Serrated Solid Lens (SSL).

Description:

A defined lens with a solid structure (1), made from an adequate material, the space of which comprises a smooth outside surface (2) and a serrated inside surface (3), with a high capacity of concentrating light on a very small point at a calculated focal distance, the outside (2) and inside (3) surfaces of which may be curved, warped, flat or combined; spherical, cylindrical, etc.; and depending on their shape, can achieve different types of beams (4), circular, elliptical, longitudinal, etc.  Its profile may be manufactured to take on any shape and can be moulded into usual forms; converging or diverging shapes. 

The Serrated Solid Lens (SSL): its basic function is to concentrate light beams or rays that are shining on its outside on a given point or an axis.   

The SSL can be manufactured in any shape and size. Its structure will depend on the specific application: and can be cylindrical, spherical, amongst others.

The applications if the SSL will be any in which the concentration of light-beams is required.  

Its use is adequate for capturing and concentrating solar energy for utilization in fields as diverse as seawater desalination, sewage or brackish water treatment, production of hot water, electric energy; waste-management; filtering smoke; chemical processes, etc.  In short, all applications that require a high concentration of energy and reaching high temperatures.

One direct application of the SSL is its use in solar thermal electric plants.

The advantages of the SSL with regards to present-day mirror concentrators are:

- Lower manufacturing costs.

- Lower logistics costs: Transport and installation. Much lower weight.

- Does not produce reflections that could inconvenience air traffic.