Abstract: The present invention offers a low cost, modular structure with a continuous, horizontal, rotatable spine supported on posts fixed to the ground, providing one axis of rotation for pointing solar collectors in the North-South direction and vertical roll axis bars mounted orthogonally to the spine providing an additional axis of rotation in the East-West direction. Push rods provide linear motion for control of any number of solar collector modules, with the linear motion being translated to rotary motion by pulleys and cables attached to wheels or arc segments mounted to the spine and roll axis bars. Thus, a whole array of solar collector modules can be driven by a single solar tracking device and two drive devices. Additionally, when arrayed in multiple rows of the number of solar collector modules controlled can be multiplied so that a “solar farm” covering a large area could be controlled by the single solar tracking device and a minimal number of drive devices.

Abstract: A double reflecting solar concentrator utilizing a primary parabolic reflective surface which reflects incident light toward a secondary surface. The incident light reflects off the secondary surface away from the primary parabolic surface's natural focus point toward a secondary focal point positioned on or substantially near the surface of the primary parabolic reflective surface.

Abstract: A gap between absorber and reflector of a solar concentrator. A gap is required in a solar concentrator for thermal isolation reasons and the position of the receiver relative to reflector and a notch are optimized for best solar collection efficiency.

Abstract: A heat gathering device 1 is provided with a reflection plate assembly 2 and a heat gathering tube 3 with a glass tube 4 surrounding the reflection plate assembly 2 and the heat gathering tube 3. The reflection plate assembly 2 is designed to provide a structure which is capable of maintaining the accuracy of a compound paraboloid in a heat gathering device having a compound paraboloid. The reflection plate assembly 2 is an assembly for gathering light having a compound paraboloid, which is formed by combining two paraboloids 21a and 21b. The reflection plate assembly 2 includes a reflection plate 21 and a plurality of brackets 22. The reflection plate 21 is formed by specularizing and forming a compound paraboloid surface through a bending process on a side where light is gathered. The brackets 22 are installed on the reflection plate 21 on an opposite side of the side where light is gathered.

Abstract: A solar collector comprising an evacuation envelope; an absorber housed inside the evacuated envelope and comprising plates which define an evaporation gap, the evaporation gap providing communication between a reservoir of heat transfer fluid at a first, bottom end of the absorber and a condenser at a second, top end of the absorber. The plates define the evaporation gap so that capillary action between the plates can draw heat transfer fluid from the reservoir along at least a substantial portion of the evaporation gap to the condensor. The absorber transfers heat derived from the incident solar radiation to heat transfer fluid contained in the evaporation gap.

Abstract: A trough-type parabolic concentrator (1) for a solar thermal power plant comprises a reflector plate (3) bent in trough shape and a support structure (4) for supporting the reflector plate (3) and comprising a plurality of wooden segments (2) arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the trough. Each segment (2) is assembled from a plurality of wooden frames (5). Using wooden frames (5) as the basic element of the supporting structure (4) allows for a lightweight, simple and low-cost structure of the trough-type parabolic concentrator (1).

Abstract: The solar concentrator system includes a generally parabolic-shaped primary reflector having a flat region at the center thereof, so that the focus of the primary reflector is a ring about the center axis of the reflector, in the plane of the rim thereof. A receiver, in the shape of an inverted, truncated cone, is positioned so that the peripheral surface of the receiver is approximately coincident with the ring focus. Solar cells are positioned in lines on the peripheral surface of the receiver. Prefilter tubular secondary concentrator elements are positioned just in front of the lines of solar cells, providing an additional focusing capability and improving the concentration of the solar rays, while being spaced sufficiently that the unilluminated areas between the lines of solar cells can accommodate electrical interconnectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved solar energy concentrating system and to a preferred novel focal collection zone for such a system. In general, the system comprises a moveable solar energy collector supported above a cylindrically arcuate solar energy concentrating reflector. The solar energy collector has a compound parabolic non-imaging shape. In a preferred embodiment, instead of positioning the collector to rotate about the center of curvature of the reflector and to extend down halfway between the center of curvature and the reflector, in the present invention, the solar energy collector extends further down according to a particular algorithm.

Abstract: A radiant energy collecting apparatus for collecting and concentrating solar energy having a primary parabolic reflector which focuses the sun's rays on a focal line and has a principal axis passing through the focal line and a secondary concentrating assembly located adjacent the focal line of the primary reflector. The secondary concentrating assembly, includes a pair of planar reflectors arranged on opposite sides of the principle axis of the primary reflector and a series of secondary parabolic reflectors between the planar reflectors, the secondary parabolic reflectors having focal lines which extend normal to the planar reflectors and to the principal axis of the primary reflector. The secondary reflectors are mounted for rotation about their focal lines and concentrate energy on targets extending along their focal lines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roof having an integral solar energy concentrating system. A combination of solar energy concentrating reflectors and reflected solar energy collectors is used, among other solar energy concentrating or energy transferring elements, to gather radiant solar energy from a roof atop a building or roofed structure. The reflectors or reflector backing panels are integrated into other roof structure elements so as to form a weathertight roof. Thus, the present invention results in a lower weight and lower cost way of collecting radiant solar energy from atop a building or roofed structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved solar energy concentrating system incorporating replaceable solar energy concentrating reflectors. Prior systems typically required a structurally stable solar energy concentrating panel. The present invention uses a combination of structurally stable backing panels and flexible solar energy concentrating reflectors to significantly reduce the ease and cost of replacing reflectors.

Abstract: The present invention is a cross-section arrangement for solar concentrators which is comprised of a concave reflective boundary, and of at least two receiver-converters extending outward within the concavity wherein the second receiver-converter is well removed from the first and the multiple receiver-converters may communicate with each other.

Abstract: A concentric receiver tube for passing water to be disinfected twice before the aperture path of a concentric solar reflector. The novel receiver tube uses the water that is heated by the reflector to additionally pre-heat fresh incoming water to maximize the heat transfer exchange rate. The novel concentric tube receiver to preheat and disinfect water when the source of heat are combustion gases or catalyst beds. The maximum disinfecting temperature needs only be 90 C in order to create an instantaneous disinfection condition.

Abstract: This invention involves a novel egg-shaped hollow dual-compound conical light-ray concentrator with mirror-like inner walls (preferably tandem substantially inverted paraboloidal and ellipsoidal conical sections) for receiving light through one aperture end, as from an integrating sphere, and concentrating and collecting the rays within said walls and directing them to a detector at an opposite aperture end. This construction attains both high collection efficiency and hemispherical angular response.

Abstract: A trough-shaped collector for solar radiation for steam generation. A trough-shaped mirror extending in a longitudinal direction receives and reflects radiation onto an absorber line enclosing within its interior a steam generator tube. Heat is transferred transversely from the absorber line to the steam generator tube by a heat pipe structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for gathering and focusing or for transmitting radiation including a reflecting surface formed by portion of a right circular cone, a linear collector/transmitter located within the cone and connected to a vertex of the cone. An adjustable support can be used to vary the position of the collector/transmitter relative to the reflecting surface in response to a change in direction of the radiation. Adjustable support can also be provided to the reflecting surface so as to adjust its orientation in response to a change in direction of the radiation.

Abstract: The present invention is a concentrating solar receiver-converter composed of at least two generally through-shape reflectors whose lengths run essentially north-south and which lean eastward and westward away from each other to a desired extent and each of which contains absorber-converter means residing in the cavity of the reflector, which communicates with energy-receiving means by way of appropriate energy-conveying means.