Devices and methods for concentrated radiative cooling using radiative cooling coatings in combination with mid-infrared reflectors. Concentrated radiative cooling (CRC) devices include an object to be cooled that is coated with a radiative cooling material and a mid-infrared (mid-IR) reflector configured to reflect thermal energy radiated from a surface of the object to deep space. The object may be nested in a mid-IR reflective trough such that substantially an entirety of the object's surface area contributes to radiative cooling. The radiative cooling material may be a coating such as a paint or film that is applied directly to the object's exterior surfaces to reduce thermal resistances. The radiative cooling coating is configured to lose thermal energy from the object by means of exhibiting high emissivity for wavelengths of 8 to 13 micrometers, and in some arrangements of 5 to 30 micrometers.

A thin support structure for solar collectors is provided. The support structure includes service lines, such as fluid lines and electrical signal lines, disposed within an interior cavity of the support structure. The movement and flexing of the service lines is accounted for by a pulley assembly having a rotating element, without the need for complex and expensive swivel joints and slip rings.

A receiver system for a Fresnel solar plant is provided that includes an absorber tube defining a longitudinal direction, a mirror array that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction and is used for concentrating light beams onto the absorber tube, and a support frame for the absorber tube and the mirror array. A first suspension for holding the absorber tube and a second suspension for holding the mirror array or at least parts of the mirror array are independently mounted on the support frame. The first suspension has first compensation device while the second suspension has second compensation device. The first and second compensation devices allow for different expansions of the absorber tube and the mirror array or at least parts of the mirror array in the longitudinal direction.

A solar power system (11) which comprises a plurality of solar energy collecting means (10,10a,10b,10c) respectively comprising a platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) floating on liquid in a liquid reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), each platform assembly carrying solar energy concentrators or collectors and respective reservoirs (14,14a,14b,14c), being interconnected in series and arranged in a cascading relationship such that the flooding of a platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) in one reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), for protection of the concentrators or collectors under liquid displaces liquid in that reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), and causes the flooding of an adjacent lower platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) to protect the concentrators or collectors carried thereon.

A solar power method is provided using two-stage light concentration to drive concentrating photovoltaic conversion in conjunction with thermal collection. The method concentrates light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, which is orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus. R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane, which is parallel to the primary linear focus. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is focused by optical elements along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, which are orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary primary focus is focused into a plurality of receiving areas, and translated into electrical energy.

Solar energy is collected and used for various industrial processes, such as oilfield applications, e.g. generating steam that is injected downhole, enabling enhanced oil recovery. Solar energy is indirectly collected using a heat transfer fluid in a solar collector, delivering heat to a heat exchanger that in turn delivers heat into oilfield feedwater, producing hotter water or steam. Solar energy is directly collected by directly generating steam with solar collectors, and then injecting the steam downhole. Solar energy is collected to preheat water that is then fed into fuel-fired steam generators that in turn produce steam for downhole injection. Solar energy is collected to produce electricity via a Rankine cycle turbine generator, and rejected heat warms feedwater for fuel-fired steam generators. Solar energy is collected (directly or indirectly) to deliver heat to a heater-treater, with optional fuel-fired additional heat generation.

A method and a system for positioning an apparatus for monitoring a parameter of one or more parabolic reflectors of a solar thermal field, wherein the method comprises positioning the apparatus at a first field location responsive to the position of the respective parabolic reflector, acquiring information of an absorber tube of the respective parabolic reflector, and positioning the apparatus at the second field location responsive to the information of the absorber tube, the second field location being beyond the focus of the respective parabolic reflector is provided.

A concentrating solar collector module includes improvements in performance and assemblability. In one configuration, the module includes a reflector having a reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming solar radiation onto a focal line, first and second rails, one rail attached to each edge of the reflector, and a set of truss connectors attached to the rails. The truss connectors and rails may form ways that enable constrained sliding engagement of the truss connectors along the rails before attachment of the truss connectors to the rails. The module may also include a plurality of framing members connected to the truss connectors and forming a structural lattice that cooperates with the reflector to lend rigidity to the solar collector module. At least some of the framing members may be disposed in front of the front reflective surface.

Structures and techniques for solar collectors are described. In accordance with the described techniques, a structural assembly of a solar collector may include various members that are configured to carry torsional and bending loads with relatively low deflections between a reflector and a receiver. In some examples, the described structural assemblies may include a set of edge-sharing tetrahedra or tetrahedral volumes aligned along an axis, which may be supported by chord members that are parallel to the axis. In some examples, the described structural assemblies may include sets of co-rotating and counter-rotating helical structural paths, which may be connected or supported by structural members that are perpendicular to an axis of the helical structural paths, or members that are parallel to an axis of the helical structural paths, or various combinations thereof.

Structures and techniques for solar collectors are described. In accordance with the described techniques, a structural assembly of a solar collector may include various members that are configured to carry torsional and bending loads with relatively low deflections between a reflector and a receiver. In some examples, the described structural assemblies may include a set of edge-sharing tetrahedra or tetrahedral volumes aligned along an axis, which may be supported by chord members that are parallel to the axis. In some examples, the described structural assemblies may include sets of co-rotating and counter-rotating helical structural paths, which may be connected or supported by structural members that are perpendicular to an axis of the helical structural paths, or members that are parallel to an axis of the helical structural paths, or various combinations thereof.