An optical solar enhancer comprises a panel that has a top surface and a bottom surface and an imaginary central plane that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface. The panel includes a plurality of generally parallel features configured to variably increase radiant energy entering the top surface at an acute angle relative to the central plane such that the effect is strongest at lower angles (early morning and late day sun) and weakest at higher angles (mid-day sun) and then redirect the increased radiant energy through the bottom surface.

An optical light-transmission element for a solar energy assembly having a solar cell includes at least one harvesting portion for directing solar light onto the solar cell. For optimum operation of the solar energy assembly, the optical light-transmission element and the solar cell have to be carefully aligned. In order to facilitate the alignment, the optical light-transmission element further comprises at least one alignment control portion for concentrating the solar light onto a second focusing region, which is spaced apart from the primary focusing region. A method for aligning such a solar energy assembly involves focusing light on a focusing region that is spaced apart from the solar cell, and adjusting at least one of the position of the solar cell and the harvesting region until the focusing region is located at a predetermined target zone, which is spaced apart from the solar cell.

The present invention relates to a system for the production of carbon nanotubes from carbonaceous matter, preferably, plastic waste and solar energy; Method of production.

The present invention relates to a system for the production of carbon nanotubes from carbonaceous matter, preferably, plastic waste and solar energy; Method of production.

A design for a micro-lens (i.e., a lens on the scale of micrometers) incorporates existing nanofabrication techniques and can be incorporated into High Concentrating Photovoltaic (HCPV), solar thermal collectors, and traditional flat PV systems. Using the theory of wave optics, the design is able to achieve a high numerical aperture, i.e., it can receive light over a wider range of angles. The design also reduces the distance the focal point shifts as the light source shifts; this eliminates the need for a tracking system in CPV and PV applications. Reducing the lens size also facilitates smaller, lightweight CPV systems, which makes CPV attractive for additional applications. Finally, these concentrators reduce the exchanging area of a typical flat solar thermal system where heat is received, which improves the overall system's efficiency and allows its use also during rigid winter time.

A design for a micro-lens (i.e., a lens on the scale of micrometers) incorporates existing nanofabrication techniques and can be incorporated into High Concentrating Photovoltaic (HCPV), solar thermal collectors, and traditional flat PV systems. Using the theory of wave optics, the design is able to achieve a high numerical aperture, i.e., it can receive light over a wider range of angles. The design also reduces the distance the focal point shifts as the light source shifts; this eliminates the need for a tracking system in CPV and PV applications. Reducing the lens size also facilitates smaller, lightweight CPV systems, which makes CPV attractive for additional applications. Finally, these concentrators reduce the exchanging area of a typical flat solar thermal system where heat is received, which improves the overall system's efficiency and allows its use also during rigid winter time.

Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, a rocket propulsion system is configured to produce thrust for a spacecraft and includes: one or more optical elements configured to receive solar energy. The optical elements include: a first window configured to allow energy to enter the rocket propulsion system and form a concentrated energy beam, and a second window positioned to allow the concentrated energy beam to pass to the heat exchanger. The second window is spaced away from the first window to form a pressurized plenum chamber therebetween. The system further includes: a heat exchanger configured to receive the energy and use it to heat and pressurize a propulsion gas, and a rocket nozzle configured to expel the pressurized propulsion gas.

A device includes a support structure having a plurality of concentric cuts through the support structure that define a set of structure sections. The device also includes an insert assembly supported by the support structure at an inner structure section of the set of structure sections. The inner structure section is configured to tilt the insert assembly at a tilt angle in accordance with a displacement of a first outer structure section of the set of structure sections.

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.

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.