The present invention is a solar concentrator composed of a generally V-shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. The Fresnel reflective steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V-shaped trough and parallel to its central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration a preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector is realized. Various types of solar energy receiving structures are shown that serve to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy to realize the preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector.

A solar collector adapted to absorb thermal heating from the sun, wherein said solar collector comprises hollow sections adapted to house a medium. The solar collector is a self-supporting composite solar collector produced from a composite material constituted of at least a first and second material, wherein said first and second materials have equal or substantially equal coefficients of elasticity.

Our invention consists of two separate and discrete families of polymers, e.g. thermosetting Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP) and thermoplastics. Both are used as the materials of construction to fabricate solar thermal collectors. These families have the same general configuration and are based upon the same principles. Both families are used in a form that some of the walls of the collector are translucent. Both families incorporate a passage through which the thermal fluid flows. Both families make use of dyes to absorb energy from the sun in the fluid and the collector walls. Each of the families makes use of improved collector configurations and designs and special operating approaches. Each family can serve different markets for different solar thermal collectors. In particular, FRP stands alone as an emerging new category of materials for a broad range of applications including everything from novel solar thermal collectors to exotic airplanes.

The solar energy concentrator and collector system consists of a) longitudinal sheets, plates or bands of transparent plastic, carrying linear Fresnel lenses, b) longitudinal sheets, plates or bands of transparent plastic, carrying mirrors. Fresnel type or formed by multiple mini or linear reflective micro-mirrors integrated into them, b) sheets, plates or arched bands that carry multiple lenses or mini-lenses of cylinder segment section, c) mirrors arranged in a Fresnel type shape, d) of V-shaped mirrors, e) semi-parabolic mirrors of) plastic lenses filled with liquid, supported peripherally by cables, poles or a frame, which concentrate the solar rays in an equally longitudinal focus or duct, with a flattened ovoid or rectangular section. of large surface that carries a fluid, which when it is water evaporates, driving a turbine and goes to a generator.

A solar energy collection system includes (a) an elongate solar collector unit with dual opposed elongate, hemi-parabolic mirrors each having a linear focus line; (b) an elongate receiver having two linear gaps, each of which lies along a focus lines of one mirror, and including a heat pipe and a heat transfer structure to heat a heat transfer fluid within the heat pipe with solar energy; and (c) a subsystem configured to move the heat transfer fluid through the receiver.

An apparatus is disclosed including: a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis and including at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber.

A solar panel comprising a plurality of elongated and flat pipe elements having a first end, a second end and at least one longitudinal and through pipe channel for a heat carrying liquid, wherein the pipe channels are arranged with a height (H) up to 10 mm. the pipe elements are connected to opposite and elongated edge elements. The edge elements are arranged with a longitudinal channel for the heat carrying liquid, wherein the channels in the edge elements are connected to the pipe channels and extend in a direction perpendicular to the pipe channels. The pipe elements are formed with an aperture on opposite sides of at least one pipe channel, and stop devices are connected to the edge elements at selected apertures and extend into the channels of the edge elements to block the channels and guide the heat carrying liquid between the pipe channels.

An arrangement for producing hot water from solar energy, the arrangement comprising: an elongate solar collector device extending along a longitudinal direction (X) from a first end to an opposite second end, the elongate solar collector device consisting of an elongate profile having walls that in between them define elongate cavities extending from the first end to the second end, the elongate solar collector device having at least one first opening for receiving water into the elongate cavities, and at least one second opening for tapping off water, arranged at a middle part of the elongate solar collector device; and at least one valve adapted to be arranged in a respective one of the at least one second opening, the valve being openable and closable in order to be able to tap off any water housed in the cavities.

A heat collector includes a body including a hollow portion extending from a first end to a second end of the body and being a metal-extruded body having a light-receiving surface to receive sunlight, a pair of lids adjacent to the first end and the second end and covering the hollow portion, an inlet located in one of the pair of lids to allow a heating medium to enter the hollow portion, and an outlet located in one of the pair of lids to allow the heating medium to exit the hollow portion.

A hybrid-type solar panel comprising a structure suitable for making a photovoltaic panel, a thermal panel, a watertight roof, an electric storage, all integrated in a basic structure (20). A roof for a house is also provided.