Hardened solar energy collector system

A hardened solar thermal energy collector apparatus adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface and a bottom surface;
• a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted;
• and
• an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector tubes and supporting trays;
• wherein the housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below.

A method of operating a hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system including a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes, and a hardened underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes via piping interconnects, wherein the housing, the plurality of collector tubes and the try are positioned such that topmost portion thereof are at the ground surface level or below;

• the method comprising:
• detecting physical parameters of the working fluid in the geothermal storage unit;
• and
• regulating flow of the working fluid between the array of collector tubes and the geothermal storage unit, as well as between the geothermal storage unit and a turbine to which the geothermal storage unit supplies heated working fluid, based on the detected physical parameters of the working fluid.