Heat Transfer Fluid Heating System and Method for a Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator

A system, comprising:

• an end terminal connector, including:
• a receiver tube plate, wherein the receiver tube plate is located within a first plane;
• a receiver tube aperture, wherein the receiver tube aperture is formed in the receiver tube plate;
• a receiver tube extension, wherein the receiver tube extension extends from the receiver tube plate and is located within a second plane.

A terminal connector system, comprising:

• an intermediate terminal connector, including:
• an intermediate terminal connector plate, wherein the intermediate terminal connector plate is joined to a first portion of a receiver tube assembly pipe along a line, and wherein the intermediate terminal connector plate is joined to a support structure through a non-electrically conductive bushing;
• an end terminal connector, including:
• a receiver tube plate, wherein the receiver tube plate is located within a first plane;
• a receiver tube aperture, wherein the receiver tube aperture is formed in the receiver tube plate, and wherein the end terminal connector is joined to a second portion of the receiver tube assembly pipe at the receiver tube aperture;
• a receiver tube extension, wherein the receiver tube extension extends from the receiver tube plate and is located within a second plane;
• wherein the receiver tube assembly pipe includes at least one of a ball joint and a flexible portion.