An improvised Solar Concentrator and Absorber/Receiver Subsystem using a Dual-Stage Parabolic Concentrator for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) (Thermal) system comprises of two parabolic mirrored reflectors wherein their apertures face each other with their focal point/line and axes coincides with each other, a plurality of absorber tubes/cavities placed on the non-reflecting side of the primary and/or secondary reflectors to carry heat transfer fluid, combined with relevant mechanisms to prevent/minimize thermal loss, mounted on a Sun tracking mechanism. For Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) and Concentrating Hybrid Thermo-Photovoltaic (CHTPV) Systems, all or a portion of the reflectors' reflecting and/or exterior surfaces would be covered or substituted with suitable photovoltaic panels.

A solar heat collecting element for use in solar troughs and solar power systems. The solar heat collecting element includes a conduit for carrying a heat transfer fluid; a light transparent envelope disposed about the conduit; and an edge welded metal bellows assembly coupling a first end of the conduit with a first end of the envelope.

An external concentrator is disclosed for use in concentrating reflected solar radiation (e.g., beams or rays) onto a heat collection element (HCE) located at a focal point of a parabolic mirror. The external concentrator includes at least first and second elongated ribs that are adapted to extend radially outward from the outside surface of an HCE and along a linear length (e.g., a portion or all) of the HCE to redirect stray/spilled light into the absorber tube of the HCE. The radial extension of the ribs above the outside surface of the HCE allows a reflective surface of the rib to redirect stray reflected beams/rays that would otherwise bypass the HCE back onto the HCE.

A method for introducing a protective gas into an annular space of a receiver tube, in particular for solar collectors, is provided where the annular space is formed at least by one outer cladding tube and an inner absorber tube of the receiver tube and the outer cladding tube is connected to the absorber tube by a wall. The method includes producing an opening that penetrates the cladding tube or the wall, introducing protective gas through the opening into the annular space, and subsequently closing the opening.

A solar composite tube, including a solar vacuum tube having two open ends; a water path; an adsorbent; and an adsorbate. The solar vacuum tube includes an outer metal tube and an inner metal tube which are coaxially disposed inside the solar vacuum tube. The water path is formed between the outer metal tube and the solar vacuum tube; the adsorbent is disposed between the outer metal tube and the inner metal tube and is configured to exchange heat with water in the water path outside the outer metal tube; the inner metal tube includes a plurality of through holes; the adsorbate is disposed in the inner metal tube; and the adsorbate and the adsorbent form an adsorption-desorption working pair. The invention also provides a solar composite bed including a lower header, an upper header, and the solar composite tube.

A solar cooking appliance comprises a solar heat collector for collecting and storing solar heat. A first solid heat storage and conducting material for storing and conducting solar heat, the solid heat storage and conducting material is placed within the solar heat collector, the solar heat collector heats the solid heat storage and conducting material to a temperature higher than the water boiling temperature. A heat insulated solar cooking utensil is positioned outside of the solar heat collector, having a cooking utensil and a heat insulation. A second heat-transferring and conducting material connected thermally to the first solid heat storage and conducting material to the heat insulated solar cooking utensil for transferring solar heat.

The present invention discloses a portable solar cooker, belonging to the field of solar heat utilization. The solar cooker comprises an upper functional assembly, a lower control assembly and a rotary apparatus which are sequentially connected, wherein the upper functional assembly is configured to reflect sunlight, collect heat in a focusing manner and further heat water or foods, the upper functional assembly is closed to form a box body when being in a non-operative state, and the upper functional assembly is opened when being in an operative state; the lower control assembly is connected with the upper functional assembly, and makes the upper functional assembly be subjected to pitch adjustment; the lower control assembly is connected with the rotary apparatus, and the lower control assembly and the upper functional assembly are driven by the rotary apparatus to rotate so that tracking the sun is realized. The portable solar cooker disclosed by the present invention not only has functions of boiling water and cooking foods, but also has the advantages of facilitating carrying and tracking the sun, and can achieve full utilization of solar energy anytime and anywhere, thereby making the application of the solar energy be fully developed.

This disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for sealing a double-walled glass tube in a vacuum-tight manner, in particular a production method for manufacturing of solar collectors. By means of a vacuum chamber, inside of which a holding element is fixed and inside of which a heating conductor is arranged, an electro-conductively heating and a subsequent deforming of the double-walled glass tube can be achieved. No additional materials, such as metallic auxiliary element, solders are required. A simple installation inside the vacuum chamber is possible and a minimum vacuum feedthrough for the power supply of a heating conductor is required. The direct heat transfer onto the double walled glass tube and a resulting quick process control allows to reliably seal a double-walled glass tube of a thermal solar collector under vacuum with simple means.

A heat receiver tube for absorbing solar energy and for transferring absorbed solar energy to a heat transfer fluid which can be located inside of at least one core tube of the heat receiver tube is provided. The core tube includes a core tube surface with at least one solar energy absorptive coating for absorbing solar radiation. The core tube is enveloped by at least one enveloping tube. The enveloping tube includes at least one enveloping tube wall which is at least partly transparent for the solar radiation. The enveloping tube wall includes at least one inner enveloping tube surface. The core tube and the enveloping tube are coaxially arranged to each other such that an inner heat receiver tube space is formed which is bordered by the core tube surface and the inner enveloping tube surface.

A heat receiver tube for absorbing solar energy and for transferring absorbed solar energy to a heat transfer fluid which can be located inside of at least one core tube of the heat receiver tube is provided. The core tube includes a core tube surface with at least one solar energy absorptive coating for absorbing solar radiation. The core tube is enveloped by at least one enveloping tube. The enveloping tube includes at least one enveloping tube wall which is at least partly transparent for the solar radiation. The enveloping tube wall includes at least one inner enveloping tube surface. The core tube and the enveloping tube are coaxially arranged to each other such that an inner heat receiver tube space is formed which is bordered by the core tube surface (and the inner enveloping tube surface.