Glass solar receiver with bifurcated annulus responsive to thermal dimensional changes

A parabolic trough collector system comprising:

• a parabolic mirror;
• a solar power conversion receiver operatively coupled to the parabolic mirror, the solar power conversion receiver being positioned to receive concentrated solar energy from the parabolic mirror, the solar power conversion receiver comprising:
• (a) a circular glass envelope;
• (b) an absorber tube encapsulated within the circular glass envelope;
• (c) a bifurcated annulus positioned in between the circular glass envelope and the absorber tube;
• and
• (d) a first fin and a second fin each having an operative coupling, respectively, to the circular glass envelope and the absorber tube, with seals formed therebetween, to create a first annulus compartment and a second annulus compartment in the bifurcated annulus, the seals of the operative coupling formed from the first fin to the circular glass envelope and the absorber tube, and the seals of the operative coupling formed from the second fin to the circular glass envelope and the absorber tube, each configured to prevent exchange of material between the first annulus compartment and the second annulus compartment, the first annulus compartment being independent of the second annulus compartment, and the first fin and the second fin having a configurable range of expansion and contraction configured to maintain the seals of the operative coupling in response to expansion and contraction of components in the solar power conversion receiver due to temperature effects.