Enclosed, off-axis solar concentrator
A solar concentrator including a housing having a receiving wall, a reflecting wall and at least two end walls, the receiving, reflecting and end walls defining a three-dimensional volume having an inlet, wherein a vertical axis of the housing is generally perpendicular to the inlet, a receiver mounted on the receiving wall of the housing, the receiver including at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein a vertical axis of the receiver is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the vertical axis of the housing, at least one clip disposed on the reflecting wall, an optical element received within the three-dimensional volume, the optical element including at least one tab, the tab being engaged by the clip to align the optical element with the receiver, and a window received over the inlet to enclose the housing.
1. A solar concentrator comprising:
a housing including a receiving wall, a reflecting wall, a lower wall and at least two end walls, wherein said receiving wall, reflecting wall, lower wall, and end wall define a three-dimensional volume having an inlet, and said housing has an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by said inlet;
a plurality of receivers mounted on said receiving wall of said housing, wherein each receiver of said plurality of receivers defines an axis and comprises at least one photovoltaic cell, a lens focused on said at least one photovoltaic cell, and a heat sink connected to said at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell and said lens are disposed within said three-dimensional volume, said heat sink is external of said three-dimensional volume, and wherein said axis of each receiver of said plurality of receivers is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said axis of said housing;
a plurality of optical elements within said three-dimensional volume, wherein each optical element of said plurality of optical elements comprises a front tab and a rear tab;
a plurality of front clips disposed on said lower wall of said housing, wherein each front clip of said plurality of front clips engages an associated one of said front tabs;
a plurality of rear clips disposed on said reflecting wall of said housing, wherein each rear clip of said plurality of rear clips engages an associated one of said rear tabs; and
a window connected to said inlet of said housing to form an enclosed three-dimensional volume.
2. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said housing and said window enclose said volume.
3. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of front and rear clips are configured to align said plurality of optical elements with said plurality of receivers.
4. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said optical element is a mirror.
5. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said non-zero angle is about 20 to about 80 degrees.
6. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said non-zero angle is about 55 degrees.
7. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said window is formed from a polymeric material.
8. The solar concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of rear clips are slender to account for differing rates of thermal expansion of said optical elements and said housing.
9. A solar concentrator comprising:
a housing comprising a receiving wall, a reflecting wall and at least two end walls, said receiving wall, reflecting wall and end wall define a three-dimensional volume having an inlet, said housing having an axis perpendicular to said inlet;
a receiver mounted on said receiving wall of said housing, said receiver comprising at least one photovoltaic cell, said receiver having an axis disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said axis of said housing;
at least one clip disposed on said reflecting wall;
an optical element received within said three-dimensional volume, said optical element comprising a foot engaged by said clip to align said optical element with said receiver; and a window positioned over said inlet to enclose said housing.
10. A method for aligning an optical element with a receiver, said receiver having an axis and including at least one photovoltaic cell, said method comprising the steps of:
providing an optical element having a foot;
providing a housing comprising a receiving wall, a reflecting wall and at least two end walls, wherein said receiving wall, reflecting wall and end wall define a three-dimensional volume having an inlet, and said housing has an axis perpendicular to said inlet;
positioning at least one clip on said reflecting wall of said housing;
mounting said receiver on said receiving wall of said housing, wherein said axis of said receiver is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said axis of said housing;
positioning said optical element within said three-dimensional volume and engaging said foot of said optical element with said at least one clip; and
positioning a window over said inlet to enclose said housing.