Concentrating solar energy collector

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide electricity, heat, or a combination of heat and electricity are disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concentrating solar energy collector comprising:
 a linearly elongated reflector having a linear focus;   a linearly elongated receiver oriented parallel to and located at or approximately at the linear focus of the reflector and fixed in position with respect to the reflector; and   a support structure supporting the reflector and the receiver and pivotally mounted to accommodate rotation of the support structure, the reflector, and the receiver about a rotation axis parallel to the linear focus of the reflector;   wherein the receiver comprises solar cells that, in operation of the concentrating solar energy collector, are illuminated by solar radiation concentrated by the reflector onto the receiver;   wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of linearly elongated reflective elements each having a long axis, and the linearly elongated reflective elements are arranged on and attached to a sheet of metal in two or more parallel side-by-side rows with the long axes of the linearly elongated reflective elements and the rows oriented parallel to the linear focus of the reflector, the sheet of metal providing longitudinal support parallel to the rotation axis along the length of the linearly elongated reflective elements; and   wherein each row of linearly elongated reflective elements includes two or more of the linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end such that gaps or joints between the linearly elongated reflective elements in each row are not next to gaps or joints between linearly elongated reflective elements in an adjacent row.   
     
     
         2 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 1 , wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are of two or more different lengths. 
     
     
         3 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 2 , wherein in each row of linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end each gap or joint between linearly elongated reflective elements is separated from its nearest neighbor gap or joint in the other rows of linearly elongated reflective elements by at least one row of linearly elongated reflective elements. 
     
     
         4 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises one or more coolant channels through which, in operation of the concentrating solar energy collector, fluid may pass to collect heat from solar radiation concentrated by the reflector onto the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support structure comprises a plurality of transverse reflector supports to which the sheet of metal is attached;   each transverse reflector support extends transversely to the rotation axis to support the reflector; and   upper surfaces of the transverse reflector supports orient the sheet of metal, and thus the linearly elongated reflective elements attached to it, in a desired orientation with respect to the receiver.   
     
     
         6 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 1 , wherein the reflector has a parabolic curvature transverse to its long axis. 
     
     
         7 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 1 , wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are flat or substantially flat transverse to their long axes. 
     
     
         8 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the receiver comprises one or more coolant channels through which, in operation of the concentrating solar energy collector, fluid may pass to collect heat from solar radiation concentrated by the reflector onto the receiver;   the linearly elongated reflective elements are flat or substantially flat transverse to their long axes; and   the support structure comprises a plurality of transverse reflector supports to which the sheet of metal is attached, the transverse reflector supports supporting the reflector and extending transverse to the rotation axis.   
     
     
         9 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 8 , wherein the linearly elongated reflective elements are of two or more different lengths. 
     
     
         10 . The concentrating solar energy collector of  claim 9 , wherein in each row of linearly elongated reflective elements arranged end-to-end each gap or joint between linearly elongated reflective elements is separated from its nearest neighbor gap or joint in the other rows of linearly elongated reflective elements by at least one row of linearly elongated reflective elements.