US 12,169,080 B2
Multi-focal point solar refraction heating
Michael R. Zolnowski, St. Louis, MO (US); and David P. Heck, St. Charles, MO (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/716,092.
Prior Publication US 2021/0180830 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. F24S 23/30 (2018.01); F24S 20/20 (2018.01); F24S 20/30 (2018.01); H02S 40/22 (2014.01)
CPC F24S 23/31 (2018.05) [F24S 20/30 (2018.05); H02S 40/22 (2014.12); F24S 2020/23 (2018.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar heating system, comprising:
a container configured to enclose contents within the container in a closed configuration; and
a solar refraction device comprising a lens array assembly having a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies, the lens array assembly configured to refract solar energy impinging on the lens array assembly to focus refracted solar energy at a plurality of focal points positioned to heat the contents enclosed within the container in the closed configuration, each of the plurality of focal points corresponding to a corresponding lens array sub-assembly of the plurality of lens array sub-assemblies, and wherein the solar refraction device forms a canopy having a curved shape;
the solar heating system further comprising one or more reflectors positioned to reflect at least a portion of the refracted solar energy toward the container;
wherein the solar heating system is configured to heat or melt materials inside the container;
wherein the container includes an elongated pipe segment with a round cross section;
wherein the lens array assembly is contoured to a shape of the elongated pipe segment such that the plurality of focal points are positioned within the elongated pipe segment along a length of the elongated pipe segment; and
wherein a plurality of support structures connect and support the lens array assembly relative to the elongated pipe segment along the length of the elongated pipe segment.