Method and apparatus for receiving solar energy

A solar energy receiver adapted to efficiently intercept solar energy reflected from an array of heliostats towards the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• a plurality of converging vanes defining an exterior opening at one end of the vanes and the converging throat portion at the other end of the vanes, the exterior to intermediate side surfaces of the vanes having low emissivity reflective coatings thereon and the intermediate to interior surfaces of the vanes having, at least in part, low emissivity selective coatings adapted to absorb energy impinging upon the vanes at a small angle of incidence but reflect energy impinging upon the vanes at larger angles of incidence, and means to flow a fluid adjacent the throat portion of the vanes, whereby, the receiver will efficiently present a large target to intercept the energy reflected towards the receiver, lose little energy through irradiation or reversal of the direction of travel of the solar energy between the converging vanes, and flow a fluid through the portion of the receiver at an elevated temperature to be heated by the concentrated energy.