Sonia system

A solar energy collecting system comprising:

• (A) a solar energy collecting device comprising a trough having internal reflective surfaces for reflecting sun rays and including:
• (i) two parallel concavely shaped floors, each having a bottom-most portion, an outer side portion and an inner side portion;
• (ii) solar energy collecting means extending vertically from each of said bottom-most portions and of predetermined height;
• (iii) said trough having exterior side walls extending from each of said outer side portions of said floors and having an intermediate portion and an upper portion, said intermediate portion being outwardly curved and said upper portion being inwardly curved, said upper portion and at least a segment of said intermediate portion extending beyond the height of said collecting means;
• and
• (IV) said trough having an internal wall positioned between said collecting means and terminating below the height of said collecting means;
• and
• (B) means for selectively transferring energy collected by said collecting means away from said collecting means.

A solar energy collecting system comprising:

• (a) A concave reflecting surface;
• (b) First and second solar energy collecting means positioned longitudinally and in spaced relationship within said concave reflecting surface for receiving solar energy and in a manner such that the aount of solar energy received by said first collecting means is substantially greater than the amount of solar energy received by said second collecting means at least some of the time during daily operation;
• (c) Transfer means associated with each of said first and second collecting means for transferring energy away from each of said first and second collecting means;
• and
• (d) means for selectively effecting the transfer of energy away from said first collecting means, but not said second collecting means, when the amount of solar energy received by said first collecting means is substantially greater than the amount of solar energy received by said second collecting means and when said first collecting means receives a predetermined amount of solar energy.