Abstract: Solar energy is collected by an array of parallel trough-like reflectors of paraboloidal cross-section, and concentrated upon radiation-absorbent pipes positioned along the lines of focus of the reflectors. The array is mounted on a boat which floats on an irrigation pond of a farm and is rotated by a clock-like drive mechanism so as to follow or track the daily east-west motion of the sun, thereby maintaining the concentration of solar radiation upon the pipes. The flotation of the array by means of the boat permits the use of very low drive power for rotating it to track the sun, and also shields the underlying water from the air and sun so as to reduce evaporation thereof. A central column stabilizes the position of the boat with respect to lateral drift or angular tilt, while permitting vertical motion of the boat in response to changes in pond level; the array may therefor be protected from heavy wind by dropping the pond level so that the array is protected by the sidewalls of the pond at such times.

Abstract: A solar radiation energy collecting system for receiving the sun's rays and focusing them upon a central absorber. A plurality of plane mirrors are mounted in a circular array concentric with a vertical absorber tower, the azimuth angle of each of the mirrors being fixed in the array at the particular angle necessary for it to reflect rays from the sun upon the absorber tower. The mirror array is mounted upon a boat floating on a pond and the boat and mirror array rotated in synchronism with the daily apparent motion of the sun, so as to maintain the desired focusing of reflected solar radiation upon the absorber tower. In one simple embodiment the mirrors are rotated only in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis of the absorber tower, and the varying elevation angles of the sun cause the reflected solar energy to scan up and down along the length of the absorber tower as the sun moves from east to west each day.