The present invention is a solar concentrator composed of a generally V-shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. The Fresnel reflective steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V-shaped trough and parallel to its central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration a preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector is realized. Various types of solar energy receiving structures are shown that serve to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy to realize the preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector.

Plant for producing solar energy including a support structure formed from support poles aligned fixed to the ground, a movement system for receiving devices of solar energy positioned on poles arranged in a row, adapted for allowing the movement of the devices about a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to one another, a rotating main tube about the first axis, to which a plurality of secondary tubes is connected, associated with said main tube, the secondary tubes having the receiver devices fixed to them and a movement mechanism for the primary tubes, and a sustaining and movement support arranged on each pole of said row, which has a housing that receives the main tube of the movement system and that allows the rotation thereof about the axis.

A fluidic actuator comprises a chamber. The chamber is provided using a mass manufacturing technique. The chamber is formed from a material that has a higher strength in at least two axes relative to at most one other axis. The chamber allows a volume change by localized bending of a chamber wall.

A mechanical solar tracking and solar concentrating system having a Fresnel lens, moveable frame, track, retaining mechanism, and solar collector. The lens focuses solar energy at the collector; the frame holds the collector and lens, keeping them aligned as the frame rotates; and the track guides the frame to maintain a perpendicular orientation to the Sun. The solar collector receives the Sun's rays and the retaining mechanism releases, at established intervals, allowing the frame to rotate to the next location. The cycle repeats, tracking the Sun and concentrating its rays at a focal point, to generate temperatures at the focal point in excess of 500 C. These high temperatures can be exploited in several applications, such as producing drinking water from dirty water; cooking food; disinfecting medical instruments; accelerating fermentation of certain types of flora to produce electricity; generating work for generic purposes; etc.

The present invention relates to the field of linear actuators, and in particular, to a high-efficiency high-thrust electric linear actuator for a solar panel. Compared with a conventional electric linear actuator, in the electric linear actuator for a solar panel of the present invention, a drive nut on a screw uses a copper alloy nut. The copper alloy nut used in the present invention greatly improves the strength, toughness, and fatigue-resistance performance and has high hardness and high tensile strength. The copper alloy nut and the corresponding screw are used in combination to bear higher pressure and do not fracture easily. Therefore, a small-structure high-thrust electric linear actuator can be realized. An electric linear actuator having a smaller volume is used to support the solar panel, so that small space is occupied, and transportation and use become more convenient.

In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to an environment-adjusting, support system for solar energy devices wherein the support system comprises at least one vertical support element secured to a support surface, and at least one rotary element securing a solar energy device to said vertical support elements. The support system may further comprise at least one adjustable counterweight, a linear damper, and/or an energy damper. In a second embodiment, the present invention is an environment-adjusting, support system for solar energy devices. The support system preferably comprises a pair of vertical support elements, a pair of securing members, a first connecting element connecting the pair of vertical support elements, a second connecting element connecting the pair of securing members, and at least one rotary element. In a third embodiment, the present invention is an environment-adjusting, solar energy apparatus which also comprises a solar energy device.

A solar tracking carport comprises a supporting structure including a foundation and at least two columns connected or connectable to the foundation; a three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck having a length from a first edge to a second edge of at least one car, the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck including one or more upper blocks, each of the upper blocks being rigid at least in its longitudinal direction, each of the upper blocks including at least one solar panel; a deck frame configured to support the one or more upper blocks, the deck frame including a torque transmitting member; a rotation enabling connection configured to rotatably connect at least the torque transmitting member of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck to the at least two columns of the supporting structure; and a drive system configured to control tilting of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck about the supporting structure over one axis of rotation to a first maximum angle in a first direction and to a second maximum angle in a second direction, the first maximum angle preventing the first edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going below a first minimum threshold height, the second maximum angle preventing the second edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going below a second minimum threshold height.

Solar-operated adjustment device for a solar installation including, at least one retaining element for fixing at least one solar element, a swivel device which is designed and intended to swivel the retaining element around a support point, wherein the swivel device includes at least one liquid tank, wherein a float of the retaining element is arranged at least in part beneath a filling level of the liquid tank and the float is supported on a perimeter of the liquid tank, and the retaining element can only be swiveled around a support point with respect to a longitudinal axis of the liquid tank by means of its buoyancy and is mounted above the filling level, at least indirectly on the edge of the liquid tank.

An integrated drive leg and mount suitable for solar power devices, such as trough solar concentrators or PV panels. A drive system including a linear actuator is integrated into the support structure. A pulley assembly converts the linear force into rotational motion, thereby providing tracking adjustments for a solar power device following the sun avoiding larger external electric drive motor which are situated between successive solar power devices. The integrated nature enables a smaller gap between solar power devices in solar installations, reduces the effect of induced shadowing, and enables greater collection of solar energy.

Disclosed embodiments provide apparatuses and techniques for use and construction of a two-axis solar tracking device that closely approximates the efficiency of Vertical Biaxial Trackers but with simplified construction, and thus are cost competitive with uniaxial horizontal tracking systems. The flexible mounting system can accommodate both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. Disclosed embodiments provide a solar panel stand that provides biaxial tracking for solar energy generation efficiency, with reduced cost and complexity, enabling more off-grid and micro-grid energy generation capabilities.