Curved trough solar concentrator

A solar power concentrator system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a glass coupled to the housing to define an enclosure therebetween;
• and
• a trough concentrator rotatably disposed in the enclosure, comprising:
• a support frame extending between opposite ends of the housing,
• a tube or pipe extending along a length of the support frame configured to allow a fluid to pass therethrough, the tube or pipe extending along an axis between the opposite ends of the housing,
• a reflective film having opposite edges attached to side rails of the support frame, the reflective film having a parabolic curved shape between the opposite edges and configured to reflect sunlight onto the tube or pipe, and
• an actuator operable to rotate the trough concentrator about the axis to vary an orientation of the reflective film,
• wherein the glass shields the reflective film of the trough concentrator from wind.

A solar power concentrator system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a glass coupled to the housing to define an enclosure therebetween;
• and
• a trough concentrator rotatably disposed in the enclosure, comprising:
• a support frame extending between opposite ends of the housing,
• a tube or pipe extending along a length of the support frame configured to allow a fluid to pass therethrough, the tube or pipe extending along an axis between the opposite ends of the housing,
• a reflective film having opposite edges attached to side rails of the support frame, the reflective film having a curved shape between the opposite edges and configured to reflect sunlight onto the tube or pipe, and
• an actuator operable to rotate the trough concentrator about the axis to vary an orientation of the reflective film,
• wherein the glass shields the reflective film of the trough concentrator from wind.