Support frame of solar concentrator with flat triangular mirrors

Green energy includes solar, wind, geothermal and other types of energy sources generation. The object of this research is solar concentrators. The problem to be solved is connected with the development of the structure frame, especially for solar concentrators with flat triangular or square mirrors that approximate a parabolic shape surface. The essence of the investigation is developing and producing several prototypes of solar concentrators that have low cost of materials but since the devices were assembled by hand, the cost their manufacture is quite high. Therefore, it is important to reduce cost through automation of solar concentrator production process. To obtain the better condition for future automation it is necessary to reduce the number of metal structural elements of solar concentrator. In this case the automation problem is simpler for its realization. The purpose of the research is to develop a new and improved design of the solar concentrator frame prototype, which should be technologically simpler than the previous one and lighter in weight. The study proposes a new frame structure design that contains fewer metal elements, is lighter than the previous one and is more convenient for the automatic assembly process. The development of improved solar concentrator design and structure can help to reduce the cost of assembly and to accelerate the solar concentrator assembly process. In case of massive production, they can be used in practice. The proposed solar concentrators can be used, in particular, for green buildings in rural areas, in reactors to accelerate the chemical process of processing organic waste, in agriculture in combination with agricultural fields. These solar concentrators are quite promising in combination with small thermal energy storage devices, with the help of which it is possible to create small power plants for green buildings that satisfy all the energy needs of residential buildings.