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Apparatus and Method for Closed Loop Control of Heliostat Motion
This invention is an apparatus and method for controlling the motion of heliostats, which are mirrors that reflect sunlight towards a common target. For heliostats to be maximally efficient, they must be able to shift in orientation precisely as the Sun’s relative position to the Earth changes. This technology utilizes a beamsplitter perpendicular...
Published: 9/27/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Andrew Vagher, Matthew Rademacher
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy > Solar/Photovoltaic, Technology Classifications > Engineering & Physical Sciences > Devices & Instrumentation
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Apparatus and Method for High Solar Concentration using a Field of Twisting Heliostats
This technology is a twisting heliostat that automatically adjusts its reflector’s shape throughout the day to adapt to changes in the sun’s relative position to the heliostat field. It uses closed loop tracking to ensure that that light reflected from each twisted heliostat is centered on a target point. This design allows for higher concentration...
Published: 9/3/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Nicholas Didato, Daewook Kim, Ryker Eads
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy > Solar/Photovoltaic, Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics > Lens & System Design
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Apparatus and Method for Closed-Loop Heliostat Tracking
This technology is an apparatus and method to accurately orient a field of multiple heliostats to reflect sunlight to a single distant receiver. Higher accuracy tracking than previously realized is needed to fully exploit future heliostats that better concentrate sunlight on the receiver by forming a disc image of the Sun. This innovation overcomes...
Published: 8/6/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics, Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics > Lens & System Design, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy > Solar/Photovoltaic
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Heliostat Deflectometry
This invention is a novel heliostat metrology method to analyze and assess heliostat quality. This method is designed for use with large format meter-scale heliostat mirrors. Through the use of a unique modulation-free pattern approach, this metrology method can be used in outdoor environments. In the context of heliostats, deflectometry is employed...
Published: 8/5/2024
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Inventor(s): Daewook Kim, James Angel, Yiyang Huang
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy > Solar/Photovoltaic, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy, Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics > Lens & System Design, Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics > Materials & Fabrication
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Apparatus and Method for Direct Air Capture of CO2 Using Focused Solar Energy
This invention is a method of direct air capture (DAC) focusing on the capture of carbon emissions purely from sunlight alone. A modular, self-contained apparatus is used to capture dilute carbon dioxide (CO2) from a heat-based chemical reaction, then the energy is used to release the CO2 in concentrated form, for sequestration in the ground. The process...
Published: 6/20/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Low Carbon, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Remediation > Air
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A Telescope for Mass Production at Low Cost
This technology is a new way to cost-effectively mass produce mirrors and optics for smaller (<30” aperture) telescopes. The mirrors are made using a rapid replication process and are equipped with coolers for active shape adjustment. It also employs an optical corrector near the focus to reduce atmospheric image blurring. This innovative manufacturing...
Published: 4/24/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Nicholas Didato, Joel Berkson, Richard Wortley
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics > Optical Fab / Metrology, Technology Classifications > Imaging & Optics > Lens & System Design
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Actively Focused Heliostat with Mechanically Coupled Shape Change
This invention is a heliostat that has its toroidal reflector continuously altered through the day. A simple mechanical coupling is used to change the reflector shape over the course of the day. Dual-axis mounts were found to maximize capability. In this way, the heliostat realizes the highest possible concentration of sunlight.
This model also reduces...
Published: 6/4/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Nicholas Didato, Matthew Rademacher
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy
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Target Axis Heliostat with Mechanically Coupled Reflector Deformation
This technology utilizes a mechanical coupling system that changes the shape of the reflectors on the heliostat throughout the day. In doing so, the incoming light from the sun is always focused to a sharp image. This increases the temperature at the device’s receiver and allows for higher efficiency in converting the incoming solar energy to...
Published: 6/4/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Nicholas Didato
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy
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A Bifacial PV Module Hybridized with III-V PV Cells
This invention is a new type of hybrid PV module that overcomes previous deficiencies of light loss and prohibitively high manufacturing cost. It takes a complete manufactured bifacial PV module as its starting point, which has single-junction PV cells sealed between thin glass windows. This module serves not only to harvest the energy of diffuse light,...
Published: 6/6/2023
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Nicholas Didato, Joel Berkson
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy > Solar/Photovoltaic
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Rapid In-Situ Metrology of a Heliostat Field Using Starlight
This technology is a means of rapidly measuring the optical properties of each heliostat in a heliostat field using starlight. It is ideal for use with heliostats that can have their shape actively changed to maximize their light concentration effectiveness as they track the sun over the course of the day.
Background:
Heliostats are devices that track...
Published: 6/4/2024
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Inventor(s): James Angel, Ryker Eads
Keywords(s):
Category(s): Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Energy Collection, Storage & Battery, Technology Classifications > Energy, Cleantech & Environmental > Renewable Energy > Solar/Photovoltaic
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