Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

A frame includes a support structure made up of profiles for supporting photovoltaic panels, and which has two lateral sides; and at least one reinforcement element mounted in correspondence with the corresponding lateral side thereof for supporting additional loads to the weight of the cells. It further includes connection means for connecting to a torsion tube. In one exemplary embodiment the reinforcement element is a solid gusset from which the lateral sides are suspended, as well as the connection means include upper and lower clamps with a shape adapted to the torsion tube to avoid relative rotation, and which are tightened against the torsion tube by means of bolts which pass through the clamps and corresponding nuts, the upper clamp comprising lateral grooves to fit the reinforcement elements.

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

A double point focusing solar energy collection apparatus of the present invention includes a heat collector, a secondary concentrator, and a bracket. The heat collector includes a primary concentrator and a heat collection tube, in which the primary concentrator has a focus point. The secondary concentrator has a focus point. The bracket supports the primary concentrator, the heat collection tube, and the secondary concentrator. The heat collection tube is located between the primary concentrator and the secondary concentrator and located on the focus points of the secondary concentrator and the primary concentrator. By adding the secondary concentrator, which is a rotating paraboloid reflector or circular Fresnel reflector, it can achieve low light loss and high heat collection efficiency, and erosion of the heat collection tube by sand, rain, and snow can be effectively prevented, thereby extending the lifetime of the heat collection tube effectively.

A double point focusing solar energy collection apparatus of the present invention includes a heat collector, a secondary concentrator, and a bracket. The heat collector includes a primary concentrator and a heat collection tube, in which the primary concentrator has a focus point. The secondary concentrator has a focus point. The bracket supports the primary concentrator, the heat collection tube, and the secondary concentrator. The heat collection tube is located between the primary concentrator and the secondary concentrator and located on the focus points of the secondary concentrator and the primary concentrator. By adding the secondary concentrator, which is a rotating paraboloid reflector or circular Fresnel reflector, it can achieve low light loss and high heat collection efficiency, and erosion of the heat collection tube by sand, rain, and snow can be effectively prevented, thereby extending the lifetime of the heat collection tube effectively.

A two-piece truss leg with an articulating coupler for an A-frame-shaped truss foundation system for single-axis trackers. The coupler is attached to the head of each screw anchor to enable it to be driven. A connection portion extends above the coupler and is received within an open end of an upper leg to allow the upper leg to be misaligned with respect to it corresponding screw anchor.

A two-piece truss leg with an articulating coupler for an A-frame-shaped truss foundation system for single-axis trackers. The coupler is attached to the head of each screw anchor to enable it to be driven. A connection portion extends above the coupler and is received within an open end of an upper leg to allow the upper leg to be misaligned with respect to it corresponding screw anchor.

A dual drive shaft solar tracker system comprises a photovoltaic (PV) structure, which includes at least one solar panel, a support structure and first and second drive shafts. The first and second drive shafts comprise first and second belt mechanisms wherein movement of the PV structure occurs by wrapping belts of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft and by wrapping belts of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft so as to provide a non-linear wrapping rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the belt wrapping onto the first and second drive shafts. A linkage, which ties two rows that are unbalanced in opposite directions, cancels out the imbalance as long as both rows have identical components. This allows trackers to use PV modules of any size and weight and the perfect balance is unaffected.