Disclosed is a device with a heat exchanger having a first flow through which a first gaseous heat transfer medium passes and a second flow through which a second gaseous heat transfer medium passes. Upstream of the first flow, there is a combustion chamber, which optionally extends into the first flow. Two feed lines are attached to the first flow, of which the first feed line is connected to a thermal solar installation and the second feed line is connected to a source for a combustible gas-air mixture or for a non-combustible gas, in particular an oxygen-containing gas, such as air.

A device is disclosed for the storage and transfer of solar thermal energy which includes a casing having a irradiation opening for the entry of incident solar radiation in a irradiation region of the casing. a bed of fluidizable solid particles received within the casing, and a plurality of reflecting and radiating surfaces arranged within the irradiation region and configured to convey the solar radiation entering through the irradiation opening, after multiple reflections, on the bed of particles.

A hybrid steam power plant is disclosed using the steam generator as a sub-construction for a solar receiver.

A support structure (10) for carrying a plurality of heliostats (12) is provided. The support structure (10) includes a frame (20) formed from a number of girders (22). The frame has a triangular outer perimeter and a plurality of mountings (26) for carrying the heliostats (12) are provided along the perimeter. At least one mounting (26) is provided at or near each vertex (16) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20), and at least one additional mounting (26) is provided part-way along each side (17) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20).

The invention relates to an asymmetric solar receiver suitable for its installation in heliostat tower solar power plants, wherein said receiver is adapted to cover at least an angular region of around a tower, and wherein the effective surface density of the receiver for receiving radiation varies depending on its orientation over the covered angular region thereof. The effective surface of said receiver is preferably made of one or more panels and, more preferably, the receiver comprises at least two panels, wherein at least one of the panels comprises a smaller height than the other panels. The invention also relates to a solar tower comprising said receiver, a solar field comprising said tower, a solar power plant comprising said solar field, and a process for installing a solar field.

The present invention relates to an optical system for concentrating incoming light comprising a plurality of concentrating optical elements (100) with a front surface (102) arranged to receive incoming light and a back surface (103) arranged to exit light, wherein the front surface is larger than the back surface. Adjacent concentrating optical elements are separated by gaps (101) and the refractive index of the material in a concentrating optical element is higher than the refractive index of the gap. The geometry of the concentrating optical elements is optimized to enhance the light concentration.

The present disclosure relates to a parabolic trough concentrator to harness the sun's energy. The parabolic trough concentrator 5 comprises a trough concentrator structure 6, two semi-rigid reflecting sheets 50, a receiver 60, a support stand 80 and a telescopic mechanism 90. The parabolic trough concentrator 5 is designed to have a large reflecting surface area when it is in its extended state, and have a very compact footprint when it is disassembled, folded and collapsed to its retracted state.

The present disclosure relates to a parabolic trough concentrator to harness the sun's energy. The parabolic trough concentrator 5 comprises a trough concentrator structure 6, two semi-rigid reflecting sheets 50, a receiver 60, a support stand 80 and a telescopic mechanism 90. The parabolic trough concentrator 5 is designed to have a large reflecting surface area when it is in its extended state, and have a very compact footprint when it is disassembled, folded and collapsed to its retracted state.

The present invention provides a solar heat collecting device having good heat collection efficiency. A uniaxial solar-tracking reflective mirror group is arranged such that each longitudinal axis thereof faces the same direction. A first biaxial solar-tracking reflective mirror group and a second biaxial solar-tracking reflective mirror group are arranged lined up in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis direction of uniaxial solar-tracking reflective mirrors. The uniaxial solar-tracking reflective mirror group is arranged so as to be sandwiched on both sides by the first biaxial solar-tracking reflective mirror group and the second biaxial solar-tracking reflective mirror group. Each mirror group sends solar heat received during uniaxial or biaxial tracking in accordance with the position of the sun, to a heat collecting device.

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.