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.

A hydrogen production apparatus includes: a first furnace configured to heat a mixed gas of a raw material gas, which contains at least methane, and hydrogen to 1,000° C. or more and 2,000° C. or less; and a second furnace configured to accommodate a catalyst for accelerating a reaction of a first gas generated in the first furnace to a nanocarbon material, and to maintain the first gas at 500° C. or more and 1,200° C. or less.

A solar energy particle receiver system and method of use for precise and controlled heating, sintering, and/or phase change of particles. In one embodiment, the solar energy particle receiver system directs sunlight from a primary concentrator into supplemental concentrating reflective optic where the emitted sunlight is used to heat and sinter, melt, or induce a phase change of the particles such as regolith at a controlled temperature, the supplemental concentrating reflective optics cooled to prevent overheating and a sweeping gas directed at the reflective surface to prevent optical fouling. In one aspect, the supplemental concentrating reflective optic is a compound reflective concentrator. In one application, the particles are a regolith, such as a lunar regolith.

A solar energy particle receiver system and method of use for precise and controlled heating, sintering, and/or phase change of particles. In one embodiment, the solar energy particle receiver system directs sunlight from a primary concentrator into supplemental concentrating reflective optic where the emitted sunlight is used to heat and sinter, melt, or induce a phase change of the particles such as regolith at a controlled temperature, the supplemental concentrating reflective optics cooled to prevent overheating and a sweeping gas directed at the reflective surface to prevent optical fouling. In one aspect, the supplemental concentrating reflective optic is a compound reflective concentrator. In one application, the particles are a regolith, such as a lunar regolith.

A transportation network for providing propellant in space can include optical mining vehicles that concentrate solar energy to spall captured asteroids, capture released volatiles, and store them in reservoirs as propellants. The network can also have orbital transfer vehicles that use solar thermal rocket modules that focus solar energy on heat exchangers to force propellant through nozzles, as well as separable aeromaneuvering tanker modules with reusable heatshields and storage tanks. The network can have propellant depots positioned between Earth and a transport destination. The depots can mechanically couple to accept propellant delivery and to supply it to visiting space vehicles.

A secondary reflector for receiving light from a plurality of primary reflectors that includes a reflecting surface having a length aligned along a first axis (z), where a cross-section of the reflecting surface in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (z) forms a curve comprising a concave section positioned between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, at least a portion of the concave section is accurately approximated by a polynomial equation, an aperture is formed by a straight line connecting the first endpoint to the second endpoint, and the concave section is configured to focus a plurality of beams of light passing through the aperture onto a focal point.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a device that includes a reflecting surface having a length aligned along a first axis (z), where a cross-section of the reflecting surface in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (z) forms a curve comprising a concave section positioned between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, at least a portion of the concave section is accurately approximated by a polynomial equation, an aperture is formed by a straight line connecting the first endpoint to the second endpoint, and the concave section is configured to focus a plurality of beams of light passing through the aperture onto a focal point.

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 novel method is described for water heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored solar heat can then be used to heat water in a storage tank by extracting the solar heat using an antifreeze liquid which in turn heat cold water in the water tank. Water temperature in the storage tank is controlled by a thermostat. When the water temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating pump turns on and pump the cold water until it reaches the desired set temperature. Once it reaches the set point in the thermostat, the water circulation pump turns off.

An integrated wind and solar solution is provided, including a solar energy collection assembly (100) and a vertical axis wind turbine (400), combined to provide an integrated power output. In preferred embodiments, the vertical axis wind turbine is positioned above the solar energy collection assembly. Concentrating solar mirror collectors (116) are used to direct sunlight to a heat engine (250), which converts the collected heat energy into rotary motion. Rotary motion from the heat engine and from the vertical axis wind turbine preferably are on the same rotating axis (600), to facilitate load sharing between these two sources. A dual axis azimuth-altitude solar panel alignment tracking system is used in order to boost the energy conversion capability of the solar energy collectors.