Parabolic trough solar collector for fluid heating and photovoltaic cells

A concentrating solar collector array including a plurality of collectors each comprising:

• a pair of stationary spaced supports with vertical extensions,
• a linear heat absorbing fluid conduit and outer conduit couplings are clamped to a cross member between said extensions and to said spaced conduit supports, each coupling including a space between the ends of adjacent conduits inserted therein,
• a conduit insulator including an outer glass shell and a vacuum space between said conduit and shell,
• means to suspend a reflector assembly from said clamped conduit,
• said linear concentrating reflector assembly supported from for pivoting about the fluid conduit within a pre-determined arc,
• said reflector pivot means including a programmable motor, gears, and cross shaft to drive a plurality of capstans each including a plurality of pulleys, cable take-up means and cable ends connected to adjacent unitary reflectors,
• said reflector assembly including two longitudinal corrugated board side panels secured to ends of a plurality of transversely aligned corrugated paperboard board reflector support segments having concave upper edges and linear bottom edges to form a unitary reflector assembly,
• a reflector surface superposed over said concave supports, and,
• fluid inlet and outlet coupling connections to the serially joined conduits of a collector array.