A system and method for a diffusing concentrator for efficient extraction of power from a beam of light. The diffusing concentrator may include an optical concentrator, the optical concentrator configured to receive beams of light and focus them towards a defined area at a defined distance, and an optical diffuser, the optical diffuser configured to receive the focused beams of light and spread the focused beams of light substantially uniformly over the defined area. The diffusing concentrator may also include a reflective surface configured to reflect stray light from the diffusing concentrator toward the defined area such as a photovoltaic array.

A system and method for a diffusing concentrator for efficient extraction of power from a beam of light. The diffusing concentrator may include an optical concentrator, the optical concentrator configured to receive beams of light and focus them towards a defined area at a defined distance, and an optical diffuser, the optical diffuser configured to receive the focused beams of light and spread the focused beams of light substantially uniformly over the defined area. The diffusing concentrator may also include a reflective surface configured to reflect stray light from the diffusing concentrator toward the defined area such as a photovoltaic array.

A solar power method is provided using two-stage light concentration to drive concentrating photovoltaic conversion in conjunction with thermal collection. The method concentrates light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, which is orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus. R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane, which is parallel to the primary linear focus. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is focused by optical elements along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, which are orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary primary focus is focused into a plurality of receiving areas, and translated into electrical energy.

A concentrator and a solar light router for converting light energy into electrical, photochemical and thermal energy, among other possible forms of usable energy, comprising a fixed body (1) and a movable part (2), wherein the fixed body (1) has an upper side with a converging lens (4) through which the sun rays (R1) enter, and a lower side where a mirror (5) is arranged. The mobile part 2 has a support arm 7 having a lower leg 8 coupled to a movement unit 10, and an upper leg 9 extending above the converging lens 4, in which is displaceable mounted a module (11) receptor/router of convergent solar rays (R4) that emerges from the fixed body (1). The support (7) is connected to angular displacement means housed in the movement unit (10) so that the angle traveled by its arm (9) encompasses a virtual surface (17), defined between the converging lens (4) and the module (11), where a focal point (19) incise of the convergent rays (R4), that travels according to the curvilinear paths (18n) in accordance with the displacement of the sunlight captured by the converging lens (4). The module (11) presents a lower face (13) through which the converging solar rays (R4) enters, and an upper face (14) from which concentrated solar rays (R5) are emitted which are directed, for example, towards a solar energy converter receiver (20) arranged in a tower (T) spaced from the device. The module (11) is connected to translation means along the upper section (9) of the support (7) and to rotating means with respect to its axis (E1) transverse to the defined plane by the converging lens (4) and includes means detecting the positions of the focal point (19), which together with the angular arm displacement means (7) and the translational and rotational means of the module (11) are connected to a module position control and control unit (11) to maintain it facing the focal point (19) and facing the receiver/solar energy converter (20) of the tower (T). In an alternate realization, the module (11) may act as a solar energy receiver/converter, for which it may include solar cells, a thermoelectric motor, or other solar energy converters.

A concentrator and a solar light router for converting light energy into electrical, photochemical and thermal energy, among other possible forms of usable energy, comprising a fixed body (1) and a movable part (2), wherein the fixed body (1) has an upper side with a converging lens (4) through which the sun rays (R1) enter, and a lower side where a mirror (5) is arranged. The mobile part 2 has a support arm 7 having a lower leg 8 coupled to a movement unit 10, and an upper leg 9 extending above the converging lens 4, in which is displaceable mounted a module (11) receptor/router of convergent solar rays (R4) that emerges from the fixed body (1). The support (7) is connected to angular displacement means housed in the movement unit (10) so that the angle traveled by its arm (9) encompasses a virtual surface (17), defined between the converging lens (4) and the module (11), where a focal point (19) incise of the convergent rays (R4), that travels according to the curvilinear paths (18n) in accordance with the displacement of the sunlight captured by the converging lens (4). The module (11) presents a lower face (13) through which the converging solar rays (R4) enters, and an upper face (14) from which concentrated solar rays (R5) are emitted which are directed, for example, towards a solar energy converter receiver (20) arranged in a tower (T) spaced from the device. The module (11) is connected to translation means along the upper section (9) of the support (7) and to rotating means with respect to its axis (E1) transverse to the defined plane by the converging lens (4) and includes means detecting the positions of the focal point (19), which together with the angular arm displacement means (7) and the translational and rotational means of the module (11) are connected to a module position control and control unit (11) to maintain it facing the focal point (19) and facing the receiver/solar energy converter (20) of the tower (T). In an alternate realization, the module (11) may act as a solar energy receiver/converter, for which it may include solar cells, a thermoelectric motor, or other solar energy converters.

Provided is a photovoltaic apparatus including: a power generation part including a plurality of power generating elements each generating power in accordance with an amount of received light, the power generation part having a light receiving surface and a back surface positioned on an opposite side to the light receiving surface; a function part provided separately from the power generation part and configured to provide functions regarding the photovoltaic apparatus; and a position changeable part provided between the power generation part and the function part and capable of changing positions of the power generation part and the function part, wherein the back surface of the power generation part faces the function part face, and the position changeable part is capable of changing the positions of the power generation part and the function part while maintaining a state where the back surface of the power generation part faces the function part.

The method is for conveying solar power from a sun. A solar concentrator conveys and concentrates solar power as rays into a glass rod. The solar concentrator has a tapering device disposed at a bottom thereof. The glass rod has a first curved glass loop section, a second curved glass loop section and a straight glass section. The straight glass section has an outer end that is positioned in proximity to a water surface to heat the water. The first loop section is rotated relative to the second loop section at a first gap and the second section is rotated relative to the curved section at a second gap so that the concentrator can follow the path of the sun during the day.

The method is for conveying solar power from a sun. A solar concentrator conveys and concentrates solar power as rays into a glass rod. The solar concentrator has a tapering device disposed at a bottom thereof. The glass rod has a first curved glass loop section, a second curved glass loop section and a straight glass section. The straight glass section has an outer end that is positioned in proximity to a water surface to heat the water. The first loop section is rotated relative to the second loop section at a first gap and the second section is rotated relative to the curved section at a second gap so that the concentrator can follow the path of the sun during the day.

Disclosed is a solar refraction device (SRD) for heating industrial materials in a heating container, having a bottom, with diffuse solar energy that impinges on an outside surface of the SRD and is refracted through the SRD. The SRD may include a lens array assembly and a plurality of lens panes attached to the lens array assembly. The lens array assembly may include an outside surface corresponding to the outside surface of the SRD, an inside surface, and a plurality of lens array sub-assemblies.

A water purifying and desalination system includes a solar concentrator that receives a sunlight and directs the sunlight toward heat collection elements. The collection element absorbs and converts a solar radiation into thermal energy. A tracking system selectively rotates the solar concentrator between a first position and a second position. Orientation devices maintain an upper chamber of a superheater tube of the heat collection elements orientated above a lower chamber of the superheater tube when the tracking system rotates the solar concentrator between the first position and the second position.