There is disclosed a receiver panel. In an embodiment, the panel is configured to receive a curtain of particles in a solar central receiver system. A porous structure of the panel has a top end and a bottom end. The porous structure is disposed between the top end and the bottom end. The porous structure has a size to impede movement of the particles during downward travel from the top end to the bottom end. There is disclosed a solar central receiver system. In an embodiment, the receiver system includes a plurality of receiver panels, a tower supporting the plurality of receiver panels in a configuration to receive solar irradiation, and a hopper forming a slot configured to dispose the particles at a given location on to the porous structure. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A solar energy collection system comprises a frame for mounting the system on a suitable substrate and a plurality of solar panels disposed adjacent to one another on the frame. A first set of the solar panels are movable relative to a second set of the solar panels, for tracking movement of the sun during the day. Solar panels of the first set are arranged in alternating fashion with solar panels of the second set. In some embodiments of the invention, the panels in the second set of solar panels are stationary. The second set of solar panels, in some embodiments, are disposed substantially flat, relative to the frame and the substrate on which the frame is mounted. In some embodiments, differing from those in which the second set of solar panels are stationary, the second set of solar panels may be arranged to be movable relative to the first set of solar panels.

A receiver system for a Fresnel solar plant is provided that includes an absorber tube defining a longitudinal direction, a mirror array that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction and is used for concentrating light beams onto the absorber tube, and a support frame for the absorber tube and the mirror array. A first suspension for holding the absorber tube and a second suspension for holding the mirror array or at least parts of the mirror array are independently mounted on the support frame. The first suspension has first compensation device while the second suspension has second compensation device. The first and second compensation devices allow for different expansions of the absorber tube and the mirror array or at least parts of the mirror array in the longitudinal direction.

In one embodiment a solar collector is provided. The collector has a modular heat transfer component, which includes a heat transfer core to heat up a heat transfer fluid in the form of an aerogel. The heat transfer core positioned comprises a light absorption element, and a fluid transfer element in the form of an aerogel. The aero gel comprises voids shaped and dimensioned to support passive pumping of the heat transfer fluid therethrough.

Solar energy is collected and used for various industrial processes, such as oilfield applications, e.g. generating steam that is injected downhole, enabling enhanced oil recovery. Solar energy is indirectly collected using a heat transfer fluid in a solar collector, delivering heat to a heat exchanger that in turn delivers heat into oilfield feedwater, producing hotter water or steam. Solar energy is directly collected by directly generating steam with solar collectors, and then injecting the steam downhole. Solar energy is collected to preheat water that is then fed into fuel-fired steam generators that in turn produce steam for downhole injection. Solar energy is collected to produce electricity via a Rankine cycle turbine generator, and rejected heat warms feedwater for fuel-fired steam generators. Solar energy is collected (directly or indirectly) to deliver heat to a heater-treater, with optional fuel-fired additional heat generation.

A concentrating solar collector module includes improvements in performance and assemblability. In one configuration, the module includes a reflector having a reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming solar radiation onto a focal line, first and second rails, one rail attached to each edge of the reflector, and a set of truss connectors attached to the rails. The truss connectors and rails may form ways that enable constrained sliding engagement of the truss connectors along the rails before attachment of the truss connectors to the rails. The module may also include a plurality of framing members connected to the truss connectors and forming a structural lattice that cooperates with the reflector to lend rigidity to the solar collector module. At least some of the framing members may be disposed in front of the front reflective surface.

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.

A film mirror having a metal reflective layer formed on a resin substrate may include, closer to a light incident side than the metal reflective layer, an interface reflective layer having at least one set of a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer that are adjacent to each other. At least one of the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer may include a water soluble polymer and metal oxide particles. A method for manufacturing the film mirror may include forming the interface reflective layer by simultaneous multilayer coating of materials of the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer.

An improvised Solar Concentrator and Absorber/Receiver Subsystem using a Dual-Stage Parabolic Concentrator for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) (Thermal) system comprises of two parabolic mirrored reflectors wherein their apertures face each other with their focal point/line and axes coincides with each other, a plurality of absorber tubes/cavities placed on the non-reflecting side of the primary and/or secondary reflectors to carry heat transfer fluid, combined with relevant mechanisms to prevent/minimize thermal loss, mounted on a Sun tracking mechanism. For Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) and Concentrating Hybrid Thermo-Photovoltaic (CHTPV) Systems, all or a portion of the reflectors' reflecting and/or exterior surfaces would be covered or substituted with suitable photovoltaic panels.

Provided are reflective thin film constructions including a reduced number of layers, which provides for increased solar-weighted hemispherical reflectance and durability. Reflective films include those comprising an ultraviolet absorbing abrasion resistant coating over a metal layer. Also provided are ultraviolet absorbing abrasion resistant coatings and methods for optimizing the ultraviolet absorption of an abrasion resistant coating. Reflective films disclosed herein are useful for solar reflecting, solar collecting, and solar concentrating applications, such as for the generation of electrical power.