A reflection unit 31 to 34 has an outer reflection panel 311 to 314 and an inner reflection panel 321 to 324. The outer reflection panel 311 to 314 is disposed around power generation units 22 to 24. The inner reflection panel 321 to 324 is disposed substantively parallel to the outer reflection panel 311 to 314 between the outer reflection panel 311 to 314 and the power generation units 22 to 24. The reflection units 31 to 34 reflects solar light injected into gaps 361 to 364 between the outer reflection panels 311 to 314 and the inner reflection panels 321 to 324 to transmit the solar light into the power generation units 22 to 24.

A system and method for the removal of volatile components from a liquid or a slurry containing solids and liquids and using a screw conveyor or auger systems that transfers solid/liquid slurries through an elongated tube heated by solar energy from a parabolic solar trough. The system flashes off the volatile component then counter-currently flows that vapor back into the hollow pipe inside of the augur creating a Multi-effect or Multi Flash device which greatly improves the overall efficiency of removal of the volatile material.

The present invention relates to a solar surface receptor module that operates at a high temperature and comprises a channel (101) extending therethrough and along which a heat transfer occurs between a fluid (liquid or gas) moving in said channel (101) and at least one wall (104) of the receptor exposed to concentrated solar radiation, characterized in that the inner surface (105) of at least said wall includes turbulence-generating actuators (110) at the fluid inlet (102). The present invention also relates to a solar receptor therefor.

A heat transfer device (100) includes an inner tube (102) mounted within a tubular chamber (104) of a heat exchanger (106). The hollow tubular chamber (104) has a closed end (108) with inwardly sloping inner surfaces (110) and the inner tube (102) has an open end (112) that terminates short of the closed end (108). A diffuser (114) is provided and is shaped such that an operatively front part (116) thereof substantially conforms to a shape of the inner surfaces (110) of the closed end (108) so as to form a narrow flow passageway (118) between the diffuser (114) and the inner surfaces (110) at the closed end (108), and an operatively back part (120) of the diffuser (114) slopes towards the inner tube (102) and away from its open end (112) to form a diffusion zone (122). Heat transfer assemblies utilising the heat transfer device (100) are also disclosed.

Provided is a light-concentrating solar energy system, comprising a pair of outer reflective elements (110, 110), a pair of inner reflective elements (120, 120) and a solar energy utilization device (130), wherein each pair of reflective elements comprises two reflective elements which are arranged opposite to each other in a tilted manner, and one end thereof with a larger opening is an upper end, which faces a sunlight (LL) incident direction; the pair of inner reflective elements (120, 120) is arranged between the pair of outer reflective elements (110, 110); and a light receiving surface (131) of the solar energy utilization device (130) is arranged at a lower end of the pair of outer reflective elements (110, 110), and the inner reflective elements (120, 120) are located on the light receiving surface (131). The system can realize a relatively high light-concentrating ratio and light-concentrating efficiency at a lower cost.

A heat receiver, a reactor, and a heater utilize the heat of concentrated solar light for thermal decomposition and/or chemical reaction of coals, etc. The heat receiver includes: a side portion forming a substantially cylindrical side surface; a substantially circular bottom portion connected to the lower edge of the side portion; and a ceiling connected to the upper edge of the side portion. A substantially circular aperture is formed in the center of the ceiling. The heat receiver has a substantially cylindrical cavity and the opening portion is open. When the cavity has a diameter of D and a length of L, and the aperture has a diameter of d, d=D/2 or less and L=2D or more. Concentrated solar light entering the heat receiver is to be contained in the heat receiver to effectively utilize the solar light.

A solar energy collection system includes a reflector configured to reflect and focus a majority of solar energy from visible light and infrared spectra. The solar energy collection system also includes a light trap configured to receive concentrated solar energy from the reflector. The light trap includes a black body that is configured to absorb a majority of the concentrated visible light and infrared energy and convert the absorbed energy into thermal energy.

Solar heat collecting apparatus, wherein plural reflecting mirrors are disposed in north-south direction; the plural reflecting mirrors are provided with heliostat mechanism; the heliostat mechanism includes an east-west angle adjustment unit, having a rotating ring, to adjust the angle of reflecting surface of the plural reflecting mirrors in the east-west direction, and a north-south angle adjustment unit, having actuators, to adjust angle of reflecting surface of the plural reflecting mirrors in the north-south direction; the angle of reflecting surface of the plural reflecting mirrors on each reflection line is simultaneously adjusted via the frame by rotation of the rotating ring; the angle of reflecting surface of each reflecting mirror is individually adjusted by a back-and-forth motion of an arm of the corresponding actuator; and, each reception line is provided with a receiver, and the receiver collects heat from the reflected light of the sunlight reflected by the plural reflecting mirrors.

A solar receiver includes: water jacket panels each having a light-receiving side and a back side with a watertight sealed plenum defined in-between; light apertures passing through the watertight sealed plenums to receive light from the light-receiving sides of the water jacket panels; a heat transfer medium gap defined between the back sides of the water jacket panels and a cylindrical back plate; and light channeling tubes optically coupled with the light apertures and extending into the heat transfer medium gap. In some embodiments ends of the light apertures at the light receiving side of the water jacket panel are welded together to define at least a portion of the light-receiving side. A cylindrical solar receiver may be constructed using a plurality of such water jacket panels arranged with their light-receiving sides facing outward.

Solar power conversion system. The system includes a cavity formed within an enclosure having highly specularly reflecting in the IR spectrum inside walls, the enclosure having an opening to receive solar radiation. An absorber is positioned within the cavity for receiving the solar radiation resulting in heating of the absorber structure. In a preferred embodiment, the system further contains an energy conversion and storage devices thermally-linked to the absorber by heat conduction, convection, far-field or near-field thermal radiation.