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.

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.

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.

Disclosed is an optomechanical system (10) for capturing and transmitting incident light (40) with a variable direction of incidence to at least one collecting element (31, 31, 31, 31, 31A, 31B), with an optical arrangement (20) able to capture a beam of the incident light (40), concentrate the captured beam of the incident light, and transmit one or more concentrated beams (50) of the incident light to the at least one collecting element (31, 31, 31, 31, 31A, 31B), and a shifting mechanism for moving the optical arrangement (20) with respect to the at least one collecting element (31, 31, 31, 31, 31A, 31B), wherein the moving of the shifting mechanism is controllable in such a way that, for any direction of incidence of the incident light (40), the one or more concentrated beams (50) of the incident light can be optimally collected by the at least one collecting element (31, 31, 31, 31, 31A, 31B),

In this optomechanical system (10), the optical arrangement (20) comprises a first optical layer made of optical lenses having an aspheric curvature, and at least one surface of the lenses has a polynomial curvature with multiple orders.

Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a corresponding method for capturing and transmitting incident light with a variable direction of incidence to at least one collecting element.

A sunlight focusing analysis device relating to an analysis and verification device for a potential failure mode of a vehicle lamp projection unit, and a method for using same, and in particular to the analysis and verification of ablation of peripheral parts of a lens caused by focal spots formed by sunlight focused via a vehicle lamp lens. The device comprises a base, a lens holder, and a test piece holder. A horizontal rotary table and an inclination angle adjustment mechanism are provided on the base; the inclination angle adjustment mechanism is formed by a fixed support arm and a vertical swing arm connected to each other; the lens holder is fixed on the vertical swing arm; the test piece holder is mounted on a test piece lifting platform below the lens holder.

A sunlight focusing analysis device relating to an analysis and verification device for a potential failure mode of a vehicle lamp projection unit, and a method for using same, and in particular to the analysis and verification of ablation of peripheral parts of a lens caused by focal spots formed by sunlight focused via a vehicle lamp lens. The device comprises a base, a lens holder, and a test piece holder. A horizontal rotary table and an inclination angle adjustment mechanism are provided on the base; the inclination angle adjustment mechanism is formed by a fixed support arm and a vertical swing arm connected to each other; the lens holder is fixed on the vertical swing arm; the test piece holder is mounted on a test piece lifting platform below the lens holder.

A solar collector 1 for the temporary storage of heat from solar radiation comprising a radiation conductor 8, 9 for conducting the solar radiation, and lens means 7 for concentrating solar radiation onto a first extremity of the radiation conductor. A thermally-insulated core 2 is provided on an opposite second extremity of the radiation conductor 8, 9 in order to be heated by the solar radiation released from the radiation conductor and temporarily storing the heat. For this purpose, the core is provided with an insulated casing 4, virtually completely enveloping the core, which insulated casing 4 comprises a layer of porous ceramic material.

A solar collector 1 for the temporary storage of heat from solar radiation comprising a radiation conductor 8, 9 for conducting the solar radiation, and lens means 7 for concentrating solar radiation onto a first extremity of the radiation conductor. A thermally-insulated core 2 is provided on an opposite second extremity of the radiation conductor 8, 9 in order to be heated by the solar radiation released from the radiation conductor and temporarily storing the heat. For this purpose, the core is provided with an insulated casing 4, virtually completely enveloping the core, which insulated casing 4 comprises a layer of porous ceramic material.

Solar chimney and method for generating power by the solar chimney are provided. The solar chimney includes a chimney; a heat absorbing surface; a transparent cover located above the surface and forming an air pathway with the surface to the entrance to the chimney; one or more integrated turbine-generators at or before the entrance to the chimney for producing electrical power; and a focusing lens focusing solar radiation on a heat exchanging element to heat air at or just before the entrance to the chimney as it flows to the one or more turbines.

Solar chimney and method for generating power by the solar chimney are provided. The solar chimney includes a chimney a heat absorbing surface; a transparent cover located above the surface and forming an air pathway with the surface to the entrance to the chimney; one or more integrated turbine-generators at or before the entrance to the chimney for producing electrical power; and a focusing lens focusing solar radiation on a heat exchanging element to heat air at or just before the entrance to the chimney as it flows to the one or more turbines.