Methods and apparatus for concentrating electromagnetic waves coming from a moving source at a focal point fixed to the ground. The invention discloses a tracking system for a device capable of concentrating incoming electromagnetic waves at a fixed focal point. This concentration of the electromagnetic waves may be done by reflection, as in the case of a reflecting dish, or by refraction as in the case of a concentrating lens, which is impeded in a hemisphere, which can be real or imaginary, such that its focal point coincides with the center of the hemisphere and using this apparatus to track such moving source by rotating around said hemisphere's fixed center, so as to face the incoming electromagnetic rays normally. A receiver can be kept at the focal point of the device which uses the concentrated rays for various applications such as melting metals or charging a solar cell.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, including observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker; determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker, depending on the observed cloud coverage; predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, including observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker; determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker, depending on the observed cloud coverage; predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle.

A control method for optimizing generated power of a solar-aided coal-fired power system under off-design working conditions sets maximizing generated power without changing main steam flow rate as a control goal. A solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio is adjusted to adjust water flow rate heated by a solar heat collection system, so as to achieve the control goal. Control steps include reading relevant information; calculating the water flow rate range heated by the solar heat collection system, and an applicable solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio range; establishing a correspondence between the generated power and the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio within this range; selecting a solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio corresponding to the maximum generated power; and adjusting the water flow rate entering the solar heat collection system to an optimized value. The present invention can flexibly control the solar-coal coupling and improve the economy.

A control method for optimizing generated power of a solar-aided coal-fired power system under off-design working conditions sets maximizing generated power without changing main steam flow rate as a control goal. A solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio is adjusted to adjust water flow rate heated by a solar heat collection system, so as to achieve the control goal. Control steps include reading relevant information; calculating the water flow rate range heated by the solar heat collection system, and an applicable solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio range; establishing a correspondence between the generated power and the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio within this range; selecting a solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio corresponding to the maximum generated power; and adjusting the water flow rate entering the solar heat collection system to an optimized value. The present invention can flexibly control the solar-coal coupling and improve the economy.

A control method for optimizing a solar-to-power efficiency of a solar-aided coal-fired power system under off-design working conditions is provided. Through reading the relevant information of the solar collecting system, the coal-fired power generation system, the environmental conditions, and the working conditions of the solar-aided coal-fired power system, the water flow rate range able to be heated by the solar collecting unit and the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio range of the solar-aided coal-fired power system are determined; through establishing the relationship between the solar-to-power efficiency and the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio of the solar-aided coal-fired power system under the off-design working conditions, the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio is regulated, so that a flow rate of water entering the solar collecting system to be heated is controlled, thereby maximizing the solar-to-power efficiency and improving the economy of the solar-aided coal-fired power system under the off-design working conditions. The present invention provides clear guidance to optimize the solar-aided coal-fired power system under the off-design working conditions, enable solar energy to fully play its role in the solar-aided coal-fired power system, improve the utilization rate of solar energy, facilitate the consumption of the renewable energy, and greatly increase the economy of the solar-aided coal-fired power system.

A control method for optimizing a solar-to-power efficiency of a solar-aided coal-fired power system under off-design working conditions is provided. Through reading the relevant information of the solar collecting system, the coal-fired power generation system, the environmental conditions, and the working conditions of the solar-aided coal-fired power system, the water flow rate range able to be heated by the solar collecting unit and the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio range of the solar-aided coal-fired power system are determined; through establishing the relationship between the solar-to-power efficiency and the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio of the solar-aided coal-fired power system under the off-design working conditions, the solar-coal feedwater flow distribution ratio is regulated, so that a flow rate of water entering the solar collecting system to be heated is controlled, thereby maximizing the solar-to-power efficiency and improving the economy of the solar-aided coal-fired power system under the off-design working conditions. The present invention provides clear guidance to optimize the solar-aided coal-fired power system under the off-design working conditions, enable solar energy to fully play its role in the solar-aided coal-fired power system, improve the utilization rate of solar energy, facilitate the consumption of the renewable energy, and greatly increase the economy of the solar-aided coal-fired power system.

A thermal cell panel system for heating and cooling using a refrigerant includes a plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, and a piping network for a flow of the refrigerant through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. In addition, the system includes a compressor having a motor coupled to a variable frequency drive (“VFD”), where the compressor is coupled to the piping network upstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers and the VFD is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to the pressure of the refrigerant within the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. The piping network includes an inlet manifold coupled to the inlet of each solar thermal cell chamber, and an outlet manifold coupled to the outlet of each solar cell chamber.

A fluidic solar actuation system comprising a plurality of fluidic solar actuators that each include a first fluidic inflatable actuator, and a second fluidic inflatable actuator. The system also includes a fluidic routing system configured to covey a fluid originating from a fluid source to: the respective first fluidic inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic solar actuators, the first fluidic inflatable actuators ganged so as to be fluidically connected such that the first fluidic inflatable actuators are configured to be inflated together and separate from the second fluidic inflatable actuators, and the respective second fluidic inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic solar actuators, the second fluidic inflatable actuators ganged so as to be fluidically connected such that the second fluidic inflatable actuators are configured to be inflated together and separate from the first fluidic inflatable actuators.

A fluidic solar actuation system comprising a plurality of fluidic solar actuators that each include a first fluidic inflatable actuator, and a second fluidic inflatable actuator. The system also includes a fluidic routing system configured to covey a fluid originating from a fluid source to: the respective first fluidic inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic solar actuators, the first fluidic inflatable actuators ganged so as to be fluidically connected such that the first fluidic inflatable actuators are configured to be inflated together and separate from the second fluidic inflatable actuators, and the respective second fluidic inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic solar actuators, the second fluidic inflatable actuators ganged so as to be fluidically connected such that the second fluidic inflatable actuators are configured to be inflated together and separate from the first fluidic inflatable actuators.