Internal refractor focusing solar energy collector apparatus and method

A solar collector comprising:

• a shell structure, the shell structure having an open top;
• first mounting means for the shell structure for rotating the shell structure about an axis to orient the open top of the shell structure toward the sun;
• solar energy absorber means inside the shell structure;
• second mounting means for supporting the solar energy absorber means inside the shell structure in a nonrotatable position relative to the sun to thereby accommodate rotational movement of the shell structure about the solar energy absorber means, the second mounting means including a hollow axle;
• and
• focusing means in the shell structure for focusing solar energy toward the solar energy absorber means, the focusing means comprising a Fresnel lens means and a mirror, the Fresnel lens means focusing solar flux on the mirror and the mirror reflecting the focused solar flux toward the solar energy absorber means, the Fresnel lens means further comprising support means for moveably supporting the Fresnel lens means inside said shell structure to accommodate movement of the Fresnel lens means in tracking relationship to the sun, the support structure further comprising support means for supporting said mirror relative to said Fresnel lens means to accommodate reflecting solar energy to said solar energy absorber means.

A solar collector apparatus comprising:

• a framework;
• a plurality of solar collectors;
• first mounting means for rotatably mounting the solar collectors in the framework, each solar collector being rotatable about an axis;
• solar energy absorber means in each of the solar collectors and mounted coaxially with the axis of the solar collector;
• second mounting means for mounting the solar energy absorber means in each of the solar collectors and nonrotatably relative to the framework, the second mounting means comprising at least one hollow axle for each solar collector;
• conduit means for transporting a fluid heat transfer medium through the solar energy absorber means, the second mounting means further comprising a bridge structure in each solar collector, the bridge structure being nonrotatably mounted to the framework and serving as a platform for the solar energy absorber means and the conduit means;
• the conduit means passing through the hollow axle of the second mounting means and thereby being in nonrotatable relationship with said framework;
• and
• focusing means in each solar collector for focusing solar energy coaxially toward each solar energy absorber means, said focusing means comprising a Fresnel lens means and a mirror means, the Fresnel lens means focusing solar energy on the mirror means and the mirror means reflecting the solar energy coaxially toward the solar energy absorber means.

A solar collector apparatus comprising:

• a framework;
• a plurality of solar collectors;
• first mounting means for rotatably mounting the solar collectors in the framework;
• solar energy absorber means in each of the solar collectors;
• second mounting means for mounting the solar energy absorber means in each of the solar collectors and nonrotatably relative to the framework, the second mounting means comprising at least one hollow axle for each solar collector;
• conduit means for transporting a fluid heat transfer medium through the solar energy absorber means, the conduit means passing through the hollow axle of the second mounting means and thereby being in nonrotatable relationship with said framework;
• and
• focusing means in each solar collector for focusing solar energy toward each solar energy absorber means, said focusing means comprising a Fresnel lens means and a mirror means, the Fresnel lens means focusing solar energy on the mirror means and the mirror means reflecting the solar energy coaxially toward the solar energy absorber means, said focusing means further comprising support means for supporting at least one Fresnel lens means inside said shell structure in spaced relationship to a mirror means, said support means orienting said Fresnel lens means for tracking the sun while said mirror is oriented relative to said Fresnel lens means for reflecting said focused solar flux toward said solar energy absorber means.