A holder for securing a fluid tube to a trough-formed solar collector. In an operation mode of the solar collector, the holder partly encircles a circumference of a cross-section of the fluid tube and leaves a portion of the circumference un-encircled by the holder. The holder may comprise a base member adapted to abut the fluid tube, the base member comprising at least one securing means adapted to secure the base member to the solar collector. Further, the holder may comprise an immobilizing member adapted to together with the base member immobilize a centre-line of the fluid tube in the solar collector when the fluid tube abuts the holder. The base member is connected with the immobilizing member, such that the base member together with the immobilizing member, in an operation mode of the solar collector, partly encircles the circumference of the cross-section of the fluid tube and forms an opening smaller than a diameter of the cross-section of the fluid tube. The immobilizing member may be pivotably connected to the base member by a connecting means, such that the immobilizing member can pivot in relation to the base member to, in a service mode of the solar collector, leave an opening larger than the diameter of the cross-section of the fluid tube.

A novel lighting system includes a solar collector panel comprising a plurality of reflector elements configured to track and be oriented optimally to receive electromagnetic radiation from the sun and reflect the received electromagnetic radiation toward a skylight in a roof of a building, a dichroic mirror disposed in the skylight and oriented and configured to receive the reflected electromagnetic radiation from the solar collector panel, the dichroic mirror being configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation of a first specific range of wavelengths downward into the building and pass through electromagnetic radiation of a second specific range of wavelengths, and a photovoltaic panel oriented and configured to receive electromagnetic radiation of the second specific range of wavelengths that passed through the dichroic mirror and convert it to electricity.

Mixed heliostat field combining, in the same field, heliostats of different sizes and/or with different types of facets, all of them having at least one facet and being canted or not, and either having spherical, cylindrical, flat or quasi-flat (spherical with a high curvature radius) facets, such that the solar field is optimised in order to minimise shadows and blockages between heliostats, as a result of correct positioning of the heliostats in the field.

A solar heat collector with high heat collection effect is provided. The solar heat collector includes a first heat collection pipe and a second heat collection pipe. The first heat collection pipe receives reflected light from a single-axial tracking solar type reflective mirror group to collect heat. The second heat collection pipe receives reflected light from the single-axial tracking solar type reflective mirror group and dual-axial tracking solar type reflective mirror groups to collect heat. The second heat collection pipe has an amount of heat collection per unit area larger than the first heat collection pipe. Therefore, compared with the use of only the first heat collection pipe, this ensures obtaining larger energy.

A novel method of concentrating solar energy using wave generators is disclosed. The systems and methods enable the collection of energy over large area at high efficiencies and the concentrating of energy at a target for use and transfer.

A tracking system for a solar collector is disclosed. The tracking system includes at least two polarization cameras and a tracking controller configured to: determine orientations of maximal intensity of polarized light received from the at least one heliostat mirror; generate radial lines based on the orientation of maximal intensity of polarized light from the at least one heliostat mirror; determine a position of the sun based on an intersection of the radial lines; and re-orient the at least one heliostat mirror based on the determined position of the sun. In the preferred embodiment, the sun position may be determined based on radial lines corresponding to three or more cameras mounted around the receiver aperture.

Provided are a heliostat calibration, device and a heliostat calibration method that can suppress time-change-dependent control error increases and can reduce calibration frequency. The present invention is provided with: an initial position information acquisition unit that acquires initial position information for a heliostat; a theoretical value calculating unit that calculates from the heliostat initial position information and sun position information a theoretical value that is related to the orientation of the heliostat; a deviation calculation unit that, using as input an actual measured value for the orientation of the heliostat, calculates the deviation between the theoretical value and the actual measured value at least two times a day; and a coordinate calibration unit that, when the deviation exceeds a threshold value, calibrates the coordinates of the heliostat such that the deviation is at or below the threshold value.

The solar heating apparatus includes at least one optical element and a drive assembly for selectively moving the at least one optical element along multiple axes of rotation, the drive assembly having an elevation shaft and an azimuth rotation shaft. The solar heating apparatus also includes a support frame positioned in communicating relation with the drive assembly, the support frame being configured for supporting the at least one optical element. The support frame includes a main shaft, at least one branch holder pivotally attached to an end of the main shaft, the at least one branch holder being adapted for supporting the at least one optical element, and at least one belt drive for pivoting the at least one branch holder, the at least one belt drive being actuated by the elevation shaft.

The solar heating apparatus includes driven and controllable reflectors for concentrating solar radiation on a solar tower or the like. Each of the reflectors provided in an array of reflectors is selectively driven to rotate about multiple axes of rotation. A plurality of groupings of optical reflectors, such as mirrors or the like, are mounted about a single, common longitudinally extending shaft, providing simultaneous rotation of the optical reflectors about a longitudinal axis. Through a two-axis bearing associated with each grouping of optical reflectors, the optical reflectors are also mounted on a laterally extending shaft associated with each individual reflector grouping. The laterally extending shafts are linked, each to the other, by a continuous belt or the like, providing selective simultaneous rotation of the optical reflectors about the lateral axis in addition to the simultaneous rotation about the longitudinal axis.

Methods of arranging and operating a molten salt solar thermal energy system are disclosed. Molten salt flows from a set of cold storage tanks to solar receivers which heat the molten salt to a maximum temperature of about 850 F. The heated molten salt is sent to a set of hot storage tanks. The heated molten salt is then pumped to a steam generation system to produce steam for process and/or power generation. Lower salt temperatures are useful in processes that use lower steam temperatures, such as thermal desalination. Lower salt temperatures and low chloride molten salt reduce the corrosion potential, permitting the use of lower cost alloys for the solar receivers, hot storage tanks, salt pumps, piping and instrumentation and steam generation system. Multiple sets of modular, shop assembled storage tanks are also used to reduce the amount of salt piping, simplify draining, and reduce field assembly and plant cost.