Abstract: Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Abstract: A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Abstract: Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Abstract: A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Abstract: A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Abstract: An air curtain control system for a solar thermal receiver comprising: at least one air jet (505) arranged to produce a continuous planar air curtain (507) over at least a portion of a receiver aperture 509 of a solar thermal receiver, an air flow control device (517) for controlling a speed of air flow out of the air jet (505), at least one angular control device (503) for controlling an angle of the air curtain (507) relative to the receiver aperture 509, and a system controller (501) arranged to control the air flow control device (517) and angular control device (503) to isolate the receiver aperture (509) from ambient elements external to the receiver aperture (509).

Abstract: A dish structure (10) has a virtual front surface, the front surface having a periphery, and a plurality of spaced apart non overlapping elongate front beams (16), each of which extends between two points on the periphery. Each front beam (16) has at least one mounting area (20) for receiving a reflective panel (150), the at least one mounting area (20) conforming substantially to the virtual front surface in the longitudinal direction of the front beam (16).

Abstract: A dish structure (10) has a virtual front surface, the front surface having a periphery, and a plurality of spaced apart non overlapping elongate front beams (16), each of which extends between two points on the periphery. Each front beam (16) has at least one mounting area (20) for receiving a reflective panel (150), the at least one mounting area (20) conforming substantially to the virtual front surface in the longitudinal direction of the front beam (16).