Conversion of solar energy

Abstract

An array of elongated concave parabolic trough-shaped reflectors is disclosed. The orientation of the array is biaxially kept essentially perpendicular to rays of the sun by an optical control such that sunlight is reflected and concentrated along a focal line of each elongated reflector by which (a) water in a tube disposed at the focal line is heated by reflected line focused sunlight impinged thereon and/or (b) line focused reflected sunlight is optically transformed into point focused reflected sunlight using Fresnel lenses from which electricity is generated using solar cells upon which the point focused reflected sunlight is impinged.

1 . A method of transforming solar energy to thermal energy comprising the acts of: 
 (a) impinging rays of sunshine upon an array of linear line-focusing parabolic trough reflectors arranged in series and parallel;    (b) mechanically tilting the reflectors around at least one essentially horizontal axis and mechanically turning the reflectors collectively along a curved track in respect to an essentially vertical axis so that the reflectors individually and collectively are essentially perpendicular to the rays of sunshine;    (c) correcting the tilt of the reflectors and the track positions of the reflectors around the essentially horizontal axis and the essentially vertical axis, respectively, to retain said perpendicular relationship;    (d) heating influent water in a tube with reflected sunlight at a focal line of each reflector;    (e) discharging the tube-heated water as effluent for subsequent use.    
     
     
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         67 . A method of converting solar energy to electrical energy comprising the acts of: 
 automatically progressively and collectively turning and tilting an array of Fresnel lenses to maintain an essentially perpendicular relationship between rays of sunlight and all Fresnel lenses while converting at solar cells point focused rays of sunlight primarily via the Fresnel lenses and secondarily via a stray of sunlight concentrator interposed between each Fresnel lens and each solar cell.    
     
     
         68 . A method of converting solar energy to electrical energy comprising acts of: 
 positioning at least one device by which sunlight is transformed into electricity so that the at least one device is and remains essentially perpendicular to rays of sunlight;    concentrating adjacent rays of sunlight which would otherwise not impinge upon the at least one device by redirecting the path of the adjacent rays to impinge upon the at least one device, whereby the device generates a greater amount of electricity.