101), as designated in Figure 6, of the
energy radiation reflector is elevated, on its concave side,
above the horizontal position by 15 degrees it will accept
and concentrate most of the sun's rays between 45 - 75 degrees
altitude measured upward from the horizontal (or 45 to 15
degrees zenith angles). A 75 degree altitude is the maximum
altitude of the sun at these latitudes at noon on June 21.
This one reflective shape therefore, with its two varieties of
positions, accepts and focuses to a concentration area all
the possible, significantly heat bearing, altitude angles
of the sun for all seasons of the year. Sun altitudes of 30

~3737~
degrees or less carry insignificant heating effect.
The following example is illustrative of the operation
of the invention in use in fixed positions, which is the most
economical use of this solar heat concentrator. It would
ideally be used in units of 3 or multiples of 3 with one of
them, or multiples thereof, facing approximately south easterly;
one, or multiples thereof, facing approximately south westerly;
and one, or multiples thereof, tilted backward at an angle of
approximately 15 degrees above the horizontal, facing due south.
These angles will be changed slightly depending on
whether the units are designed to maximize the heat absorption
capacilities during the summer for heating swimming pools and
by powering a heat exchanger to produce refrigeration effects
sj
or for the winter season for heating houses, or other habitable
` structures.
The shape of the reflective mirror of the energy radiation
reflector (FIG. 6) is designated by the mathematical formula.
y = -(6.4550 x 10 13)x8 ~ (2.779~ x 10 ) x
-(4.9542 x 10 8) ~6 ~ (4.7343 x 10 6) xS
-(2.6403 x 10-4) x4 t (8.8896 x 10-3) x3
-(1.9194 x 10 l) x2 + (2.7232)x (2.1227 x 10 1)

~1373~71
While intended primarily as groups of fixed position
solar heat concentrators it does not mitigate against their use
as mechanically propelled solar following concentrators for
greater efficiency and the emphasis on the particular application
of fixed positions does not deny their general application in
mobile modifications, nor in other than a horizontal position.
Since obvious changes may be made in the specific -
embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications
being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it
is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as
illustrative and not as limiting in scope.