Solar radiation concentrator and related method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2, a device or apparatus for concentrating solar energy comprises a container 10 in the form of an upstanding circular side wall 12 and a reflective bottom wall or horizontal surface 14 contiguous therewith for defining a shallow pool.
Bottom wall or horizontal surface 14 is disposed on a ground surface 16.
However, the pool 10 could alternatively be placed on a tower (not shown) which in turn is support on the ground.
A plurality of equispaced mechanical wave generators 18 in the form of piezoelectric transducers are connected to pool side wall 12 along an outer surface thereof.
A control unit 20 such as a microprocessor is connected to transducers 18 for periodically and synchronously energizing the transducers to generate a symmetric compressive force on side wall 12.
To that end, transducers 18 are also connected to ground surface 16.
As depicted in FIG.
3, pool 10 holds a homogenous fluidic substance 22 such as glycol, oil or a gel having a relatively high index of refraction.
Control unit 20 energizes transducers 18 to generate a standing wave 24 in the fluidic substance, and more particularly, in the upper surface of the fluidic substance.
Standing wave 24 has a predetermined shape characterized by a Bessel function, a Hankel function, a modified Bessel function or a modified Hankel function.
Accordingly, pool 10, and more specifically, standing wave 24 and reflective surface 14, are able to concentrate incoming solar radiation 26 (FIG.
1) onto a solar collector 28 at a predetermined location spaced from pool 10.
In the event that the concentration and collection of solar energy is to take place over an extended period, collector 28 may be either constrained to move in tandem with the sun or may have an elongated solar collecting element (not shown) which is disposed or disposable along the path of the concentrated energy beam from pool 10.
For example, collector 28 may take the form of a curved metal tube carrying a circulating working fluid such as steam