Systems and methods for falling particle receivers are disclosed that include shield or deflector structures around the receiver aperture to reduce wind effects and/or heat losses from the falling particles. External and internal structures are disclosed that can be tailored to reduce particle, thermal, and radiative losses from within the cavity receiver due to external wind and the falling particles that are irradiated within the receiver. Structures of varying shapes, sizes, and composition (transparent, reflective) are described.

Systems and methods for falling particle receivers are disclosed that include shield or deflector structures around the receiver aperture to reduce wind effects and/or heat losses from the falling particles. External and internal structures are disclosed that can be tailored to reduce particle, thermal, and radiative losses from within the cavity receiver due to external wind and the falling particles that are irradiated within the receiver. Structures of varying shapes, sizes, and composition (transparent, reflective) are described.

Device for securing an orientation of photovoltaic panels includes a stem for supporting an array assembly of photovoltaic panels for producing an electrical current when exposed to sunlight. The array assembly also includes eye blades positioned on a side opposite to a photovoltaic panel carrying side. The device further includes a joint interconnecting the stem and the eye blades of the array assembly. The joint includes a hollow horizontal conduit and a bolting mechanism for adjustably coupling the eye blades to lateral ends of the horizontal conduit. A side of each eye blade facing the horizontal conduit carries an eye blade gear that cooperatively meshes with a conduit gear carried at or near a lateral end of the horizontal conduit to secure the array assembly at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis passing through the stem.

Device for securing an orientation of photovoltaic panels includes a stem for supporting an array assembly of photovoltaic panels for producing an electrical current when exposed to sunlight. The array assembly also includes eye blades positioned on a side opposite to a photovoltaic panel carrying side. The device further includes a joint interconnecting the stem and the eye blades of the array assembly. The joint includes a hollow horizontal conduit and a bolting mechanism for adjustably coupling the eye blades to lateral ends of the horizontal conduit. A side of each eye blade facing the horizontal conduit carries an eye blade gear that cooperatively meshes with a conduit gear carried at or near a lateral end of the horizontal conduit to secure the array assembly at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis passing through the stem.

An absorber system solves problems of known absorber systems for use in solar fields in that the absorber tube is suspended on a rail below an absorber cover. The design also makes it possible to move measuring and cleaning robots and the like along the absorber tube more and allows the absorber tube and the secondary reflector to be jointly suspended, whereby an exact mutual alignment between the two components is enabled.

An absorber system solves problems of known absorber systems for use in solar fields in that the absorber tube is suspended on a rail below an absorber cover. The design also makes it possible to move measuring and cleaning robots and the like along the absorber tube more and allows the absorber tube and the secondary reflector to be jointly suspended, whereby an exact mutual alignment between the two components is enabled.

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.

A protection system protects against incident wind in a photovoltaic installation and a method protects a photovoltaic installation against damage caused by incident wind. The protection system for protecting a photovoltaic installation includes a plurality of parallel and spaced apart rows of solar trackers having a central shaft attached to supports by means of couplings and supporting photovoltaic panel; and at least one actuator device kinetically connected to the central shaft for modifying its angular position. At least one row comprises a deflecting barrier below the photovoltaic panels and between the supports, covering between 40% and 65% of the distance (D) existing between the central shaft and the ground, defining a passage (P) between the deflecting barrier and the central shaft for redirecting the incident wind.

A protection system protects against incident wind in a photovoltaic installation and a method protects a photovoltaic installation against damage caused by incident wind. The protection system for protecting a photovoltaic installation includes a plurality of parallel and spaced apart rows of solar trackers having a central shaft attached to supports by means of couplings and supporting photovoltaic panel; and at least one actuator device kinetically connected to the central shaft for modifying its angular position. At least one row comprises a deflecting barrier below the photovoltaic panels and between the supports, covering between 40% and 65% of the distance (D) existing between the central shaft and the ground, defining a passage (P) between the deflecting barrier and the central shaft for redirecting the incident wind.

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.