Solar energy system

Apparatus for recovering energy from the sun comprising:

• (a) means for conducting a first fluid comprising water to be distilled, said means for conducting comprising an undulated plate system;
• (b) linear lens means having a focal length f, said lens means located a distance less than f from said means for conducting and arranged so as to direct concentrated solar energy on said means for conducting with the focus of said lens means on or below said means for conducting, said lens means comprising at least one linear lens aligned so as to direct its energy onto said plate system;
• (c) conduit means transparent to visible light interposed between said means for conducting and said lens means, said conduit means comprising a double plate conduit having an upper and a lower plate interposed between said linear lens and said undulated plate system,
• (d) means supplying a cooling fluid comprising distilled water to said conduit means for assisting the condensation thereon of water evaporated from said means for conducting;
• and
• (e) means for collecting the condensed water, the first fluid conducted over said means for conducting and said cooling fluid.

Apparatus for recovering energy from the sun comprising:

• (a) means for conducting a first fluid comprising water to be distilled, said means for conducting comprising a first transparent tube;
• (b) linear lens means having a focal length f, said lens means located a distance less than f from said means for conducting and arranged so as to direct concentrated solar energy on said means for conducting with the focus of said lens means on or below said means for conducting;
• (c) conduit means transparent to visible light interposed between said means for conducting and said lens means comprising a second transparent tube surrounding said first transparent tube;
• (d) means supplying a cooling fluid comprising distilled water to said second transparent tube, said cooling fluid being circulated between said tubes for assisting condensation of water being evaporated on the inside of said first tube;
• and
• (e) means for collecting the condensed water, the first fluid conducted through said first transparent tube and said cooling fluid.

Apparatus for recovering energy from the sun comprising:

• (a) a tube for conducting a first fluid;
• (b) insulation surrounding the lower portion of said tube;
• (c) elongated linear lens means having a focal length f, said lens means located a distance approximately equal to f from said tube and arranged so as to direct concentrated solar energy on said tube, the focus of said len means being in or on and substantially along said tube;
• (d) conduit means transparent to visible light interposed between said tube and said lens means, said conduit means comprising a pair of spaced plates having an inlet and an outlet;
• (e) means for supporting said spaced plates above said tube with a space between the tube and the spaced plates;
• and
• (f) means supplying a second fluid to said conduit means.

Apparatus for recovering energy from the sun comprising:

• (a) an undulated plate system for conducting flow of water to be distilled;
• (b) lens means arranged so as to direct concentrated solar energy on said plate system;
• (c) a double plate conduit having upper and lower plates transparent to visible light interposed between said plate system and said lens means;
• and
• (d) means supplying a cooling fluid to said conduit to assist condensation thereon of water evaporated from said plate system;
• and
• (e) means for collecting the condensed water, water to be distilled conducted on said plate system and said cooling fluid.

Apparatus for recovering energy from the sun comprising:

• (a) means for conducting a first fluid comprising water to be distilled;
• (b) linear lens means having a focal length f, said lens means located a distance less than f from said means for conducting and arranged so as to direct concentrated solar energy on said means for conducting with the focus of said lens means on or below said means for conducting;
• (c) conduit means transparent to visible light interposed between said means for conducting and said lens means;
• (d) means for supplying a cooling fluid comprising distilled water to said conduit means for assisting the condensation thereon of water evaporated from said means for conducting;
• (e) means for collecting the condensed water, the first fluid conducted over said means for conducting and said cooling fluid;
• and
• (f) an array of photovoltaic cells disposed in said means for conducting at a location of the concentration of solar energy by said lens means, means encapsulating said array and means supplying a cooling fluid comprising distilled water to said encapsulating means to cool said array.