Solar apparatus for concurrent heating and power generation duty
Solar apparatus for concurrent heating and power-generation duty having a base load bearing structure and a load bearing structure supported on the base load bearing structure secured to the plant solar concentrator so as to allow rotation of the concentrator with an established maximum rotation angle, with both a first alternate rotation movement in a circular direction and a horizontal plane along the base load bearing structure, and a second alternate movement along a curved path around a vertical plane orthogonal to the horizontal plane. The solar concentrator is actuatable with said first and second movement during the day by respective first and second actuators, controlled by a microprocessor, depending on the corresponding orientations of the concentrator, detected by first and second sensors, in a manner to orientate the concentrator for receiving maximum solar radiation during the day.
1. A solar apparatus for concurrently heating liquids and generating electric power, said solar apparatus comprising:
a) a solar concentrator ( 8 ) adapted for variable orientation relative to the sun during daylight, wherein the solar concentrator concentrates incident light onto a focal point;
b) a load-bearing structure ( 9 ) including a plurality of longitudinally extending rectilinear bars ( 32 , 33 ; 36 , 37 ) and transversally extending rectilinear bars ( 34 , 35 ; 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ; 44 ), a pair of semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ) connected to said longitudinally and transversally extending bars and said solar concentrator ( 8 ), said semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ) having end portions joined to each other by a pair of rectilinear bars ( 51 , 52 ) and a pair of intermediate tie rods ( 53 , 54 ), said load-bearing structures ( 9 ) further including a pair of semi-circularly shaped metal reinforcement members ( 45 , 46 ) secured to said longitudinal bars ( 32 , 33 ; 36 , 37 ) and to said semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ), said semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ) being slidably supported by a first pair of vertical brackets ( 56 , 57 ) and a second pair of vertical brackets ( 58 , 59 ), the vertical brackets supported by and attached to respective horizontal end portions ( 60 , 61 ; 62 , 63 ) of a corresponding one of two elongated cross pieces ( 64 , 65 ), each cross piece arranged parallel to and spaced from each other, said first and second pair of vertical brackets ( 56 , 57 ; 58 , 59 ) including sliding elements ( 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ) and motor driven wheels ( 74 , 75 );
c) a horizontally disposed load-bearing base structure ( 7 ) supported on a horizontal base plate ( 17 ) secured to the ground, said base structure ( 7 ) including a circular horizontal metal rail with a circumference ( 10 ) having a planar upper edge ( 11 ) and on outer groove ( 12 ) extending along the circumference of said circular rail ( 10 ), said rail ( 10 ) being supported by a set of lower metal brackets ( 13 ) regularly spaced along the circumference of said rail ( 10 ), each bracket ( 13 ) having a lower base ( 14 ) anchored to said horizontal base plate ( 17 ), a vertical shank ( 15 ) and an upper head portion ( 16 ) having idler wheels ( 18 , 19 ) slidingly cooperating with said circular rail ( 10 ) so as to allow said rail to rotate reciprocally, said two elongated cross pieces ( 64 , 65 ) of said load-bearing structure ( 9 ) being attached to said circular rail ( 10 ) whereby to support said load-bearing structure ( 9 ) and solar concentrator ( 8 );
d) a heat exchanger ( 83 ) supported by said load-bearing structure ( 9 ) disposed at the focal point of said solar concentrator ( 8 ) so as to receive the concentrated solar radiation received by said solar concentrator, said heat exchanger ( 83 ) having liquid circulating therethrough heated by said concentrated solar radiation;
e) an electric power generator ( 90 ) supported by said load-bearing structure ( 9 ) disposed at the focal point of said solar concentrator ( 8 ) so as to receive the concentrated solar radiation received by said solar concentrator, said electric power generator ( 90 ) including a photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements ( 91 ) arranged adjacent to each other and attached to a support structure ( 92 ) formed of corresponding boards ( 93 ) of electrically insulating material provided with related electric contacts and conductor paths ( 94 );
f) a first actuation mechanism ( 20 ) for moving said solar concentrator ( 8 ) in a first reciprocating rotary motion in a circular direction in a horizontal plane along said load-bearing structure ( 7 );
g) a second actuation mechanism ( 55 ) for moving said solar concentrator ( 8 ) in a second reciprocating motion along a path in a vertical plane orthogonal to said horizontal plane by actuating said motor driven wheels ( 74 , 75 ) of said first and second pair of vertical brackets ( 56 , 57 ; 58 , 59 ) supporting said semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ) connected to said solar-concentrator ( 8 );
h) a first pair ( 97 , 98 ) and a second pair ( 99 , 100 ) of photoelectric sensors arranged close to and aligned with each other and supported by said load-bearing structure ( 9 ) so as to be constantly facing the sun during daylight so as to be constantly exposed to solar radiation during daylight, the sensors of said first and second pair of sensors are arranged in mutual alignment in a longitudinal or a transverse direction so as to detect the intensity of impinging solar radiation and actuate said first and second actuation mechanisms so as to cause said first and second reciprocating motions of said solar concentrator ( 8 ) to progress when both sensors of said first and second pairs of sensors are illuminated at different levels of illuminating intensity and to stop when both sensors are illuminated at the same level of illuminating intensity.
2. The solar apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein said second actuation mechanism ( 55 ) includes a motor reducer ( 79 ) attached to said first pair of vertical brackets ( 56 , 57 ) slidably supporting said semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ), the second actuation mechanism ( 55 ) further including a motion transmission mechanism which includes said motor driven wheels ( 74 , 75 ) cooperating with said semi-circular rails ( 49 , 50 ) and actuated by said motor reducer ( 79 ) to rotate said semi-circular rails in either direction so as to change the angle of orientation of said solar concentrator ( 8 ).
3. The solar apparatus as defined in claim 2 , which further comprises a microprocessor adapted to detect electric signals generated by said photoelectric sensors ( 97 , 98 ; 99 , 100 ) so that when the microprocessor detects, in the full-scale position of said solar concentrator ( 8 ) along the maximum allowable movement path, that said photoelectric sensors are being illuminated at intensities below a minimum pre-set in said microprocessor it causes said first ( 20 ) and second ( 55 ) actuation mechanisms to be actuated so as to displace said solar concentrator ( 8 ) back to an initial position thereby setting the solar apparatus in a condition in which it is ready to start a new operating cycle.
4. The solar apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the assembly formed of said photovoltaic elements ( 91 ) and said boards ( 93 ) is positioned onto a planar plate ( 95 ) of heat insulating material slightly larger than said heat exchanger ( 83 ) to which said planar plate ( 95 ) is secured obtaining a single structure ( 96 ) wherein said photovoltaic elements ( 91 ) are not in thermal contact with said heat exchanger.