# US 2018/0023845 A1 · Parabolic trough collector module, parabolic trough collector module unit and solar thermal power station > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023845 A1 - Document ID: US20180023845A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/545,579 - Filed: 2016-01-08 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-23 - Assignees: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. - Applicants: Deutsches Zentrum FüR Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. - Inventors: Martin EICKHOFF - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023845A1 ## CPC - F24S 23/74: with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces - F24S 23/71: with parabolic reflective surfaces (with cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces F24S23/74) - F24S 25/10: extending in directions away from a supporting surface - F24S 30/425: Horizontal axis - F24S 40/80: Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements - F24S 2030/12: {Coupling means} - F24S 2030/15: {Bearings} - F24S 2030/17: {Spherical joints} - F24S 2030/18: {Load balancing means, e.g. use of counter-weights} - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A parabolic trough collector module comprising an absorber tube, a parabolic reflector focusing the solar radiation to the absorber tube and with a reflector surface, and at least one support de-vice on which the parabolic reflector is mounted so that it can pivot. The support device includes a support head projecting over the reflector surface in the vertical direction, on which the absorber tube is mounted by a linear bearing structure forming a linear guide. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-16. (canceled) ### Claim 17 A parabolic trough collector module comprising: an absorber tube, a parabolic reflector focusing the solar radiation to the absorber tube and having a reflector surface, and at least one support device on which the parabolic reflector is pivotably mounted, wherein the support device further comprises a support head projecting over the reflector surface in the vertical direction, on which the absorber tube is mounted by a linear bearing structure forming a linear guide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 17, wherein the parabolic reflec-tor is pivotably supported on the support device by means of a radial bearing structure, the radial bearing structure being arranged around the absorber tube or around the absorber tube and the linear bearing structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 17, wherein the support device is connected with at least one absorber tube mount by at least one mounting means, the absorber tube mount being arranged at a section of the absorber tube located above the reflector surface and forming a fastening of the absorber tube that is displaceable in the axial direction of the absorber tube with respect to the absorber tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 19, wherein the mounting means is fastened to the support head above the linear bearing structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 20, wherein the mounting means is a tensioning means. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 17, wherein the linear bearing structure comprises a linear bearing structure rail extending in the axial direction of the absorber tube, a carriage connected to the absorber tube being guided on the linear bearing structure rail. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 19, wherein the absorber tube mount comprises an absorber tube mounting rail extending in the axial direction of the absorber tube, a carriage connected to the absorber tube being guided on the absorber tube mounting rail. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 18, wherein the radial bearing structure comprises a bearing structure housing connected to a support structure of the parabolic reflector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 24, wherein the support structure comprises a supporting strut connected to the bearing structure housing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 18, wherein the support head has a recess extending orthogonally with respect to the absorber tube, in which recess the radial bearing structure is arranged, and comprises a passage tube extending in the axial direction of the absorber tube and passing through the recess, a radial bearing of the radial bearing struc-ture being arranged on the passage tube. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 26, wherein the supporting strut penetrates the recess. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 18, wherein the radial bearing structure comprises a radial bearing fastened to the support head and a hollow shaft guided in the radial bearing, the absorber tube or the ab-sorber tube and the linear bearing structure being passed through the hollow shaft. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The parabolic trough collector module of claim 28, wherein the supporting strut is connected to the hollow shaft. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The parabolic trough collector unit with a plurality of parabolic trough collector modules of claim 17, wherein the parabolic trough collector modules comprise a common continuous absorber tube line of absorber tubes. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The parabolic trough collector unit of claim 30, wherein a common support device is arranged between two respective adjacent parabolic trough collector modules. ### Claim 32 A Solar thermal power station comprising: a plurality of parabolic trough collector units, wherein at least two adjacent parabolic trough collector units have a common continuous absorber tube line.