Multimode solar energy collector and process
A description is given of a multimode solar energy collector comprising: a transparent tubular body portion having end closures sealing each end of said body portion providing a fluid-tight cavity within the tube, a concentrator-reflector within the tube, a focal-line solar energy absorber in the focus of said concentrator-reflector, means for removal of absorbed energy from said focal-line solar energy absorber to the exterior of said tube, a diffuse sol ar energy absorber within the tube adapted to be in the path of reflected or diffuse solar radiation, a low temperature fluid conduit in thermal exchange relation with said diffuse solar energy absorber, heat exchanger fluid in said conduit and means for introducing and withdrawing the heat exchange fluid from said collector, said concentrator-reflector adapted to be in the path of direct solar radiation and focusing said direct radiation of said focal-line absorber and said diffuse absorber adapted to be in the path of reflected or diffuse solar radiation. The multimode solar energy collector of claim 1 wherein said focal-line energy absorber is coated with a photovoltaic material or fitted with photovoltaic cells directly converting the solar energy into electrical energy. The multimode solar energy collector of claim 1 wherein said concentrator-reflector is in movable relation to the tube.
- Assignee:
- IFI; ERA-05-036501; EDB-80-110253
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4210463
- OSTI ID:
- 5040801
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 11 Jan 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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