Apparatus for pivoting solar troughs on a central axis

Abstract

Solar trough apparatuses are disclosed, where a heat transfer fluid conduit remains fixed in a focal of a solar trough as the solar trough tracks the sun. The support structures can be ring or arcuate structures, where rotation is about their central axis and the trough is support in them so that the focal zone is coincident with the axis of rotation and the conduit is situated in the focal zone eliminating the need for articulated or flexible conduit.

1 . A solar collector system comprising:
 a solar trough subsystem including:
 a plurality of solar trough sections, where each section includes one parabolic solar collector or a plurality of parabolic solar collectors having a focal zone, 
   a heat transfer fluid conduit subsystem including a conduit extending a length of the trough subsystem coincident with the focal zone,   a support subsystem for supporting the trough subsystem, where a center of rotation of the support subsystem is coincident with a focal point, line or zone of the trough subsystem and where the support subsystem rotates the trough to track the sun maximizing solar collection, while maintaining the focal zone fixed and focused on the conduit thereby maximizing solar heating of a heat transfer fluid flowing through the conduit stationary and coincident with the focal zone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure subsystem includes a separate trough support structure and a separate conduit support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the trough support structure comprises ring support structures, where the trough support structures support each trough section and a separate conduit support structure situated between ring support structures of adjacent trough sections. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the trough support structures comprises arcuate support structures supporting each trough section and a separate conduit support structure situated between arcuate structures of adjacent trough sections. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the trough support structures comprises ring support structures, where each ring support structures supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the trough support structures comprises arcuate support structures, where each arcuate support structure supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure subsystem includes a single support structure that supports both the trough subsystem and the conduit subsystem. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the trough support structures comprises ring support structures, where each ring support structures supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the trough support structures comprises arcuate support structures, where each arcuate support structure supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating solar collector systems comprising:
 providing a solar trough subsystem, a heat transfer fluid conduit subsystem having a conduit extending a length of the solar trough subsystem, a support subsystem, and a heat conversion subsystem, where a center of rotation of the support subsystem is coincident with the focal zone of the trough subsystem and where the conduit is coincident with the focal zone of the trough subsystem;   focusing solar radiation on the conduit; and   pumping cold heat transfer fluid through the conduit at a pressure and a flow rate to maximize heating of the heat transfer fluid to form a hot heat transfer fluid, while rotating the trough subsystem using the support subsystem to track the sun maximizing solar collection efficiency and to maintain a focal zone of the trough subsystem stationary and where a conduit is situated in the focal zone to maximize heating without the need for articulated conduit segments.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transferring a portion of the heat in the hot heat transfer fluid to a working fluid of a heat conversion subsystem to form a cold heat transfer fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 converting a portion of the heat in the working fluid into a useable for of energy in the heat conversion subsystem.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transferring a portion of the heat in the hot heat transfer fluid to a working fluid of a heat conversion subsystem to form a cold heat transfer fluid, and   converting a portion of the heat in the working fluid into a useable for of energy in the heat conversion subsystem.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the support structure subsystem includes a separate trough support structure and a separate conduit support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the trough support structure comprises ring support structures, where the trough support structures support each trough section and a separate conduit support structure situated between ring support structures of adjacent trough sections. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the trough support structures comprises arcuate support structures supporting each trough section and a separate conduit support structure situated between arcuate structures of adjacent trough sections. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the trough support structures comprises ring support structures, where each ring support structures supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the trough support structures comprises arcuate support structures, where each arcuate support structure supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the support structure subsystem includes a single support structure that supports both the trough subsystem and the conduit subsystem. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the trough support structures comprises ring support structures, where each ring support structures supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the trough support structures comprises arcuate support structures, where each arcuate support structure supports two adjacent trough sections, while simultaneously supporting the conduit. 
     
     
         21 . A solar trough system comprising:
 a solar trough collector subsystem,   a heat transfer conduit subsystem, and   a support subsystem,   where a center of rotation of the support subsystem is coincident with a focal zone of the trough subsystem and where the conduit is situated in the focal zone to maximize heating without articulated conduit segments.