An apparatus combining a solar tracker and a dual heat source collector includes a heat engine assembly and the solar tracker. The heat engine assembly includes a heat collector, a heat collecting lens, and a heat engine. The heat collector includes a solar heat collecting room and a heat source room. The heat collecting lens is arranged on the heat collector and corresponds to the solar heat collecting room. The heat engine is located in the solar heat collecting room. The solar tracker includes a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a pivot member, and a driving member. The primary mirror has a first reflective surface and a back surface. The primary mirror has a mounting hole passing through the primary mirror. The secondary mirror is mounted above the primary mirror.

An absorber system solves problems of known absorber systems for use in solar fields in that the absorber tube is suspended on a rail below an absorber cover. The design also makes it possible to move measuring and cleaning robots and the like along the absorber tube more and allows the absorber tube and the secondary reflector to be jointly suspended, whereby an exact mutual alignment between the two components is enabled.

An absorber system solves problems of known absorber systems for use in solar fields in that the absorber tube is suspended on a rail below an absorber cover. The design also makes it possible to move measuring and cleaning robots and the like along the absorber tube more and allows the absorber tube and the secondary reflector to be jointly suspended, whereby an exact mutual alignment between the two components is enabled.

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 system for distilling water is disclosed. The system comprises a heat source, and a plurality of open-cycle adsorption stages, each stage comprising a plurality of beds and an evaporator and a condenser between a first bed and a second bed, wherein each bed comprises at least two vapor valves, a plurality of hollow tubes, a plurality of channels adapted for transferring water vapor to and from at least one of the condenser or the evaporator, a thermally conductive water vapor adsorbent, and wherein each vapor valve connects a bed to either the condenser or the evaporator.

A system for distilling water is disclosed. The system comprises a heat source, and a plurality of open-cycle adsorption stages, each stage comprising a plurality of beds and an evaporator and a condenser between a first bed and a second bed, wherein each bed comprises at least two vapor valves, a plurality of hollow tubes, a plurality of channels adapted for transferring water vapor to and from at least one of the condenser or the evaporator, a thermally conductive water vapor adsorbent, and wherein each vapor valve connects a bed to either the condenser or the evaporator.

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 heat transfer device (100) includes an inner tube (102) mounted within a tubular chamber (104) of a heat exchanger (106). The hollow tubular chamber (104) has a closed end (108) with inwardly sloping inner surfaces (110) and the inner tube (102) has an open end (112) that terminates short of the closed end (108). A diffuser (114) is provided and is shaped such that an operatively front part (116) thereof substantially conforms to a shape of the inner surfaces (110) of the closed end (108) so as to form a narrow flow passageway (118) between the diffuser (114) and the inner surfaces (110) at the closed end (108), and an operatively back part (120) of the diffuser (114) slopes towards the inner tube (102) and away from its open end (112) to form a diffusion zone (122). Heat transfer assemblies utilising the heat transfer device (100) are also disclosed.

A desalination system includes a distillation unit to which a fluid to be desalinated is provided and through which a heat transfer fluid flows, and a solar concentration unit configured to heat the heat transfer fluid. The solar concentration unit includes an array of linear Fresnel reflectors, each linear Fresnel reflector of the array of linear Fresnel reflectors rotating about a respective axis, a receiver configured for absorption of light redirected by the array of linear Fresnel reflectors, the receiver comprising tubing through which the heat transfer fluid flows, and a frame supporting and positioning the receiver relative to the array of linear Fresnel reflectors. The frame defines a track along which the receiver is movable to adjust a relative position of the receiver along the respective axis of each linear Fresnel reflector of the array of linear Fresnel reflectors.

A desalination system includes a distillation unit to which a fluid to be desalinated is provided and through which a heat transfer fluid flows, and a solar concentration unit configured to heat the heat transfer fluid. The solar concentration unit includes an array of linear Fresnel reflectors, each linear Fresnel reflector of the array of linear Fresnel reflectors rotating about a respective axis, a receiver configured for absorption of light redirected by the array of linear Fresnel reflectors, the receiver comprising tubing through which the heat transfer fluid flows, and a frame supporting and positioning the receiver relative to the array of linear Fresnel reflectors. The frame defines a track along which the receiver is movable to adjust a relative position of the receiver along the respective axis of each linear Fresnel reflector of the array of linear Fresnel reflectors.