Solar energy collector and heat exchanger

In a solar collection system including an energy collector, a receiver located to receive energy from said collector containing a heat exchange medium, a light transparent wind shield enclosing said receiver and a desiccant material for absorbing moisture accumulating in said wind shield, the improvement comprising:

• means defining a chamber for holding said desiccant material;
• means substantially sealing said wind shield;
• means providing restricted communication between the interior of said wind shield and said chamber;
• said chamber being in thermal transfer relationship between the desiccant material within said chamber and said receiver;
• said means defining said chamber also defining an outlet aperture from said chamber to the atmosphere whereby air within said wind shield, when heated by solar radiation, exhausts excess pressure to the atmosphere via said chamber and on cooling receives air via said chamber and said desiccant material and said chamber is heated by said receiver;
• wherein a plurality of collectors are positioned end for end with said receiver tube extending therebetween including bearing means between each collector and said chamber is located between said collectors on said receiver tube.

A solar energy collection system comprising:

• a plurality of elongated focussing collectors each having a line of focus;
• means mounting said elongated collectors for rotational movement about the line of focii of said collector;
• a fixed receiver tube extending along the line of focii of said collectors;
• means coupled to said collectors for sensing the direction of maximum incident solar radiation;
• motor means coupled to said collectors and to said sensing means for rotating said collectors to track the sun;
• means for limiting the extent of rotation of said collectors;
• said limiting means operative to disable said motor means;
• means for sensing a drop in ambient light level at said system;
• said last means operative to disable said limiting means and for energizing said motor means to drive said collectors to a preselected position.

A solar energy collector system comprising a plurality of elongated focussing collectors, each having a line of focus;

• means mounting a plurality of said elongated collectors in parallel axis side by side relationship and for angular movement about said axes through 360.degree. of rotation;
• a fixed receiver tube extending along the line of focii of each of said collectors and interconnected at the ends thereof;
• motor means for driving said collectors;
• and
• common means coupling said motor means to drive said collectors synchronously.

A solar energy collector system comprising a plurality of elongated focussing collectors, each having a line of focus;

• means mounting a plurality of said elongated collectors in parallel axis side by side relationship and for angular movement about said axes;
• a fixed receiver tube extending along the line of focii of each of said collectors and interconnected at the ends thereof;
• motor means for driving said collectors;
• common means coupling said motor means to drive said collectors synchronously;
• including a plurality of end for end positioned additional collectors;
• said end for end positioned additional collectors mechanically coupled to respective side by side collectors for movement therewith;
• means mounting said additional collectors for angular movement about said axes;
• said receiver tube extending through said additional collectors along the respective axes thereof to provide a fixed path for heat exchange medium through said receiver tube.

A solar energy collector system comprising a plurality of elongated focussing collectors, each having a line of focus;

• means mounting a plurality of said elongated collectors in parallel axis side by side relationship and for angular movement about said axes;
• a fixed receiver tube extending along the line of focii of each of said collectors and interconnected at the ends thereof;
• motor means for driving said collectors;
• common means coupling said motor means to drive said collectors synchronously;
• including transparent tube means encircling said receiver tube in the regions where it passes through said collectors and including means between end for end positioned collectors for decoupling said receiver tube whereby said receiver tube and transparent tube may be replaced without interference with any of the collectors;
• wherein said transparent tube means is substantially sealed except for a restricted opening;
• means positioned between end for end positioned collectors for defining a desiccant containing open chamber;
• and
• means communicating said restricted opening of said transparent tube within said chamber in thermal transfer relationship with said receiver tube in the region between end for end positioned collectors.