DESCRIPTION I Go to description II
For a clear understanding of the basic technology of the solar collector and concentrator, it has been illustrated in several drawings, in which the same reference numbers indicate equal or corresponding components or parts. In order that it may be easily understood, references have been made to the essential components that correspond to the operation of the system.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the solar collector and concentrator, comprising
a pair of collector modules placed at both sides of a linear receiver, which
is located on the mirrors’ focal line.
Each collector module is formed by an array of long metal foils with a reflective surface 1, placed at low height over the ground level; their axes are horizontal and parallel to one another.
Each of said metal foils 1 is longitudinally tensioned from both free ends by a pair of respective end moving frames: the end moving frame with tensioning means 3 and the end moving frame with rotary support means 2; and supported by a plurality of intermediate moving frames 4.
Such end and intermediate moving frames are uniformly spaced along the collector, forming arrays of moving frames; each of said arrays of moving frames being mounted on a common support beam 5.
Such moving frames form the moving support structure of the collector, which results in a small and light-weight structure when compared with other linear technologies like parabolic troughs.
For simplifying the assemble and alignment of the array of mirrors 1 with the linear receiver 7, a unified support structure for the collector and the linear receiver was adopted instead of individual structures for each component of the system.
Such unified structure is formed by the collector’s support beam 5 and the receiver’s support column 6, mounted by anchor means on a common foundation pylon.
Figure 2 is a detailed view of the structural members that form the unified
support structure. The receiver’s column 6 has a lower base plate 11
and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 12.
The support beam 5 has an upper base plate 8 and a lower base plate 9 joined to each other by the reinforcing ribs 10. The lower base plate 11 of the column 6 is secured to the upper base plate 8 of the support beam 5 by the bolts and nuts 13.
The lower base plate 9 of the support beam 5 is secured to the upper base plate 14 of the foundation pylon 15 by the bolts and nuts 16. The pylon 15 is embedded into the concrete foundation 17.
Figure 3 is a perspective and partial view of the central array of moving
frames and the unified driving system for driving the collector module. The
drawing shows the moving frame 4 with the respective driving crank 24 secured
to a common shaft 18, which is placed into the bearing housing 19. Said bearing
housing is secured to the support pedestal 20, a plurality of said pedestals
being mounted on the common support beam 5.
The drawing also shows the grooved shaft 21, the housing of the driving mechanism 22 and the longitudinal tracking bars 23, which drive the arrays of moving frames along the collector module.
The central shaft 21 of the array drives the next shafts 18 through the mechanism of parallel driving cranks 24 moving in unison with the motion of the common tracking rod 26. Said cranks 24 are articulated by pivoting means at pivot points with the respective vertical arms 25, said vertical arms being secured to the common tracking rod 26.
Figure 4 is a detailed view of the pivoting means between the driving cranks and the respective vertical arms, and the securing means for securing said vertical arms to a common tracking rod. The drawing shows a detail of the pivoting means formed by the stud bolts 27 of the driving cranks 24 pivoting at pivot points with the respective vertical arms 25.
The drawing also shows the securing means for securing said vertical arms 25 to said common tracking rod 26. A sliding part 28 can slide within a lower hole of said vertical arm 25. The tracking rod 26 goes across the vertical arm 25 and the sliding part 28.
A lower stud bolt 29 is threaded into said lower hole of the vertical arm and firmly secured against said sliding part 28, so that said vertical arm 25 is firmly secured to said common tracking rod 26.
