The invention provides an apparatus which can heat water using a Fresnel lens or magnifying glass to focus and concentrate sunlight on water-filled radiator-like tubes which move water, by the water pressure from a water spigot/bib (without pumping), to:

1. move the heated water through tubes to heat any space inside any building, and

2. provide steam to power a steam-powered electricity generator to provide electricity, and charge a battery, during daylight hours, and then use the charged battery to supply electricity during the night hours, and

3. move water, cooled by the subsurface ground, by water pressure from a water spigot/bib without pumping, into proximity with any air space inside any building to cool the air space, and

4. array a series of magnifying glasses or Fresnel lenses in order to catch the rays of the sun from sunrise to sunset and focus those rays on the car radiator-like tubes full of water in order to heat the water without using fossil fuels, and

5. support the, array of magnifying glasses or Fresnel lenses and car-radiator-like water tubes with arch structures to hear the weight and protect the structure from earthquake damage.

A sunlight reflecting assembly includes a box that has an entry and an exit. The exit is oriented at a substantially diagonal angle with the entry and the box is positionable outdoors such that sunlight passes through the entry. A first mirror is positioned within the box and the first mirror is comprised of a light reflecting material to reflect the sunlight that passes into the box. A second mirror is positioned within the box and the second mirror is comprised of a light reflecting material to reflect the sunlight that passes into the box. The second mirror is positioned on an opposite side of the box with respect to the first mirror. In this way the first mirror and the second mirror direct the sunlight that passes into the entry outwardly through the exit thereby facilitating the sunlight which passes through the exit to be directed toward a solar panel.

A sunlight reflecting assembly includes a box that has an entry and an exit. The exit is oriented at a substantially diagonal angle with the entry and the box is positionable outdoors such that sunlight passes through the entry. A first mirror is positioned within the box and the first mirror is comprised of a light reflecting material to reflect the sunlight that passes into the box. A second mirror is positioned within the box and the second mirror is comprised of a light reflecting material to reflect the sunlight that passes into the box. The second mirror is positioned on an opposite side of the box with respect to the first mirror. In this way the first mirror and the second mirror direct the sunlight that passes into the entry outwardly through the exit thereby facilitating the sunlight which passes through the exit to be directed toward a solar panel.

A poly-layered, poly-dimensional solar photovoltaic stack structure may be provided in a tower form. A plurality of solar panels may be stacked on top of one another to create a solar stack tower. Using the solar stack tower, reflection, refraction, diffusion, and transportation of light may transmit photons from a higher area of photon saturation to a lower area of photon saturation. The solar stack tower may provide an enclosed structure, protecting and insulating the solar panels from heat, moisture, dust, and other elements that usually damage solar panels over time.

Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, an apparatus for collecting solar energy and simultaneously protecting against damage from a resulting energy beam includes a solar energy collection system including at least one concentrator and a target configured to use, store, or convert the solar energy, the collection system configured to cause solar energy to focus on the target, at least one sensor configured to detect misalignment of the concentrator by determining that some or all of the collected solar energy is offset from the target, and a safety system configured to redirect the energy or interpose a safety structure for shielding other non-target systems from receiving too much solar energy from the collection system.

Omnivorous solar thermal thrusters and adjustable cooling structures are disclosed. In one aspect, a solar thermal rocket engine includes a solar thermal thruster configured to receive solar energy and one or more propellants, and heat the one or more propellants using the solar energy to generate thrust. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use a plurality of different propellant types, either singly or in combination simultaneously. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use the one or more propellants in both liquid and gaseous states. Related structures can include valves and variable-geometry cooling channels in thermal contact with a thruster wall.

Omnivorous solar thermal thrusters and adjustable cooling structures are disclosed. In one aspect, a solar thermal rocket engine includes a solar thermal thruster configured to receive solar energy and one or more propellants, and heat the one or more propellants using the solar energy to generate thrust. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use a plurality of different propellant types, either singly or in combination simultaneously. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use the one or more propellants in both liquid and gaseous states. Related structures can include valves and variable-geometry cooling channels in thermal contact with a thruster wall.

A method for moving an end effector based on receipt of sunlight, the end effector divided into a first and second upper quadrant located above a Y-axis that corresponds to a solar azimuth and a first and second lower quadrant located below the Y-axis, the first upper and first lower quadrant located on a first side of an X-axis that corresponds to a solar angle and the second upper and second lower quadrant located on a second side of the X-axis, determining a vertical difference between an average of the illuminance received in first and second upper quadrants and an average of the illuminance received in first and second lower quadrants, determining a lateral difference between an average of the illuminance received in the first upper quadrant and the first lower quadrant and an average of the illuminance received in the second upper quadrant and the second lower quadrant, moving end effector along the X-axis in response to the vertical difference being greater than a vertical tolerance; and moving the end effector along the Y-axis in response to the lateral difference being greater than a lateral tolerance.

A solar energy collector includes: a solar energy collection tube having an absorption medium flow path for allowing an absorption medium to flow therethrough; a lens configured to concentrate solar energy on the solar energy collection tube; and an actuator configured to move the solar energy collection tube or the lens based on an incidence angle of the solar energy so that the solar energy is focused on the solar energy collection tube.

The invention provides an apparatus which can heat water using a Fresnel lens or magnifying glass to focus and concentrate sunlight on water-filled radiator-like tubes which move water, by the water pressure from a water spigot/bib (without pumping), to: 1. move the heated water through tubes to heat any space inside any building, and 2. provide steam to power a steam-powered electricity generator to provide electricity, and charge a battery, during daylight hours, and then use the charged battery to supply electricity during the night hours, and 3. move water, cooled by the subsurface ground, by water pressure from a water spigot/bib without pumping, into proximity with any air space inside any building to cool the air space, and 4. array a series of magnifying glasses or Fresnel lenses in order to catch the rays of the sun from sunrise to sunset and focus those rays on the car radiator-like tubes full of water in order to heat the water without using fossil fuels, and 5. support the, array of magnifying glasses or Fresnel lenses and car-radiator-like water tubes with arch structures to hear the weight and protect the structure from earthquake damage.