Solar heat collector

Abstract

A solar heat collector includes a trough extending along the ground. The solar heat collector further includes a first region within the trough. The first region extends along a length of the trough. The first region is configured to absorb solar radiation and to heat a fluid flowing within the first region with thermal energy resulting from the absorbed solar radiation. The solar heat collector further includes a second region between the first region and the ground. The second region is substantially thermally insulating the first region from the ground.

1 . A solar heat collector comprising:
 a trough extending along the ground;   a first region within the trough, the first region extending along a length of the trough, the first region configured to absorb solar radiation and to heat a fluid flowing within the first region with thermal energy resulting from the absorbed solar radiation; and   a second region between the first region and the ground, the second region substantially thermally insulating the first region from the ground   
   
   
       2 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the ground along which the trough extends has a grade along at least a portion of the length of the trough such that fluid flowing through the portion of the trough flows from a first elevation to a second elevation lower than the first elevation. 
   
   
       3 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the ground along which the trough extends is substantially flat along at least a portion of the length of the trough. 
   
   
       4 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is on or in the ground. 
   
   
       5 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , further comprising a structural material layer formed along the ground, the trough formed on or in the structural material layer. 
   
   
       6 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the trough has a width in a range between 6 feet and 50 feet and a length in a range between about 500 feet and 1 mile. 
   
   
       7 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises at least a first layer configured to absorb solar radiation, the first layer configured to support fluid flowing through the first region. 
   
   
       8 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the second region comprises at least a second layer configured to substantially thermally insulate the first region from the ground and to support the first layer. 
   
   
       9 . The solar heat collector of  claim 8 , wherein the second layer comprises a generally waterproof layer. 
   
   
       10 . The solar heat collector of  claim 9 , wherein the second layer further comprises a corrugated layer over the generally waterproof layer. 
   
   
       11 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the second region comprises rocks and sand. 
   
   
       12 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises at least two layers and a plurality of supports therebetween, thereby forming a conduit through which fluid can flow. 
   
   
       13 . The solar heat collector of  claim 12 , wherein the supports comprise a plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the two layers. 
   
   
       14 . The solar heat collector of  claim 12 , wherein the supports comprise a plurality of rocks. 
   
   
       15 . The solar heat collector of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the two layers is substantially absorptive to at least a portion of the solar radiation impinging the first region. 
   
   
       16 . The solar heat collector of  claim 15 , wherein a topmost layer of the two layers is substantially non-transmissive to infrared radiation. 
   
   
       17 . The solar heat collector of  claim 12 , further comprising a top layer above the at least two layers with an air gap between the top layer and the at least two layers. 
   
   
       18 . The solar heat collector of  claim 17 , wherein the top layer is substantially transmissive to at least a portion of the solar radiation impinging the top layer and is substantially non-transmissive to infrared radiation. 
   
   
       19 . The solar heat collector of  claim 17 , wherein the air gap has a positive pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein flow of fluid through the first region has a component in a direction substantially along the length of the trough and a component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the trough. 
   
   
       21 . The solar heat collector of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is formed in a berm. 
   
   
       22 . A solar heat collection system comprising:
 a fluid distribution conduit; and   a plurality of solar heat collectors in fluidic communication with the fluid distribution conduit, at least some of the solar heat collectors generally parallel to one another and spaced from one another to provide an access path for maintenance personnel and equipment to access portions of the solar heat collectors away from a periphery of the solar heat collection system.   
   
   
       23 . The solar heat collection system of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more adjustable valves in fluidic communication with the fluid distribution conduit and with one or more of the solar heat collectors. 
   
   
       24 . The solar heat collection system of  claim 22 , wherein at least some of the solar beat collectors are coupled to the fluid distribution conduit in parallel to one another. 
   
   
       25 . The solar heat collection system of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the solar heat collectors comprises a plurality of solar heat collector segments which are in serial fluidic communication with one another such that fluid flows from one segment to the next. 
   
   
       26 . The solar heat collection system of  claim 22 , further comprising a network of measurement devices placed at selected locations within the solar heat collection system and a computer system operatively coupled to the valves and to the network of measurement devices, the computer system configured to receive input signals from the network and to transmit output signals to the valves, the valves responsive to the output signals to controllably adjust fluid flow through the plurality of solar heat collectors. 
   
   
       27 . A solar energy system comprising:
 a fluid distribution conduit;   a plurality of solar heat collectors in fluidic communication with the fluid distribution conduit, at least one of the solar heat collectors comprising a trough extending along the ground and configured to absorb solar radiation and to heat a fluid flowing within the trough;   a fluid collection conduit in fluidic communication with the plurality of solar heat collectors;   an energy extraction system configured to extract thermal energy from fluid received from the fluid collection conduit; and   a pumping system configured to receive fluid from the energy extraction system and to pump the fluid to the fluid distribution conduit.   
   
   
       28 . The solar energy system of  claim 27 , wherein the energy extraction system comprises a low-temperature Rankine cycle power plant. 
   
   
       29 . A method of heating a fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a trough extending along the ground, the trough comprising a region configured to absorb solar radiation and to have a fluid flowing therethrough such that the fluid is substantially thermally insulated from the ground; and   flowing the fluid through the region, wherein the fluid is heated with thermal energy resulting from the absorbed solar radiation.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the trough comprises at least one layer above the region, the at least one layer separating the region from atmosphere above the layer, the fluid substantially thermally insulated from the atmosphere above the layer. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the fluid is substantially thermally insulated from regions outside a first lateral side of the trough and outside a second lateral side of the trough. 
   
   
       32 . A method of generating power, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of troughs extending along the ground, at least one trough comprising a region configured to absorb solar radiation and to have a fluid flowing therethrough such that the fluid is substantially thermally insulated from the ground;   flowing the fluid through the region, wherein the fluid is heated with thermal energy resulting from the absorbed solar radiation; and   extracting thermal energy from the fluid.