Optical solar energy converter

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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United States Patent Office 3,379,394 Patented Apr. 23, 1968

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the satellite 3,379,394 shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the optical fibers employed OPTICAL SOLAR ENERGY CONVERTER in the instant invention to conduct solar energy to a cen Karol J. Bialy, Merritt island, Fla., assignor to the United tral concentrator; and -

States of America as represented by the Secretary of FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one end of a plurality the Navy

Filed Oct. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 406,950 of the optical fibers illustrated in FIG. 2. 1. Clains. (C. 244-1) Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there can be seen a satellite 1 having mounted thereon a thermoelectric generator unit 3 and a plurality

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE O of optical fiber clusters 5. A sufficient number of the opt The present invention is an optical solar energy con cal fiber clusters 5 are mounted on each of the sides 7 verter. By its use incident solar energy impinging on a of the satellite 1 to provide sufficient heat for the entire plurality of surface areas, such as the walls of a space thermoelectric generating process. Additional optical fiber vehicle, may be collected by clusters of optical fibers and 5 clusters 5 may be mounted on other portions of the satel lite 1 which are exposed to ambient solar radiation, such conducted to a common point for storage as thermal as the surface 9. As best seen in FIG. 2, each of the opti energy and Subsequent conversion into electrical energy. cal fiber clusters 5 is comprised of the end portions of a -lm is plurality of optical fibers 11. The optical fibers 11 extend This invention relates generally to solar energy con from the surfaces of the satellite, such as the surface 7, verters and more particularly to an optical Solar energy to the thermoelectric generator unit 3, and terminate converter wherein solar energy is collected over a sur therein. As best seen in FIG. 3, the ends of the optical face area and is conducted to a separate area for conver fibers 11 which terminate in the thermoelectric generator sion into thermal energy, and thence into electrical energy. unit 3 form a plurality of minute paraboloids 13. Solar The use of solar cells to obtain electrical energy energy impinging on the clusters 5 is transmitted through through the conversion from solar rays is impaired by high the optical fibers 11 and concentrated by the paraboloidal ends 13 thereof.

level radiation. The radiation impinging upon the cells Referring again to FIG. 2 the thermoelectric generator causes damage to their crystalline structure and thereby unit 3 comprises a thermal block 15, such as is commonly reduces their efficiency in producing electrical energy. constructed of graphite, and a thermoelectric generating Therefore, because of the degradation of the output of 30 element 17 (such as is common to the art) disposed about these cells a movement away from using them as sources Said thermal block 15 so as to be able to receive heat of electrical energy ensued, and the instant invention was energy therefrom. The thermal block 15 receives the devised to provide replacement for use in conjunction concentrated thermal energy from the paraboloidal ends With a thermoelectric generator.

Thermoelectric generation of electrical energy is well 35 and serves to provide a relativelyaconstant of the optical fibers 11, provides storage means therefor, heat source for known and has recently been adapted for operation with the thermoelectric generating element 17 which converts a nuclear heat source. However, this combination has the heat into electrical energy in a well-known manner. proven to be unreliable to date. The instant invention, It can readily be seen that many variations and modi being passive in nature, vastly outperforms its nuclear fications of the present invention are possible in the light counterpart. Additionally, since it is impervious to radia 40 of the above teachings and it will be apparent to those tion and electron bombardment, it overcomes the short skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrange comings of solar cells now employed to generate electrical ment of components may be made to suit requirements energy for satellite operations. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven Briefly, the invention contemplates the use, on a satel lite, of a plurality of optical fiber clusters to collect solar 45 tion. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised in rays which impinge upon the satellite, and flexible optical a manner otherwise than as specifically described herein. fiber strands for conducting the solar rays from the What is claimed is:

clusters to a common point where the rays are combined to concentrate the Sun's energy, thereby obtaining a higher 1. In combination with an orbiting satellite, an optical temperature than would be possible with individual Solar energy converter comprising: strands. Additionally, the invention provides for thermal a plurality of optical fiber clusters on the surface of storage during periods of exposure to the Sun, to provide said satellite for receiving solar radiation, heat for an accompanying thermoelectric generator dur a thermal block for receiving and storing thermal en ing those periods when the satellite may be in the dark. ergy from said optical fiber clusters, One object of the present invention, therefore, resides a plurality of optical fibers extending from said optical in providing an optical solar energy converter for col fiber clusters into said thermal block and each ter lecting incident Solar energy. minating in a minute paraboloid therein for con Another object of the invention is to provide a thermo centrating energy being transmitted through each electric energy converter employing means for conducting of said optical fibers, and incident thermal energy from a plurality of Surfaces to a 60 a thermoelectric generator element connected with central concentrator. said thermal block for receiving thermal energy A further object of the present invention is to provide therefrom and converting it into electrical energy. thermal storage for periods in which there is no ambient 2. A thermoelectric energy converter comprising: sunlight, for maintaining a constant heat source. a thermal block for receiving and storing thermal The attendant advantages of this invention will be 65 energy, better appreciated and said invention will become clearly a plurality of optical fibers for receiving and transmit understood by reference to the following detailed de ting thermal energy to said thermal block, said opti scription when considered in conjunction with the accom cal fibers each terminating within said thermal block panying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the in the shape of a minute paraboloid for concentrating instant invention, wherein: 70 thermal energy, and

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a satellite employing a thermoelectric generator element connected with said the instant invention; thermal block for receiving thermal energy there

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from and converting said thermal energy into elec 9. A thermoelectric energy converter comprising: trical energy. means for storing thermal energy, 3. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said optical fiber clusters receiving, transmitting and con thermal block comprises graphite. centrating thermal energy within said thermal energy 4. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said storing means, and thermal block comprises graphite. means engaging said first-mentioned means for con 5. In combination with an orbiting satellite, an optical verting said thermal energy stored in said thermal solar energy converter, including means mounted on the storing means into electrical energy. surface of said satellite for receiving solar radiation, 10. The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for storing thermal energy, o thermal storing means comprises a graphite block. clusters of optical fibers for transmitting said solar 11. The invention as set forth in claim 9, wherein said radiation from said radiation receiving means to said optical fiber clusters each comprise a plurality of optical thermal storing means, fibers, each fiber having one end thereof terminating in means on each of said fibers for concentrating said the shape of a paraboloid.

solar radiation within said thermal storing means, and References Cited means for converting said thermal energy stored in UNITED STATES PATENTS said thermal storing means into electrical energy. 2,690,463 9/1954 Clevett et al. ------ 136 -206 6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein said concentrating means comprises a plurality of paraboloids 20 2,984,696 5/1961 Shaffer ------------- 136-206

at the ends of said fibers.

7. The invention as recited in claim 5, wherein said 3,047,867 7/1962 McNaney ----------- 350-96 optical fibers each terminate within said thermal storage 3,051,038 8/1962 Duke ------------- 350-96 X means in the shape of a paraboloid for providing said 3,272,658 ... 9/1966 Rush -------------- 136-201 concentrating means. 25

ALLEN B. CURTIS, Primary Examiner.

8. The invention as related in claim 7, wherein said thermal storage means comprises a graphite compound.