Solar collector

A solar energy collection device comprising:

• a solar collector comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing;
• (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing;
• (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity;
• and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium;
• wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves;
• and
• a solar energy concentrator capable of concentrating solar energy and disposed so as to be capable of directing the concentrated solar energy through the aperture of the solar collector and into the cavity.

A solar energy collection system comprising:

• a plurality of solar energy collectors, each comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing;
• (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing;
• (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity;
• and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium;
• wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves;
• at least one solar energy concentrator;
• and
• a station controller for controlling the solar energy collection collectors and/or the solar energy concentrator(s);
• wherein said controller is coupled to the solar energy concentrator(s) so as to increase or decrease the total solar energy input to the solar energy collectors as required and wherein each solar energy collector is disposed so as to be capable of receiving concentrated solar energy from at least one solar energy concentrator.

A method for collecting and regulating solar energy, said method comprising:

• providing a solar energy collection device comprising (A) a solar collector comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing;
• (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing;
• (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity;
• and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium;
• wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves;
• and (B) a solar energy concentrator capable of concentrating solar energy and disposed so as to be capable of directing the concentrated solar energy through the aperture of the solar collector and into the cavity;
• and
• allowing solar energy to impinge on the solar energy concentrator of said device;
• thereby concentrating said solar energy on the solar collector of said device so as to heat the heat regulating medium of said device.

A method for preparing a solar collector, said collector comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing;

• (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing;
• (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity;
• and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium;
• wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, said method comprising:
• providing the heat exchanger tubing, the tubing comprising a plurality of parallel tubing portions disposed around an energy collection device and mounted on a base, said energy collection device comprising four vertical rectangular panels arranged in a square and a square top attached to an upper horizontal edge of the four vertical panels;
• and
• assembling between said tubing portions the plurality of slabs of the heat regulating medium such that the heat regulating medium contacts the four outer vertical faces and the top of the energy collection device, and such that the tubing is disposed within the grooves of the heat regulator slabs.