Solar concentrator systems

A solar concentrating system, comprising:

• a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, said concentrator comprising:
• a support structure;
• and
• an array of concentrating reflectors mounted on said support structure, wherein at least one of said reflectors is formed with a reflective surface facing the Sun and configured as a concave surface such that said incident sunlight impinging on said reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location,
• said array of concentrating reflectors being mounted on said support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement thus defining said concentrator as a Fresnel reflector,
• wherein said support structure is formed with protrusions on an upper surface thereof wherein said protrusions are formed with a Fresnel angular dislocation so as to allow said least one of said reflectors to be mounted on said support structure in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation of said protrusions,
• wherein a reflector support is mounted on said protrusions and said least one of said reflectors is mounted on said reflector support,
• wherein said reflector support comprises aligning screws operative to support said least one of said reflectors thereon,
• wherein said aligning screws are aligned in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation, and
• wherein alignment of said aligning screws is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector.

A method for arranging a solar concentrating system in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement, comprising:

• providing a solar concentrating system comprising:
• a concentrator operative to track the Sun so as to concentrate incident sunlight on to a focal location, said concentrator comprising:
• a support structure;
• and
• an array of concentrating reflectors mounted on said support structure, wherein at least one of said reflectors is formed with a reflective surface facing the Sun and configured as a concave surface such that said incident sunlight impinging on said reflective surface is reflected on to said focal location,
• said array of concentrating reflectors being mounted on said support structure in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement thus defining said concentrator as a Fresnel reflector,
• wherein said support structure is formed with protrusions on an upper surface thereof wherein said protrusions are formed with a Fresnel angular dislocation so as to allow said least one of said reflectors to be mounted on said support structure in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation of said protrusions,
• wherein a reflector support is mounted on said protrusions and said least one of said reflectors is mounted on said reflector support,
• wherein said reflector support comprises aligning screws operative to support said least one of said reflectors thereon,
• wherein said aligning screws are aligned in accordance with said Fresnel angular dislocation, and
• wherein alignment of said aligning screws is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector;
• measuring an angular inaccuracy of said Fresnel angular dislocation on said aligning screws;
• and
• rotating said aligning screws to correct said Fresnel angular dislocation,
• thereby arranging a solar concentrating system in a Fresnel-like reflector arrangement,
• wherein said measuring is performed by a total station in optical and electrical communication with a prism reflector, said reflector prism mounted on a jig and engaged with said aligning screws via said jig mounted on said reflector support comprising said aligning screws.