An apparatus combining a solar tracker and a dual heat source collector includes a heat engine assembly and the solar tracker. The heat engine assembly includes a heat collector, a heat collecting lens, and a heat engine. The heat collector includes a solar heat collecting room and a heat source room. The heat collecting lens is arranged on the heat collector and corresponds to the solar heat collecting room. The heat engine is located in the solar heat collecting room. The solar tracker includes a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a pivot member, and a driving member. The primary mirror has a first reflective surface and a back surface. The primary mirror has a mounting hole passing through the primary mirror. The secondary mirror is mounted above the primary mirror.

A heat shield bladder includes first and second sheets of insulating material that form a bladder between the first and second sheets. At least one reflective foil is disposed within the bladder and a plurality of spacers are disposed within the bladder and positioned to space the at least one reflective foil from the first and second sheets of insulating material. Multiple reflective foils may be disposed within the bladder with spacers between each reflective foil. The heat shield bladder may be rolled into a tube shaped and used inside a pipe or formed into panels that may be used to line a vessel.

A heat shield bladder includes first and second sheets of insulating material that form a bladder between the first and second sheets. At least one reflective foil is disposed within the bladder and a plurality of spacers are disposed within the bladder and positioned to space the at least one reflective foil from the first and second sheets of insulating material. Multiple reflective foils may be disposed within the bladder with spacers between each reflective foil. The heat shield bladder may be rolled into a tube shaped and used inside a pipe or formed into panels that may be used to line a vessel.

An urban concentrated solar power for mounting on a roof top is provided. The urban concentrated solar power has a heat receiver has a non-circular duct that distinguishes an insulated area with an insulation layer on the outer surface of the non-circular duct and a non-insulated area. The non-circular duct contains a heat transferring fluid which can reach temperatures of at least 500 degrees Celsius. A parabolic trough with an aperture of below 2 meters concentrates sunlight onto the non-insulated area of the non-circular duct of the heat receiver. The heat receiver can be placed in a glass tube. Due to roof top mounting the electricity can be generated in proximity of the user and as a result decrease net congestion. The low-cost heat receiver design will make electricity generated by urban CSP competitive with electricity from fossil fuel plants and PV combined with lithium-ion battery storage.

Provided is a solar collector that captures and utilizes solar energy and includes a plurality of vacuum tubes which are disposed by extending horizontally and are disposed parallel to each other with a predetermined distance; and a reflection plate having a substantially planar shape, which reflects solar light on an opposite side of the sun with respect to the plurality of vacuum tubes, in which the reflection plate includes a reflection surface having a serrated section at a corresponding position between vacuum tubes adjacent to each other, and in the reflection surface, one face of a serration forms a first reflection surface that reflects the solar light to the vacuum tube on a lower side among the vacuum tubes adjacent to each other.

A heat collector device is provided. The heat collector includes an exterior surface exposed to an environment, and an interior surface. Side walls separate the exterior and interior surfaces. A heat insulation interposes the exterior and interior surfaces. Each hot air duct includes a first portion interfacing with the external surface and a second portion interfacing with the heat insulation. Each cold air duct is encompassed by the heat insulation. A first chamber formed by a first side wall provides fluidic communication between the air ducts at a first end portion of each respective duct. A second chamber formed by a second side wall provides fluidic communication between the air ducts at a second end portion of each respective duct. A heat exchange mechanism disposed in the second chamber removes heat from a first fluidic medium of the air ducts, the first chamber, and the second chamber.

A heat collector device is provided. The heat collector includes an exterior surface exposed to an environment, and an interior surface. Side walls separate the exterior and interior surfaces. A heat insulation interposes the exterior and interior surfaces. Each hot air duct includes a first portion interfacing with the external surface and a second portion interfacing with the heat insulation. Each cold air duct is encompassed by the heat insulation. A first chamber formed by a first side wall provides fluidic communication between the air ducts at a first end portion of each respective duct. A second chamber formed by a second side wall provides fluidic communication between the air ducts at a second end portion of each respective duct. A heat exchange mechanism disposed in the second chamber removes heat from a first fluidic medium of the air ducts, the first chamber, and the second chamber.

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.

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.

Articles, systems, and methods in which electromagnetic energy is converted to heat (e.g., for the purpose of inducing or inhibiting phase change of a material disposed over a surface) are generally described.