An inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator based concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic system powered water desalination system comprises a concentrating electricity and heat cogeneration subsystem, a battery storage subsystem, a thermal storage subsystem with electric heater, a thermal power regeneration subsystem, and a water distillation system with electric heater. The inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator makes the concentrating system substantially low cost, and the hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panels used to construct the cogeneration receiver make the system ultra-high efficient. The cogenerated thermal energy is stored in a thermal storage and the cogenerated electric energy is stored in a battery storage to heat the stored thermal energy to pre-set high temperature for thermal power regeneration. The thermal energy after thermal power generation is used to desalinize water with assistance of electric heater powered by the stored electricity. An extra conventional photovoltaic system is added to compensate the concentrating hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic system.

A solar rotational manufacturing system having a monitoring device, a controller, a heliostat having a heliostat controller, a rotational apparatus having a rotational controller, and a mold, wherein the monitoring device is configured to collect actual data regarding a characteristic of the solar rotational heating system and transmit actual data to the controller, the controller is configured to receive a reference parameter, an affecting parameter, and linking instructions, receive actual data from the monitoring device, compare actual data with a reference parameter, determine an affecting parameter to alter, and transmit alteration instructions to the heliostat controller and/or the rotational controller, the heliostat controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions, and the rotational controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions.

Systems and methods are disclosed for directing radiant energy to permanently shadowed or occasionally shadowed regions such as on the floors of craters or in valleys in lunar polar regions to provide illumination, thermal power, electricity, communications, and other services. Embodiments of the systems include reflector elements to provide diffuse illumination, focused illumination, and thermal power, structures to support the reflectors and other elements, communications devices for varied signal types, and methods for installing the system. The structure can be compactly folded and delivered to be automatically installed.

A solar energy collector includes: a solar energy collection tube having an absorption medium flow path for allowing an absorption medium to flow therethrough; a lens configured to concentrate solar energy on the solar energy collection tube; and an actuator configured to move the solar energy collection tube or the lens based on an incidence angle of the solar energy so that the solar energy is focused on the solar energy collection tube.

A system for enhancing overall energy production of CSPs through amplification of solar heat collection. In one embodiment, the system comprises a linear solar-thermal concentrator for concentrating solar light comprising a curved surface, two side walls, and an opening; a fluid conduit disposed within the linear solar-thermal concentrator that carries a working fluid through the linear solar-thermal concentrator; and a convection cover disposed over the opening of the linear thermal concentrator that traps heat convection energy within the linear solar-thermal concentrator.

An inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator based concentrating solar thermal and photovoltaic system powered water desalination system comprises a concentrating electricity and heat cogeneration subsystem, a battery storage subsystem, a thermal storage subsystem with electric heater, a thermal power regeneration subsystem, and a water distillation system with electric heater. The inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator makes the concentrating system substantially low cost, and the hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panels used to construct the cogeneration receiver make the system ultra-high efficient. The cogenerated thermal energy is stored in a thermal storage and the cogenerated electric energy is stored in a battery storage to heat the stored thermal energy to pre-set high temperature for thermal power regeneration. The thermal energy after thermal power generation is used to desalinize water with assistance of electric heater powered by the stored electricity. An extra conventional photovoltaic system is added to compensate the concentrating hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic system.

A solar tracking system preferably associated with a double-reflecting dish solar concentrator having an initial parabolic reflective surface for concentrating solar energy upon a focal cloud preferably spatially coinciding with the primary focus of a subsequent elliptical reflective surface for further concentrating solar energy within a beam directed through an opening defined, preferably at the origin, by the initial parabolic reflective surface to heat a thermal transfer fluid flowing through a heating element; said subsequent elliptical reflective surface having a photovoltaic element on its reverse; said photovoltaic element being divided into plural sections, preferably quadrants, from which respective photovoltaic-based voltmeter readings are utilized to reposition the initial parabolic reflective surface's axis of symmetry closer to parallel with the plurality of incoming solar energy thereby effectively tracking the sun and maximizing collectable/concentrated solar energy.

A solar rotational manufacturing system having a monitoring device, a controller, a heliostat having a heliostat controller, a rotational apparatus having a rotational controller, and a mold, wherein the monitoring device is configured to collect actual data regarding a characteristic of the solar rotational heating system and transmit actual data to the controller, the controller is configured to receive a reference parameter, an affecting parameter, and linking instructions, receive actual data from the monitoring device, compare actual data with a reference parameter, determine an affecting parameter to alter, and transmit alteration instructions to the heliostat controller and/or the rotational controller, the heliostat controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions, and the rotational controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions.

A process of using thermal energy to decrease the external energy and imported inputs required to perform agricultural processes.

A supporting and handling system for optical devices, in particular telescopes, radio-telescopes or sun concentrators, and instrumentation, is described, comprising: a primary unit; an independent secondary unit; first motored means for moving the primary unit; second motored means for moving the secondary unit; an arc-shaped structure equipped with sliding guides in altitude with respect to the ground for the rotation of the secondary unit with respect to an altitude rotation axis; a hexapod system to move the primary unit; and a control system.