ENTECH SOLAR, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160076252 | Passive Skylight Dome Configured to Increase Light To Increase Collection At Low Sun Elevation Angles and to Reduce Light At High Sun Elevation Angles - The present subject matter comprises a simple, passive skylight dome with relatively tall partially vertical sides comprising partially transparent material which diffuses the transmitted light, and a mostly opaque sun shade near the top of the relatively tall partially vertical sides. The partially vertical sides are able to better intercept sunlight from low sun elevation angles than conventional horizontal skylights. The mostly opaque sun shade is able to block sunlight from high sun elevation angles to prevent such sunlight from entering the building below the dome. By enhancing the collection of low-sun-elevation-angle light, the subject matter improves the daylight performance of the skylight early and late in the day, and all day in the winter months. By reducing the collection of high-sun-elevation-angle light, the subject matter reduces the solar heat gain near solar noon in the summer months, thereby reducing air conditioning loads and related costs. | 03-17-2016 |
20150047274 | Reflector Assembly for a Skylight Curb and Method of Installing Same Through a Safety Grid From The Roof - The disclosed subject matter is a reflector assembly for a skylight curb and the method of installing same through a safety grid from the roof. The purpose of the disclosed subject matter is to improve the optical performance of skylight curbs. The reflector assembly is manufacture from metallized polymer film, trimmed to match the desired interior curb surface where it will be mounted, and equipped with attachment devices to facilitate installation. The reflector assembly is configured by folding or rolling into a compact shape, passing it through an opening in the safety grid, unfolding it, and securing it in its proper position using the integrated attachment devices. | 02-19-2015 |
20140047784 | Passive Collimating Skylight - A passive collimating skylight system includes an energy-receiving aperture defining a first plane and an energy-delivering aperture defining a second plane that is spaced apart from and non-parallel to the first plane. An energy-directing passageway extends between the energy-receiving aperture and the energy-delivering aperture to redirect radiant energy incident on the energy-collecting aperture over a range of incidence angles to the energy-delivering aperture so that the redirected radiant energy emerges from the energy-delivering aperture over a range of emergence angles that is smaller than the range of incidence angles. The passageway is defined by a wall having a first end that defines the energy-delivering aperture and a second end that defines the energy-collecting aperture, the wall tapering inwardly and having a reflective inner surface along substantially the entire length from the first end to the second end. At least a portion of the wall of the passageway can be made of a flexible reflective film. | 02-20-2014 |
20110203638 | CONCENTRATING LINEAR PHOTOVOLTAIC RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A photovoltaic receiver for a concentrating photovoltaic module comprises a photovoltaic cell comprising an active area with an electrically conductive gridline; an encapsulating layer disposed substantially about a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell where the encapsulating layer comprises a transparent portion disposed over a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell active area; and a prismatic cell cover attached to the transparent portion. The prismatic cell cover is dimensioned and configured to refract focused sunlight away from the electrically conductive gridline on the solar cell. The receiver may comprise a carrier; a first thermally loaded adhesive layer disposed above the carrier; a dielectric layer disposed above the first thermally loaded adhesive layer; a second thermally loaded adhesive layer disposed above the dielectric layer; a solar cell assembly disposed above the second thermally loaded adhesive layer, further comprising a photovoltaic cell comprising an active area further comprising an electrically conductive gridline; an encapsulating layer disposed substantially about a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell, the encapsulating layer comprising a transparent portion disposed over a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell active area; and a prismatic cell cover attached to the transparent portion, the prismatic cell cover dimensioned and configured to refract focused sunlight away from the electrically conductive gridline on the solar cell. | 08-25-2011 |
20100288332 | SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC CONCENTRATOR PANEL - A solar photovoltaic concentrator panel comprises a Fresnel lens concentrator which may be arched and a photovoltaic receiver within a container comprising a top window. The lens, photovoltaic cell, and window may be affixed in a container with no internal sun-tracking mechanisms or related internal moving parts such as motors, drive systems, or bearings. The window is transparent and the bottom of the container typically dimensioned and configured as a heat exchanger to passively dissipate waste heat from the photovoltaic receiver to the ambient environment. The Fresnel lens concentrator is typically a free-standing Fresnel lens concentrator disposed within the container at a fixed position relative to an interior dimension of the container, optically forming a focal region of concentrated sunlight. The photovoltaic receiver comprises a photovoltaic cell or group of such cells disposed within the container and attached to the bottom at a fixed position relative to an interior dimension of the container to maintain alignment of a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic receiver within the focal region of the free-standing Fresnel lens concentrator. | 11-18-2010 |