Solar oven having a multiple zone concentrator

A solar oven including

• (a) at least one of a element of symmetry;
• (b) a diffuse focal zone substantially aligned with said oven symmetry element, said diffuse focal zone including a central region and a peripheral region;
• (c) a multiple zone concentrator having at least one reflective member for directing radiation to a plurality of portions of said diffuse reflective zone, said reflective member having:
• (i) a first reflective zone including at least one of zonal element of symmetry offset from said oven symmetry element, said first reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to at least a portion of said peripheral region of said diffuse focal zone;
• and
• (ii) a second reflective zone adjacent a first end of said first reflective zone, said second reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to the central region of said diffuse focal zone;
• and
• (d) a receptor support for supporting a receptor substantially within said diffuse focal zone.

A solar oven including

• (a) at least one of a element of symmetry;
• (b) a diffuse focal zone substantially aligned with said oven symmetry element, said diffuse focal zone including a central region and a peripheral region;
• (c) a multiple zone concentrator having at least one reflective member for directing radiation to a plurality of portions of said diffuse reflective zone, said reflective member having:
• (i) a first reflective zone including at least one of zonal element of symmetry offset from said oven symmetry element, said first reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to at least a portion of said peripheral region of said diffuse focal zone;
• and
• (ii) a second reflective zone adjacent a first end of said first reflective zone, said second reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to at least a portion of said central region of said diffuse focal zone;
• (d) a receptor support for supporting a receptor substantially within said diffuse focal zone;
• and
• (e) a booster adjacent a distal end of said first reflective zone for directing additional radiation to at least one of said peripheral region and said central region of said plurality of portions of said diffuse focal zone.

A kit for a solar oven including a diffuse focal zone, a multiple zone concentrator having at least one reflective member for directing radiation to a plurality of portions of the diffuse focal zone, the reflective member having a first reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to a first portion of the plurality of portions of the diffuse focal zone;

• and a second reflective zone adjacent a first end of the first reflective zone, the second reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to a second portion of the plurality of portions of the diffuse focal zone;
• and a receptor support for supporting a receptor substantially within the diffuse focal zone, said kit including:
• (a) a plurality of reflective elements, each reflective element configurable into at least portion of at least one reflective member for directing radiation to a plurality of portions of said diffuse reflective zone of said multiple zone concentrator having;
• (b) a template for configuring said plurality of reflective elements;
• and
• (c) instructions for using said template to configure said plurality of reflective elements to thereby assemble said solar oven.

A kit for a solar oven including a diffuse focal zone, a multiple zone concentrator having at least one reflective member for directing radiation to a plurality of portions of the diffuse focal zone, the reflective member having a first reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to a first portion of the plurality of portions of the diffuse focal zone;

• and a second reflective zone adjacent a first end of the first reflective zone, the second reflective zone having a profile that captures and directs radiation to a second portion of the plurality of portions of the diffuse focal zone;
• and a receptor support for supporting a receptor substantially within the diffuse focal zone, said kit including:
• (a) a plurality of reflective elements, each reflective element configurable into at least portion of at least one reflective member for directing radiation to a plurality of portions of said diffuse reflective zone of said multiple zone concentrator having;
• (b) a template for configuring said plurality of reflective elements;
• (c) an alignment device for aligning said solar oven with a radiation source;
• and
• (c) instructions for using said template to configure said plurality of reflective elements and said alignment device to thereby assemble said solar oven.