Multi-chamber solar collector

An apparatus for heating a fluid using solar energy, the apparatus comprising:

• (i) a fluid source,
• (ii) a first chamber comprising a fluid inlet comprising a first controllable valve configured to allow controlled substantially one-way movement of a fluid from the fluid source to the first chamber,
• (iii) a second chamber comprising a fluid outlet comprising a second controllable valve configured to allow the controlled substantially one-way movement of a fluid internal the second chamber to a further chamber or external the apparatus, and
• (iv) a fluid connection between the first and second chambers having a third controllable valve configured to allow controlled substantially one-way movement of a fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber,
• wherein each of the first and second chambers is substantially fluid tight and configured as a solar collector to heat a fluid therein, and the apparatus is configured such that in operation and under incident solar radiation a fluid is heated in each of the first and second chambers and upon a rise in pressure of the fluid, the fluid is moved in a controlled manner substantially one-way from the first chamber to the second chamber, and from the second chamber to a further chamber or external the apparatus,
• and wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in operation, the first controllable valve and the third controllable valve intermittently and automatically open and close in a coordinated manner with each other and with the second controllable valve that intermittently opens and closes, such that the second chamber commences reception of fluid from the first chamber after the second chamber has supplied fluid to a further chamber or external the apparatus,
• and wherein, in operation, by the movement of fluid, from the second chamber to a further chamber or external the apparatus, the second chamber loses some of its heat energy, that is that portion held within its lost fluid,
• and wherein by the movement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, the second chamber regains a portion of its lost heat energy held within the fluid that it receives, and the first chamber loses that portion of its heat energy that is that portion that is held within its lost fluid,
• and wherein by the movement of fluid from the fluid source to the first chamber, the first chamber regains a portion of its lost heat energy held within the fluid that it receives,
• and wherein by the redistribution of the heat energy in the second chamber and by the redistribution of heat energy in the first chamber, the second chamber contains fluid that is hotter than the first chamber,
• wherein the fluid outlet of the second chamber is configured to be controllable by a human user or a processor functioning under software instructions and wherein the fluid outlet of the second chamber is configured to intrinsically control movement of a fluid from the first chamber to external the second chamber.