Solar energy collector

A sun tracking solar energy collector assembly comprising, a first generally flat and longitudinally extending absorber having absorbing faces on both sides thereof and a fluid passage in heat conducting relationship therewith and constructed and arranged to extend longitudinally generally transversely of and parallel to direct rays of solar radiation when the collector assembly is tracking the sun, a single separate second tube absorber spaced from and extending generally longitudinally of and parallel to said first absorber and having a fluid passage in heat conducting relationship therewith, said second tube absorber not being in direct heat conducting relationship with said first generally flat absorber throughout the longitude thereof and not having any absorber plates in direct heat conducting relationship therewith, means both focusing a plurality of direct rays of solar radiation generally radially directly onto both sides of only said second absorber generally coincident with the axis thereof and directing a plurality of diffused rays of solar radiation onto the absorbing faces on both sides of said first absorber when the collector assembly is tracking the sun, and conduit means interconnecting said fluid passages such that a fluid circulated through said passages is first heated by solar energy as it passes through said fluid passage of said first absorber and then is further heated by solar energy as it passes through said fluid passage of said second absorber.