Solar thermal concentrator and method of forming same

A concentrator tube extending from a distal end to a proximal end comprising:

• a trough shaped reflector portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end and defining an upper opening, the reflector portion configured to concentrate light from a source onto an absorber;
• a light transmissive aperture member closing the upper opening of the trough shaped reflector portion, wherein the tube concentrates light incident through the aperture member at angles to an optic axis less than an acceptance angle with an optical efficiency greater than 80%;
• and
• the absorber located within the tube;
• wherein the reflector portion is configured such that substantially any radiation energy emitted from the absorber onto the reflector portion is either directed to the source or directed back to the absorber;
• and
• wherein each end of the tube is sealed.

A method of forming a concentrator tube extending from a distal end to a proximal end, comprising:

• forming a trough shaped reflector portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end and defining an upper opening, the reflector portion configured to concentrate light from a source onto an absorber;
• forming a light transmissive aperture member closing the upper opening of the trough shaped reflector portion;
• and
• positioning the absorber located within the tube;
• wherein the reflector portion is configured such that substantially any radiation energy emitted from the absorber onto the reflector portion is either directed to the source or directed back to the absorber, and wherein the reflector portion is further configured to compensate for aberrations in the light entering the concentrator tube due to refraction by the aperture member.

A method comprising:

• receiving light from a source through a light transmissive aperture member of a concentrator tube extending from a distal end to a proximal end;
• reflecting and concentrating at least a portion of the light to an absorber of the concentrator tube by a trough shaped reflector portion of the concentrator tube, wherein the reflector portion extends between the proximal end and the distal end, the reflector portion defines an upper opening that is closed by the light transmissive aperture member, and the reflector portion has a cross section of a compound parabolic shape;
• and
• absorbing the light by the absorber located in the tube, wherein the reflector portion is configured such that substantially any radiation energy emitted from the absorber onto the reflector portion is either directed to the source or directed back to the absorber, wherein the absorber comprises a plurality of minichannels configured to have a thermal energy transfer fluid flowing therethrough.