In one embodiment a solar collector is provided. The collector has a modular heat transfer component, which includes a heat transfer core to heat up a heat transfer fluid. The collector makes use of the heat transfer fluid itself to prevent heat loss through radiation.

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating power by amplifying sunlight, including a sunlight amplifying means; and an energy storing means configured to support the sunlight amplifying means and to store an electric energy and a thermal energy generated from the sunlight amplifying means, wherein the sunlight amplifying means includes a first pipe formed of metallic material; a second pipe configured to enclose the first pipe; a solar photovoltaic module installed between the first pipe and the second pipe; and a sunlight amplifying sheet configured with concave mirrors or convex lenses having predetermined shapes and attached to the outer circumference of the second pipe so as to amplify sunlight.

In one embodiment a solar collector is provided. The collector has a modular heat transfer component, which includes a heat transfer core to heat up a heat transfer fluid. The collector makes use of the heat transfer fluid itself to prevent heat loss through radiation.

An absorber unit including at least one heater element, a transparent enclosure, and a mount for the enclosure. The mount includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The invention also relates to a mirror unit including at least one reinforcement having a concave reinforcement element, wherein an upper mirror is fastened to an inner side of the reinforcement element and/or a lower mirror is fastened to an outer side of the reinforcement element. The invention also relates to a solar collector or solar installation including at least one support arm for receiving a mirror unit and/or an absorber unit.

An absorber tube for a parabolic trough solar power plant is described. The absorber tube includes a glass pipe that extends from a first end to a second end of the parabolic trough. A helical pipe is enclosed within the glass pipe. The helical pipe is configured to hold water. A sand filled pipe is surrounded by the helical pipe. The absorber tube further includes an inner pipe, centered within the sand filled pipe and the inner pipe extends from the first end to the second end of the parabolic trough along a central axis of the glass pipe. A solenoid valve is connected between the helical pipe and the inner pipe. The solenoid valve is configured to block the water from entering the inner pipe during periods of high solar irradiance and release the water to the inner pipe during periods of low solar irradiance.

An absorber tube for a parabolic trough solar power plant is described. The absorber tube includes a glass pipe that extends from a first end to a second end of the parabolic trough. A helical pipe is enclosed within the glass pipe. The helical pipe is configured to hold water. A sand filled pipe is surrounded by the helical pipe. The absorber tube further includes an inner pipe, centered within the sand filled pipe and the inner pipe extends from the first end to the second end of the parabolic trough along a central axis of the glass pipe. A solenoid valve is connected between the helical pipe and the inner pipe. The solenoid valve is configured to block the water from entering the inner pipe during periods of high solar irradiance and release the water to the inner pipe during periods of low solar irradiance.

An absorber tube for a parabolic trough solar power plant is described. The absorber tube includes a glass pipe that extends from a first end to a second end of the parabolic trough. A helical pipe is enclosed within the glass pipe. The helical pipe is configured to hold water. A sand filled pipe is surrounded by the helical pipe. The absorber tube further includes an inner pipe, centered within the sand filled pipe and the inner pipe extends from the first end to the second end of the parabolic trough along a central axis of the glass pipe. A solenoid valve is connected between the helical pipe and the inner pipe. The solenoid valve is configured to block the water from entering the inner pipe during periods of high solar irradiance and release the water to the inner pipe during periods of low solar irradiance.

An absorber tube for a parabolic trough solar power plant is described. The absorber tube includes a glass pipe that extends from a first end to a second end of the parabolic trough. A helical pipe is enclosed within the glass pipe. The helical pipe is configured to hold water. A sand filled pipe is surrounded by the helical pipe. The absorber tube further includes an inner pipe, centered within the sand filled pipe and the inner pipe extends from the first end to the second end of the parabolic trough along a central axis of the glass pipe. A solenoid valve is connected between the helical pipe and the inner pipe. The solenoid valve is configured to block the water from entering the inner pipe during periods of high solar irradiance and release the water to the inner pipe during periods of low solar irradiance.

Systems and methods are provided for modular solar concentrator systems including one or more interconnected solar concentrator units. In one example, the solar concentrator units include a weather-resistant container with a transparent top, a receiver, and a plurality of reflectors positioned within the weather-resistant container and adapted to reflect light onto the receiver.

A method for generating electricity with a system having a water tank, an electricity generating plant and a parabolic trough solar power plant including transferring water from the water tank to the solar power plant. The water is received in a helical pipe located within a glass pipe encasing an absorber tube of a parabolic trough solar power plant. The glass pipe and the helical pipe extend from a first end to a second end of a parabolic trough along a central axis of the glass pipe an. During periods of high irradiance the water is converted in the helical pipe to steam by focusing solar radiation on the absorber tube. A sand filled pipe extends from the first end to the second end of the parabolic trough along the central axis of the glass pipe Steam is expelled from the helical pipe. During periods of low irradiance the water is released the water within the helical pipe to the inner pipe located within the sand filled pipe, converting the water to steam with the heated sand in the sand filled pipe, expelling the steam, transferring the steam to a turbine to generate mechanical energy in the turbine, and transferring the mechanical energy to generate electricity.