Trough heat collector element insulator

Abstract

A concentrating solar collector heat collecting element insulating shield has an elongated hemi-cylindrical body having an internal diameter approximately equivalent to (able to physically engage to) the outer diameter of the concentrating solar power (CSP) heat collecting element, either the evacuated outer tube, the fluid-carrying inner tube, or both. The device may have multiple layers of insulating/reflecting material, sheet metal, polymer, composite, may have flanges, fingers or other attachments to the CSP heat collecting element tube, or may be slightly greater than 180 degrees in arc so as to grip the CSP heat collecting element.

1 . A CSP heat collecting element insulating device for use on a CSP heat collecting element having an outside diameter and length, the CSP heat collecting element insulating device comprising:
 a body having a semi-circular cross section and an elongated length, the semi-circular cross section of the body having an inside diameter approximately equal to that of such CSP heat collecting element outside diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arc of the semi-circular cross section, the arc being greater than 180 degrees, whereby the device may maintain physical engagement with such CSP heat collecting element.   
     
     
         3 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arc of the semi-circular cross section, the arc being less than 180 degrees;   at least one upper projection from the body and at least one lower projection from the body, the upper and lower projections cooperating to maintain physical engagement with such CSP heat collecting element when the CSP heat collecting element device is placed on such CSP heat collecting element.   
     
     
         4 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an attachment to such CSP heat collecting element.   
     
     
         5 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: a braze weld, a weld, solder, adhesive, bolts, tabs, detents, hooks, studs, rivets and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated length is approximately the same as such CSP heat collecting element length. 
     
     
         7 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is sheet metal. 
     
     
         8 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is high temperature polymer or composite. 
     
     
         9 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1  used on a CSP heat collecting element having an inner fluid-carrying tube and an outer evacuated tube, respectively having an inner fluid-carrying tube outer diameter and an outer evacuated tube outer diameter, wherein:
 the semi-circular cross section inner diameter is approximately equal to the inner fluid-carrying tube outer diameter.   
     
     
         10 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1  used on a CSP heat collecting element having an inner fluid-carrying tube and an outer evacuated tube, respectively having an inner fluid-carrying tube outer diameter and an outer evacuated tube outer diameter, wherein:
 the semi-circular cross section inner diameter is approximately equal to the outer evacuated tube diameter.   
     
     
         11 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1  used on a CSP heat collecting element having an inner fluid-carrying tube and an outer evacuated tube, respectively having an inner fluid-carrying tube outer diameter and an outer evacuated tube outer diameter, further comprising:
 a second body having a second semi-circular cross section and a second elongated length, the semi-circular cross section of the body having a diameter approximately equal to that of such CSP heat collecting element;   the first body semi-circular cross section inner diameter approximately equal to such CSP heat collecting element outer evacuated tube outer diameter; and   the second body semi-circular cross section inner diameter approximately equal to such CSP heat collecting element inner fluid-carrying tube outer diameter.   
     
     
         12 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one standoff device dimensioned and configured to maintain a standoff between the body inside diameter and the CSP heat collecting element outside diameter.   
     
     
         13 . The CSP heat collecting element insulating device of  claim 12 , wherein the standoff device further comprises:
 at least one dimple.