Thermal energy is derived from sunlight. The system has a heating surface arranged to support microparticles to be heated, and a group of optical-fibers arranged to transport sunlight to irradiate microparticles on the heating surface. The optical-fibers are moved relative to the heating surface to enable the microparticles to be heated by the transported light as the optical-fiber scans the microparticles. Apparatus for storing the heated particles and for using the thermal energy is also discussed.

A method and system for collecting and distributing generated and/or solar radiation. The distribution is a pulsed distribution. A pulsed distribution subsystem combining a generated radiation source with a solar radiation collector is provided. Radiation from the pulsed distribution subsystem is provided to one or more discrete distribution systems; the discrete distributions systems transmit and distribute radiation, such as visible light, to one or more end use points in a facility.

A general method is provided for electronically reconfiguring the internal structure of a solid to allow precision control of the propagation of wave energy. The method allows digital or analog control of wave energy, such as but not limited to visible light, while maintaining low losses, a multi-octave bandwidth, polarization independence, large area and a large dynamic range in power handling. Embodiments of the technique are provided for large-angle beam steering, lenses and other devices to control wave energy.

A system for receiving, transferring, and storing solar thermal energy. The system includes a concentrating solar energy collector, a transfer conduit, a thermal storage material, and an insulated container. The insulated container contains the thermal storage material, and the transfer conduit is configured to transfer solar energy collected by the solar energy collector to the thermal storage material through a wall of the insulated container.

An energy harvesting system is provided. The system includes a waveguide operable for trapping at least some light energy. The waveguide defines a surface and an edge. A photovoltaic cell is coupled to the surface or the edge of the waveguide. A waveguide redirecting material is provided on the surface of the waveguide. The waveguide redirecting material is formed of a solidified colored luminescent paint. The paint is configured to be applied and adhere to the surface of the waveguide and redirect light energy to the photovoltaic cell. A method of generating and demonstrating solar power using the system is also provided.

The system captures and concentrates sunlight for transmission to interior spaces or to a PV system. A solar collector uses arrayed refractive lenses, opposing concave focusing mirrors, and a movable coupling sheet forming part of a lightguide. The lenses and mirrors have an asymmetric shape, such as having aspect ratios of 3:4 or 1:2, so as to have an asymmetric aperture to better receive light at the different ranges of angles of the sun's rays over the course of a year. The long axis of the apertures is generally oriented in an East-West. The movable sheet contains small angled mirrors, and the sheet is translated to position the angled mirrors at the focal points of the sunlight for maximum deflection of the sunlight to an output of the collection system. A position sensor provides feedback regarding the position of the angled mirrors relative to the focal points.

A solar energy collection and transmission device includes a light-transmitting body, a transmission layer and a plurality of reflectors connected to each other, wherein the transmission layer is provided with a light collection port. Each reflector includes an acquisition transmission plate having a reflective surface defined by an arc. The solar energy collection and transmission device also has a large light wavelength collection range which can be directly utilized or transformed after collection, having a high aggregation degree, small transmission loss, unrestricted shape and wide application range.

The present application is directed in various illustrative embodiments to an optical waveguide, an optical waveguide system with such an optical waveguide, a light energy storage structure, light confining structures, a light energy storage system and an energy storage and/or conversion system with such an optical waveguide system. In an aspect, an optical waveguide is provided, comprising an optical fiber with a fiber core and an optical active cladding structure over at least a portion of the fiber core at a first end of the optical waveguide, wherein the optical active cladding structure comprises a Bragg mirror stacking having a high transmittance in a first wavelength region and a high reflectivity in a second wavelength region of wavelengths longer than wavelengths in the first wavelength region, and a wavelength conversion coating over the fiber core of the optical fiber. The wavelength conversion coating is configured to convert radiation with wavelengths in the first wavelength region into radiation with wavelengths in the second wavelength region and the Bragg mirror stacking is disposed over the wavelength conversion coating.

The system captures and concentrates sunlight for transmission to interior spaces or to a PV system. A solar collector uses arrayed refractive lenses and opposing concave focusing mirrors and a movable coupling sheet forming part of a lightguide. The transparent sheet contains small angled mirrors, where each angled mirror corresponds to a particular set of the lenses/focusing mirrors and is in the focal plane. The lightguide also includes a fluid surrounding the transparent sheet, and lower index cladding layers sandwich the fluid. The sheet is translated within the fluid by an actuator to position the angled mirrors at the focal points of the sunlight for maximum deflection of the sunlight to an edge of the lightguide for extraction to a light transmission system or to a PV system. A position sensor on the sheet provides feedback regarding the position of the angled mirrors relative to the focal points.

The method is for of conveying a solar power. A parabolic reflector receives sunrays that reflects and concentrates the sunrays as light into second reflector that reflects the light into a tapering device. The tapering device conveys the light to a first curved glass rod section. The first curved glass rod section conveying the light to a second curved glass rod section via a gap defined between the ends of the first and second rod sections. The second rod section conveys the light to a third rod section via a second gap. The first rod section is rotated relative to the second rod section and the second rod section is rotated relative to the third rod section so that the parabolic reflector follows a path of the sun.