The present invention relates to a method for collecting sunlight through an image method by tracking the sun using a dish-shaped light collector or a paraboloidal light collector and, and to a method and an apparatus for transmitting high-density light as the collected sunlight to a remote place, to which the light is applied, and for generating super-high-density light by combining, in a multi-stage manner, the high-density light obtained through a plurality of light collectors. A first concaveparaboloidal reflector of a paraboloidal light collection unit can collect light, transmit the collected light to the remote place, and provide an efficient and quantitative use environment to an applied device by using a paraboloidal reflector set including: a first concave-paraboloidal mirror in which a slope of a paraboloide is provided to make a narrow width so that downward reflection is greater than or equal to 90% by an angle between an incident angle at an inner point of a paraboloidal mirror and a normal surface, the angle being larger than a critical angle, and which has an opening formed at the lower side of a central axis thereof; and a second convex-paraboloidal reflector, which has a small diameter, shares a focus of the first concave-paraboloidal mirror, and has a miniaturized shape of the first concave-paraboloidal mirror at a focal portion without an opening at a central axis thereof.

A solar collector 1 for the temporary storage of heat from solar radiation comprising a radiation conductor 8, 9 for conducting the solar radiation, and lens means 7 for concentrating solar radiation onto a first extremity of the radiation conductor. A thermally-insulated core 2 is provided on an opposite second extremity of the radiation conductor 8, 9 in order to be heated by the solar radiation released from the radiation conductor and temporarily storing the heat. For this purpose, the core is provided with an insulated casing 4, virtually completely enveloping the core, which insulated casing 4 comprises a layer of porous ceramic material.

A solar collector is disclosed in which a light pipe having an optical axis and extending from a proximal end configured to receive sunlight to a distal end, and a plurality of reflective elements optically coupled to the light pipe. Each of the reflective elements is configured to direct at least a portion of sunlight incident thereon into the light pipe via the proximal end substantially parallel to the optical axis for a plurality of positions of the sun in the sky. Baffles coupled to the reflective elements further enhance the collectors ability to increase the light collected.

An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system having a turbine with an upstream side and a downstream side. Warm water under a partial vacuum is converted into a vapor, the vapor being supplied to the upstream side of the turbine at a pressure controlled by the temperature of the warm water. A condenser is situated on the downstream side of the turbine to cause the vapor, after passing through the turbine, to undergo a phase change back to a liquid, which can be used as potable water. The condenser is coupled to a source of a cooling liquid, and the pressure of the vapor on the downstream side of the turbine is determined by the temperature of the cooling liquid. A flexible floating solar collector supplies the warm liquid to the upstream side at a temperature higher than normal ambient temperature.

A light guide apparatus that can redirect light impinging on the apparatus over a wide range of incident angles and can concentrate light without using a tracking system and methods for fabrication. This apparatus uses conditions of total internal reflection and refraction near the critical angle for total internal reflection (near TIR) in order to trap light within the apparatus.

A light-concentrating lens assembly for a solar energy system, the assembly comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged paraboloid mirror reflectors, a conical light guide extending below the plurality of paraboloid mirror reflectors, an inner central cone disposed along a central axis of the concentrically arranged paraboloid mirror reflectors, and a compound paraboloid concentrator disposed beneath the inner central cone.

A solar concentrator for concentrating solar radiation toward a solar cell, a concentrated photovoltaic module including a solar concentrator and a solar cell, and a secondary optical element for use in a solar concentrator are provided. The solar concentrator includes a primary optical element for collecting and focusing the solar radiation, and a secondary optical element. The secondary optical element is arranged to receive the solar radiation collected and focused by the primary optical element and includes an input end, and output end, and an adiabatic light guide tapering from the input end toward the output end and configured for concentrating and adiabatically guiding the solar radiation between the input and output ends. Some embodiments of the present invention can be useful in solar photovoltaic applications where it is desirable to provide high acceptance angles while maintaining high concentration and optical efficiency levels.

A metal heat storage apparatus comprises a metal heat storage medium, a medium insertion chamber insulating the inner side, outer side and the floor of the metal heat storage medium; an outer wall structure made of concrete further insulating the metal heat storage medium and including a floor, a central column, an outer wall body, and an upper cover; an infrared ray reflecting mirror disposed below the upper cover constituting the outer wall structure and reflecting infrared rays generated from the metal heat storage medium; a heat exchanger spirally disposed inside the metal heat storage medium and including supply and drain tubes exposed to the outside of the outer wall structure; a solar heater buried in the metal heat storage medium; and a high-density optical input port passing through the outer wall body and the insulating outer wall to provide solar energy to the solar heater.

Holographic concentration solar modules (1), which concentrate the solar light into photovoltaic solar cells (2), integrated into urban and street elements (3), such as street lamps, bus stops, motorway toll booths, charging facilities, advertising sites, kiosks, amongst others, are disclosed. The holographic solar concentration modules (1) carry out passive tracking and the design thereof may be adapted to any surface. The efficient capturing of solar light in any position is guaranteed with the design versatility of the hologram included in the solar module (1). Therefore, in the present invention, in each one of the applications, a constructive element is substituted by a holographic solar concentration module (1). For example, it forms the support of a solar street lamp, the cover of a bus stop or of a toll booth, or the structure of an advertising site, amongst others. The solar module (1) constitutes in this way photovoltaic integration (BIPV) into urban and street elements. The urban and street element can be autonomous or connected to the network, in this last case, wherein it can form part of an intelligent network.

The disclosure generally relates to concentrating daylight collectors and in particular to a light concentrator alignment system that can detect and correct for misalignment of the solar concentrator. The present disclosure generally relates to concentrating daylight collectors that can be used for illuminating interior spaces of a building with sunlight, and in particular to a light concentrator alignment system that can detect and correct for misalignment of the solar concentrator.