An inflatable light concentrating mirror (10) comprising a first transparent sheet (1) and a second reflective sheet (2), wherein the first sheet and second sheet are connected or sealed to each other, whereby a void is provided there-between, the void being adapted to receive a gas so as to inflate the light concentrating mirror, characterized in that the mirror further comprises tensioning means (14) adapted to produce a defined longitudinal tension (11) in at least the second sheet (2) such that wrinkles or creases therein are significantly reduced. The tensioning means comprises one or more tensioning devices (14) adapted to be attached to at least one mirror end or one free end of the second sheet, the tensioning device is configured to provide a pulling force (11) on the second sheet so as to provide the longitudinal tension.

Tensioned sheet-metal based solar panels and structures for supporting the same are disclosed. The sheet metal based solar panels can include a flexible photovoltaic solar module laminated onto a thin, flexible metal sheet. Such solar panels can be mounted on and tensioned within a support frame that is twisted out of plane with respect to a reference planar datum surface. The resulting surface can be a hyperbolic paraboloid, which can be aesthetically pleasing while improving structural stability and maximizing angular exposure to the sun.

The invention relates to enclosed solar parabolic trough reflector systems for thermal heat generation that can ultimately be used in various applications. The system includes a modular dual arch building design with a transparent building envelope and a reflector assembly connected within the building through a bearing assembly. The system is particularly suited for solar heat collection in harsh environment.

A solar generator apparatus includes: a generator module having first to fourth corner portions; a middle column mounted on a fixed structure and pivotally connected to the generator module; first and second winding devices attached to the middle column; first to fourth cables; and first to fourth elastic anchors. The first to fourth cables have first ends respectively connected to the first to fourth corner portions. The first and third cables are wound around the first winding device. The second and fourth cables are wound around the second winding device. The first to fourth elastic anchors are elastically mounted on the fixed structure. The first to fourth cables respectively pass through the first to fourth elastic anchors to form two W-shaped structures. Each elastic anchor includes an elastic member and a restricting member connected in parallel. The restricting member restricts a maximum deformation amount of the elastic member.

A cable drive system for solar tracking for solar array systems. The cable drive system employs one or more cables wound around a drive pulley of a drive device and one or more driven pulleys of respective rotatable solar assemblies of the solar array system. The system may use a tension device such as a spring or weight that returns the solar array system to an initial position at the end of the day. The drive device may be an active or passive solar tracker. The disclosed techniques of rotating solar panels are flexible, inexpensive, and reliable. The techniques can apply to any solar technology that benefit from following the sun.

The disclosed invention relates to an optical element preferably utilized for concentrating solar heat radiation, and more particularly, high-concentration, reflective concentrators that are constructed from discrete conical concentrators utilizing flexible high-reflectance layers that are produced by roll-to-roll manufacturing. In its first preferred embodiment, the disclosed optical element preferably comprises a quasi-parabolic, multi-frustum, concentration optic.

A method of utilizing solar radiation as a solar radiation source moves throughout the day includes providing a deformable surface having a pair of opposing edges and supporting the opposing edges of the deformable surface with a pair of flexible members. The method also includes imparting a curvature on the deformable surface to cause incident rays to be coincident with the normal axis of the deformable surface. The method further includes changing the curvature of the deformable surface as the solar radiation source moves throughout the day, such that the curvature corresponds to a location of the solar radiation source.

Embodiments include a kit comprising parts capable of being assembled into a reflector structure. In some embodiment, the kit includes (i) a deployable frame with a set of node connectors and a set of rods, (ii) a parabolic member comprising a track, a first parabolic-member end, and a second parabolic-member end, and (iii) a reflective membrane comprising an edge bead configured to interface with the track of the parabolic member such that, when the reflector structure is assembled, the reflective membrane is stretched substantially along the track of the parabolic member.

A system for use on a surface to collect solar energy from the sun has a stand, a module, and solar collector(s). The stand supportable on the surface has rotational points rotatably supporting the module so it can rotate about a first axis of rotation. A first drive disposed on the stand is operable to provide first rotation, and a cable connected between a hoop pulley of the module and the first drive on the stand can rotate the module about the first axis to direct the solar collector(s) toward the sun. The solar collector(s) disposed on the module can be photovoltaic cells for collecting solar energy. A second drive on the module can rotate an adjacent solar collectors on the module using pulleys and cable. Reflectors on the collectors can focus the sun rays to photovoltaic cells. The second drive can rotate the collectors about a second axis, carried by the first axis, to direct the solar collector(s) toward the sun.

The present invention relates to a rotating solar concentrating device wherein reflective sheets hung in a catenary trough shape capable of solar concentration may be protectively furled and balanced and rotated about a vertical axis. The reflective sheets may be furled to protect them from damage from wind, rain, and dust. In some embodiments, rotating parts of the device may be hung from supports above. In some embodiments, a furling mechanism may initiate protective furling in response to damaging environmental factors. Some embodiments may concentrate light on a photovoltaic cell wherein the photovoltaic cell is cooled by immersion in a heat pipe. In some embodiments, reflective surfaces may be supported by cables that are tensioned by a hanging, rotating ballast. In some embodiments, the device may be employed in a ganged array. In some embodiments, the invention may harvest wind energy as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).