DE19705046A1 - System for using solar energy, e.g. for illuminating buildings etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for using solar energy, comprising a light-capture element (3) for capturing and concentrating solar radiation (1), a light-transfer element (4) for transporting the radiation from (3) and a light distributor (9) to radiate the transported radiation. Also claimed is a process for using solar energy, in which natural solar radiation is captured, concentrated, transported and distributed.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a Ver drive to use solar energy.

Such a device and such a method Ren can use solar energy for light technical and thermal purposes, such as as lighting, display or heat generation in Buildings such as production facilities, facilities upper or below the earth or the surface of the sea as well as in means of transport such as ships, airplanes or spaceships and other devices and devices benefits can be used.

The use of solar energy is based on the status technology either by direct or indirect Conversion into electrical power (solar power plants, Photovoltaic) or by converting solar energy  in thermal energy (solar collectors) (environmental market from A-Z 1995/1996, p. 260; Simon and Wagner, physics in our time 27, 1996, p. 69). A disadvantage of that Sen techniques for using solar energy is that the conversion of solar energy into the desired one Energies is incomplete and conversion losses occur. The losses are particularly large, when the electrical generated by solar energy Electricity used to illuminate buildings closed rooms is used. Both mentioned Types of use for solar energy, the conversion into electrical current or thermal energy a very large expenditure on equipment and therefore high investment costs.

So far, direct use of sunlight has been made through so-called heliostats that direct the light Steer to a fixed point without light guide. The These systems are very complex and only a limited one settable. Furthermore, the solar radiation from Surfaces absorbed (e.g. solar cells) and the respective, usable spectral component in other energy sources casting molds converted. Spotting not directly usable tral shares were irretrievably lost.

The present invention therefore sets itself on hand, a method and an apparatus available in order to avoid the sun effective electromagnetic radiation, environmentally friendly Lich and at low cost to use.

This task is performed by the device according to the Preamble of claim 1 and by the method in accordance with the preamble of claim 17 solved with their characteristic features.  

Through the present invention, the solar technology nik new and cost-effective application areas closed.

The device according to the invention makes it possible without Conversion of electromagnetic radiation into electricity through photovoltaics or in a heat storage medium for Transport them directly to their Ver to guide usage or commitment. The distribution too lighting, heat generation etc. can be directly be influenced without detours. Particularly advantageous is that by the device according to the invention Exploitation of solar energy both quantitatively and can also be increased in quality.

Advantageous further developments of the invention Device and the inventive method who given in the dependent claims.

The light or heat is particularly advantageous technical use of solar radiation for completed open spaces, such as living and working spaces in buildings, workplaces or means of transport. This usage can also be used in addition to other indi direct or direct use of sunlight is unsuccessful conditions, for example direct light coming in through fen ster in additional with the device according to the invention lighted rooms. The Vorrich invention tion makes it possible without converting the electromagnetic radiation in electricity through photovoltaics or in a heat storage medium for transport to the would be item immediately in the place of their To manage consumption. This usage occurs because none Conversion losses occur with a very high Efficiency, is environmentally friendly and opens up  of solar technology new and cost-effective application areas. It is advantageous in such an application extension that no electrical supply systems are needed, for example, mines to illuminate so that a very high degree of certainty unit, for example against sparks.

The use of wavelength converters enables also the use of ultraviolet or infrared radiation for lighting purposes or from Ultravio Latvian and visible light to generate heat about infrared radiation. In particular is also a Amplification of selected spectral ranges and thus a spectral adaptation of the use of sunlight possible. For example, the plants damaging UV rays in the wavelength range be converted to 500 nm for the benefit of an effective meren plant growth. Also for lighting purposes it is convenient to put the UV components in visible light transform selected spectral ranges. Also for the transport of electromagnetic radiation it may be advantageous to be radiation tuned wavelengths first in a length wave length to change richly, in which the transport in the opposite the transport material can be made without loss and then the wavelength of the transported electromagnetic radiation in turn in the ge wanted to change spectrum.

The use of various lighting technology Elements as light transport elements or light distributors such as fiber optic lighting techniques or light diffusers, allow under different radiation characteristics of the in the electromagnetic space  Radiation. So side or end point radiation can gene or evenly directed or uneven directed light emission can be achieved.

The radiation into a heat-storing medium serves completed by heating the heating of the room. In particular, there is no contrast here to conventional solar collectors the transport of the heat-storing medium from the warm-up point the object to be warmed up.

Will an additional artificial light source with the Light distributor connected, so the completed Room continues to be supplied, even if by the No electromagnetic radiation emanating from the sun has sufficient intensity.

The beam hitting the light trapping element intensity can be further increased if that Light capture element according to the position of the sun is mechanically tracked for example.

As a light trapping element and as a light collecting element curved mirrors such as Pa are suitable Rabol mirror, Fresnel lenses, cylindrical lenses or spherical converging lenses, light funnels or An orders of hemispheres. The change of Wavelengths in the light collecting element or in Light trapping element or also in the light transport element ment. These elements can then be advantageous usually made of optically transparent polymer solids or polymer moldings exist, the fluorescent Have additives. It is important that the Additives molecularly dissolved in the polymer molded body because only then the wave-pushing effects for  the applications according to the invention are sufficiently strong to step. Becomes an ordinary fluorescent color If the material is used, the waves change length to longer wavelengths instead. this means for example, that a conversion of ultraviolet light into visible light. On the other hand, can for example a two quantum absorption process in a suitable fluorescent dye to convert infrared light into visible or ultravio to change the light.

As a material for fiber optics or fiber optics be particularly suitable for the light transport element special quartz with polymeric covering or Optical fiber made entirely of polymer mate rialien exist.

Light diffusers can be used as light distributors be, for example, opalescent plastics contain.

In the following some embodiments of the Given device according to the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1 shows the diagram of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows another application example of a device according to the invention, and

Fig. 3 shows a light funnel according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the structure of a device according to the invention for the use of solar energy for lighting technical purposes. Electromagnetic radiation 1 arriving from the sun is captured by a light trapping element 3 and at the same time concentrated to form a radiation beam 2 . This radiation beam 2 is further concentrated by a light collecting element, which also serves as a wavelength converter, and is directed onto a light transport element, for example a light guide rod 4 . The light guide rod 4 ends in a fiber bundle 10 , which distributes the electromagnetic radiation in a light diffuser 9 . The light diffuser 9 is now the actual light element that is installed in a closed room.

Fig. 2 shows a device for using the solar energy for lighting purposes. Electromagnetic radiation 1 arriving on earth from the sun is focused by a Fresnel lens 3 to form a ray bundle 2 and focused on a light transport element with a wavelength converter. The light transport element 4 can extend, for example, through a building roof to the basement of a house and end there in a fiber bundle 5 , through which the transported light is distributed in the basement rooms and, if necessary, in addition to light incident directly through the cell windows into the basement rooms illuminated.

However, the light transport element 4 and the fiber bundle 5 can also be replaced by a light funnel 6 and a light diffuser 7 . In this case, the light bundled by the Fresnel lens 3 onto the light funnel 6 is further concentrated by the light funnel and directed to the light diffuser 7 . The light diffuser 7 is, for example, a light guide rod with lateral light exit surfaces.

According to FIG. 3, the light funnel 6 shown in cross section is modified in order to capture diffuse and direct solar radiation, to concentrate it and to pass it on to rectangular or circular channels 11 that conduct liquid heat carriers. The device shown in Fig. 3 Darge acts as an optical component for a solar collector. The funnel-shaped device 6 consists of an optically transparent molded polymer body, the different fluorescent de dyes, for. B. 0.1% perylenes, stilbenes, Couma rine, Rhodamine oxazines, naphthalates, perchlorates, fluoresceins, iodides and naphthalimides or other cataloged fluorescent substances such as. B. IR-26, IR-125, IR-140, IR-144, Nile-Blau, Fluoresceine, Oxadiazole, Azaquinolone, Sulfaflavine, Uranine, Fluorole, e.g. B. Kokak, Optical Products, Laser Dyes; U. Brackmann, Lambdachrome Laser Dyes, Lambda Physik GmbH, Göttingen, individually or as mixtures and thus leads to effective absorption, concentration and transmission of solar radiation. Reflection layers 12 made of aluminum or silver support the transmission and concentration of the radiation on the channels 11 . The absorption of the radiation is also ensured by the absorber layers 13 and the heat transfer medium in the channels 11 . The device shown combines both collector and concentrator properties.

The inventive specific arrangement of the channels 11 in the device 6 , in combination with the attached reflection and absorber layers 12 and 13, results in high absorption and concentration of the solar radiation in the entire spectral range.

This results in a higher efficiency of the energy wall and higher temperatures for the heat transfer medium. The The device can thus also be used to generate a process heat can be used (T <100 ° C).

In the following some application examples for devices according to the invention and the method according to the invention, as shown in FIGS . 1 and 2, are described:

example 1

On the roof of a building are for bundling the Light parabolic mirror attached to the sun bundle light. There are light guide rods near the focal point or bundles of optical fibers arranged in the the light is coupled. The arrangement of the op table components is chosen so that at the place of Concentration of light not too high temperatures arise that destroy the light-conducting components would. About the light-guiding components the light in the building to the consumers tet. Depending on the need, the light guides included the components fluorescent additives, which as Wave shifters work and, for example, the UV component of sunlight in the visible spectral range transform.

Example 2

In the roof of a house there are light modules, the best from flat or curved Fresnel lenses (focus Length 30 cm) integrated, which is a concentration of Realize diffuse or direct sunlight. After the concentration of light occurs either  the transmission of light by radiation an opalescent or forward-scattering art fabric that distributes the light and thus as light source acts or there is a coupling into a fiber optic lighting technology, preferably ver averaged by light guide rods or fiber bundles. The Light modules can also be made from arrangements of individual flat or curved Fresnel lenses best hen.

By using these devices it is possible to the sunlight for lighting purposes in attics or also for forwarding and application in the below to use their floors up to the basement.

The light modules collecting the light, preferably designed from optical plastics, can also from Array’s consist of spheres or hemispheres that exist there to perform the function of light concentration.

The example described can on market halls, often public and factory buildings, sports facilities and other facilities that require a lot of light have to be expanded.

Example 3

For agricultural and horticultural use of solar energy, flat or curved polymer moldings, for example made of plates or foils, based on acrylic glass, pleximide, polycarbonate, polystyrene, cycloolefins (COC) or polyethylene with Couma rin and / or stilbene laser dyes added (10 ^-4 -10 ^-3 molar additive).

This doping of the polymer molded body is the UV component of the sun is already on its surface light that only partially the polymer materials penetrates into the visible area of approx. 400-500 nm transforms and penetrates the Plant-protecting cover components. Through this Light transformation turns the illuminance to one significantly increased, on the other hand the spec central portion reinforced for an effective photo plant synthesis is important. The plants are beautiful only UV components are eliminated. Another Design variant is that the doped Polymer materials on undoped polymer moldings from, for example, acrylic glass, cycloolefin polymer glass ser, pleximide, polycarbonates, polyethylenes and / or Silicate glass panes applied as layers or foils be brought and thus by light transformation Increase the amount of light passing through the glass and thus to a light amplification effect in biolo genetically favorable spectral ranges.

Example 4

For lighting mines, tunnels, caves, etc. is a light collecting station for days aligns using light-concentrating, wavelength transforming and waveguiding Components. From there, the light is transmitted through the world of light conductor and through direct radiation through shafts directed underground and there to lighting and Distributed for display purposes.

There is a central one in the light collecting station artificial light source, whose light when underscored Sunlight intensity below a critical  Border automatically coupled into the supply system pelt is.

Example 5

In a further variant, the building with a central light well in which the light through a number of mirrors from a large area che recorded and through the free space Radiation is conducted. There are districts in the light well arranged to further concentrate the light, transform in frequency and light-guiding Couple rods or fiber bundles. From there it will Light directed to the decentralized delivery points.

Example 6

On the plastic cover of a solar cell in egg A calculator becomes a polymethyl methacrylic lat (PMMA) and / or polycarbonate layer of the thickness of 20 µm applied. The PMMA contains molecularly dissolved the fluorescent dyes naphthalimide and Pe Rylene red with a proportion of 10 percent by weight The incoming solar radiation is trans mission of this layer in its spectral range in the red shifted. This increases the effect vity of light conversion into electrical energy in the solar cell. The calculator now also works with less favorable lighting conditions. A similarly positive ve effect is achieved if you have the inventive moderate fluorescent polymer layers and layers systems on photodiodes.  

Example 7

For use in ecological insect extermination a yellow fluorescent dye, e.g. B. on Perylene base, in a plastic insect sticker in the Volume introduced or applied as a layer. Of the Plastic stickers are preferably made of optically transparent polymers, polymethylmethacry lat, polycarbonate or polystyrene. Polyvinyl chloride, Polyester or pleximide are also suitable. Of the fluorescent insect sticker has a higher us Insect attraction and selectivity for certain insects.

Example 8

By incorporating fluorescent additives into art fabric watch glasses, e.g. B. based on polymethylmetha crylate and polycarbonate or another optically transparent plastic, it is possible to use a To create an "intelligent" watch glass, which is based on a strong exposure to UV rays with an optical warning signal responds. For this, in the watch glass moldings for example, the fluorescent additives Naphthalimides, naphthalates, stilbenes, oxazoles, Oxadiazoles, coumarins, fluoresceins, rhodamines or Syryle individually or in a mixture in one concentration 0.1% dissolved. Through an engraving is then in the watch glass when there is strong UV radiation Watch the warning signal on the watch glass, its spectral characteristic of the fluorescent Additives depends.  

Example 9

Another important application relates to polymers Hydrogels that do with fluorescent dyes are doped (doping, for example 0.1% by weight). The doped polymer gels are e.g. B. in flower vases, Plant pots and other plant breeding as well as storage containers, or in garden ponds used. Especially in blue and / or red Dyes emitting spectral ranges will Plant growth favors or for example the The shelf life of the plants is extended. Another Use case concerns the use of doped poly marls for stimulating seaweed growth and / or fresh water.

Claims (24)

1. Device for using solar energy, characterized by
a light trapping element ( 3 ) for trapping and concentrating the electromagnetic radiation ( 1 ) coming from the sun,
a light transport element ( 4 ) for transporting the captured and concentrated electromagnetic radiation's and
a light distributor ( 9 ) for emitting the transported electromagnetic radiation. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a further light collecting element ( 8 ) for concentrating the captured electromagnetic radiation. 3. Device according to at least one of the previous existing claims, characterized in that the device has a wavelength converter points, the wavelength of at least part of electromagnetic radiation into another Wavelength changes. 4. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light trapping element ( 3 ), the light collecting element ( 8 ), the light transport element ( 4 ) or the light distributor ( 9 ) are designed as wavelength converters. 5. The device according to at least one of the claims, 3 and 4, characterized in that the waves  length converter made of an optically transparent Solid polymer exists. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized records that the optically transparent polymer Solid at least partially consists of poly methyl methacrylate, polymethacrylic acid esters, Polymethacrylic acids, polyacrylic acids, their Esters, from copolymers of these materials, such as Polymethacrylic methylimides, methyl methacrylate Acrylonitrile vinyl esters, polymethylpentene, Acrylic acid-styrene-acrylic acid-vinyl acetate copoly mer, from polystyrene, polyvinyltoluen, polycar bonaten, polypropylene, polyethylene, cellulose de derivatives, polyacetals, polyamides, fluorinated Acrylic acid polymers, cycloolefin polymers, Polyimides, polyallyl phthalates, acetate butyrates or inorganic glasses, these materia contain fluorescent additives. 7. The device according to at least one of the claims 5 and 6, characterized in that a fluo Resistant additives containing polymer solid body as a layer or film on optically trans Parent polymer solids, such as Acrylic glass, cycloolefin polymer glasses, pleximide, Polycarbonates, Polyethylenes, Polypropylenes, Po lystyrene and / or silicate glass panes be brought. 8. The device according to at least one of the claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the fluo resisting additives for the conversion of short-wave light into longer-wave light P-terphenyls, p-quaterphenyls, oxadiazoles, p-quin  quephenyle, oxazole, diphenylfurane, stilbene, Styryle, Styrylpyrane, Coumarine, Furane, Fluo resceine, rhodamine, pyrane, cyanine derivatives, Cresyl violet, oxazone, oxazine, pyridine, car bazine, benzoxanthene derivatives, tioxanthene deri vate, quinolones, pyrromethenes, benzimidazoles, Diphenylanthrazenes, thiophenes, phenylvinylenes or also perylenes, naphthalates, naphthalimides, Naphthols, perchlorates, iodides or other nos Talogized fluorescent substances, such as. B. IR-26, IR-125, IR-140, IR-144, Nile Blue, Fluo resceine, oxadiazole, azaquinolone, sulfaflavi ne, are uranine, fluorole. 9. The device according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the fluorescent additives are present in a molar concentration of 5 × 10 ° to 1 × 10 ^-5 molecularly dissolved in the polymer solid. 10. The device according to at least one of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the fluo resisting additives with high conversion efficiency for the conversion of infrared light or near suitable infrared light into visible light Dyes, for example 4-dizyanomethylene-2- methyl-6-p-dimethyl-aminostyryl-4H-pyrone. 11. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that the light trapping element has a Fresnel lens points. 12. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that  the light collecting element is a light funnel, ei NEN curved mirror, for example one Parabolic mirror, a spherical lens, a zy linden lens or arrangements of hemispheres points. 13. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that the light transport element is a light guide rod, has a light guide or fiber optics. 14. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized records that the light guide made of quartz with egg ner polymeric cover layer or from Polymerma materials exist. 15. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that the light distributor has a light diffuser, at for example made of opalescent plastics, having. 16. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that the light distributor with an additional art Lichen light source is connected. 17. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that the light distributor with a light absorbing Heat storage is connected. 18. Device according to at least one of the preceding existing claims, characterized in that the light collecting element by a device  to align the light collecting element on the current position of the sun is movable. 19. procedures for using solar energy, characterized, that the natural from the sun electromagnetic radiation captured, are concentrated, transported and distributed. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in net that after capture and before distribution the wavelength of the electromagnetic beam tion is at least partially changed. 21. Use of a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 18 or a procedure rens according to claim 19 or 20 for lighting of buildings or enclosed spaces, such as Living spaces or workplaces below or above the earth's surface or sea level, at for example mines, tunnels, research institutes ten, greenhouses, means of transport or the same. 22. Use of a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 18 or a procedure rens according to claim 19 or 20 for heating Buildings or enclosed spaces, such as residential rooms or workplaces below or above the Earth's surface or sea level, at for example mines, tunnels, research institutes ten, greenhouses, means of transport or the same.   23. Use of a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 18 or a procedure rens according to claim 19 or 20 for displaying Information in buildings or locked Rooms, such as living quarters or workplaces below or above the surface of the earth or the sea mirrors, for example mines, tunnels, for research centers, greenhouses, means of transport or similar. 24. Use of a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 18 or a procedure rens according to claim 19 or 20 to cover egg ner solar cell, for attracting insects, for Design of watch glasses or for lighting of organisms such as algae, plants and the like chen.