An articulating solar energy and wind power harvesting apparatus optimizes harnessing of solar energy and wind power by rotatably and pivotally articulating a solar thermal collector plate to track the sun, and air foils to follow the changing direction of the wind. The air foils also directionally funnel wind to cool a heat exchange system and the solar thermal collector plate. The solar thermal collector plate captures solar radiation for conversion to electricity. A solar lens directs the solar radiation towards the solar thermal collector plate. Air foils are disposed in a radial, spaced-apart relationship around the solar thermal collector plate, pivoting up to 90 to optimize capture of wind. The solar thermal collector plate and the air foils are controllably articulated up to 360 about a vertical plane, and up to 180 about a horizontal plane to optimize capture of solar radiation and wind.

An articulating solar energy and wind power harvesting apparatus optimizes harnessing of solar energy and wind power by rotatably and pivotally articulating a solar thermal collector plate to track the sun, and air foils to follow the changing direction of the wind. The air foils also directionally funnel wind to cool a heat exchange system and the solar thermal collector plate. The solar thermal collector plate captures solar radiation for conversion to electricity. A solar lens directs the solar radiation towards the solar thermal collector plate. Air foils are disposed in a radial, spaced-apart relationship around the solar thermal collector plate, pivoting up to 90 to optimize capture of wind. The solar thermal collector plate and the air foils are controllably articulated up to 360 about a vertical plane, and up to 180 about a horizontal plane to optimize capture of solar radiation and wind.

The present application describes embodiments of a non-tracking solar energy collector comprising: (a) at least one solar radiation concentrator for collimating and directing the incident solar radiation rays to at least one focal point along the surface of a reactive reflector; (b) the reactive reflector mounted on top of an external cavity and having at least one transparency zone instantly formed at said at least one focal point of the solar radiation rays, for letting the solar radiation rays enter said external cavity, wherein said transparency zone is constantly moving along the surface of said reactive reflector following the position of said at least one focal point of the solar radiation rays; and (c) the external cavity containing a solar cell and capable of trapping the entered solar radiation rays by inner scattering of said solar radiation rays on the walls of said external cavity, wherein said inner scattering of said solar radiation rays inside said external cavity is preventing solar radiation to escape from said solar cell, thereby minimising solar radiation losses.

A sunlight modulation device includes a light focusing module and a light deflection module. The light focusing module is configured to let incident sunlight pass through and to converge direct sunlight of the incident sunlight. The light deflection module is configured to separate the converged direct sunlight from diffusion sunlight of the incident sunlight by reflecting the converged direct sunlight. The above-mentioned sunlight modulation device allows more diverse configurations for solar panels, heating devices or the like means, as well as illumination purpose.

A characterization device, system, and method for characterizing reflective elements from the light beams reflected in it. The device has two variable-gain detectors on a common structure, which can be portable or fixed, and for capturing light beams reflected by a reflective element, and from at least one processor characterizing the quality of the reflected light beams and evaluating the quality of the reflective element from its reflective capacity. Each detector has a lens for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the reflected beam or beams, a light sensor on which the beam or beams captured by the lens are focused, an automatic gain selection system associated with the optical sensor, and a data communication device associated with the device itself. A characterization system and a characterization method for characterizing reflective elements from the quality of the light beams reflected in at least one reflective element or heliostat.

A characterization device, system, and method for characterizing reflective elements from the light beams reflected in it. The device has two variable-gain detectors on a common structure, which can be portable or fixed, and for capturing light beams reflected by a reflective element, and from at least one processor characterizing the quality of the reflected light beams and evaluating the quality of the reflective element from its reflective capacity. Each detector has a lens for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the reflected beam or beams, a light sensor on which the beam or beams captured by the lens are focused, an automatic gain selection system associated with the optical sensor, and a data communication device associated with the device itself. A characterization system and a characterization method for characterizing reflective elements from the quality of the light beams reflected in at least one reflective element or heliostat.

The invention relates to a solar conversion system, comprising solar focusing means for focusing solar energy incident thereon into a solar beam, said solar beam at its smallest cross section having a cross section less than about ten percent of the cross section of the solar focusing means, container means to retain a fluid to be heated by solar energy, said container means having an opening approximately the size of the smallest cross section of the solar beam, positioning means operable for positioning said focusing means so that the smallest cross section of said solar beam is located at the opening so that substantially all of the solar beam enters into said container, dispersing means positioned in said container in the path of said solar beam operable to disperse the solar beam in said container, thereby reducing the amount of reflected solar beam exiting the opening.

Techniques for cooling concentrating solar collector systems are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for cooling a photovoltaic cell includes a heat exchanger having a metal plate with a bend therein that positions a first surface of the metal plate at an angle of from about 100 degrees to about 150 degrees relative to a second surface of the metal plate, and a plurality of fins attached to a side of the metal plate opposite the first surface and the second surface; a vapor chamber extending along the first surface and the second surface of the metal plate, crossing the bend; and a cladding material between the vapor chamber and the heat exchanger, wherein the cladding material is configured to thermally couple the vapor chamber to the heat exchanger. A photovoltaic system and method for operating a photovoltaic system are also provided.

Techniques for cooling concentrating solar collector systems are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for cooling a photovoltaic cell includes a heat exchanger having a metal plate with a bend therein that positions a first surface of the metal plate at an angle of from about 100 degrees to about 150 degrees relative to a second surface of the metal plate, and a plurality of fins attached to a side of the metal plate opposite the first surface and the second surface; a vapor chamber extending along the first surface and the second surface of the metal plate, crossing the bend; and a cladding material between the vapor chamber and the heat exchanger, wherein the cladding material is configured to thermally couple the vapor chamber to the heat exchanger. A photovoltaic system and method for operating a photovoltaic system are also provided.

Solar power collection systems characterized by using a collimated or otherwise concentrated beam of solar radiation to directly heat a porcelain or other high-heat capacity ceramic heating element by contact with an absorption surface on the element, which element in turn heats a thermal storage medium by conduction, methods of using the systems for collecting solar energy, and applications of the systems are disclosed.