Solar energy collecting systems and methods

Abstract

An energy collecting module for assembling, together with a plurality of similar energy collecting module, a modular energy collecting system. The energy collecting module comprises a fluid channel having a lumen for conducting fluid from a first connectable opening to a second connectable opening and an energy collecting element mounted in front of the fluid channel for concentrating radiation along the fluid channel.

1 . An energy collecting unit for assembling, together with a plurality of similar energy collecting units, an energy collecting system or module comprising:
 a fluid channel having a lumen for conducting working fluid from a first connectable opening to a second connectable opening; and   an energy collecting element mounted in front of said fluid channel for concentrating radiation onto said fluid channel.   
     
     
         2 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an air evacuated chamber having a low atmospheric pressure between said energy collecting element and said fluid channel. 
     
     
         3 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 2 , wherein the walls of said air evacuated chamber are at least partly covered with minors to concentrate said radiation onto said fluid channel. 
     
     
         4 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber having a gas with low heat transfer properties between said energy collecting element and said fluid channel. 
     
     
         5 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 4 , wherein the walls of said chamber are at least partly covered with mirrors to concentrate said radiation onto said fluid channel. 
     
     
         6 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid channel is made of a substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 1 , wherein said energy collecting unit does not include moving parts. 
     
     
         9 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 1 , wherein said energy collecting element comprises a member from a group consisting of: a Fresnel lens, a lenticular array, and an array of lenses. 
     
     
         10 . An energy collecting module, comprising:
 a heat exchanger having first and second openings for streaming target fluid;   a fluid channel configured for circulating working fluid via said heat exchanger; and   at least one energy collecting element mounted in front of said fluid channel for concentrating radiation onto said fluid channel during said circulating.   
     
     
         11 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one energy collecting element comprises a plurality of energy collecting elements; wherein said energy collecting module is comprised of a plurality of detachable units each having a segment of said fluid channel and one of said energy collecting elements assembled to concentrate radiation onto said segment. 
     
     
         12 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said energy collecting module is configured for assembling, together with a plurality of similar energy collecting module, a modular energy collecting system. 
     
     
         13 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one air evacuated chamber having a low atmospheric pressure between said at least one energy collecting element and said fluid channel. 
     
     
         14 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one chamber having a gas with low heat transfer properties between said at least one energy collecting element and said fluid channel. 
     
     
         15 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said fluid channel is made of a substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said energy collecting module does not include moving parts. 
     
     
         18 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , further comprising a supporting structure for supporting said fluid channel and said energy collecting element in a substantially cubical shape structure. 
     
     
         19 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one energy collecting element comprises a member from a group consisting of: a Fresnel lens, a lenticular array, and an array of lenses. 
     
     
         20 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one energy collecting element comprises at least one lens and at least one minor mounted to direct said radiation toward said at least one lens. 
     
     
         21 . A method for installing an energy collecting modular system, comprising:
 providing a plurality of separable energy collecting modules each having a fluid channel having a lumen for conducting working fluid via a heat exchanger and an energy collecting element for concentrating radiation onto said fluid channel;   spreading said plurality of energy collecting modules to cover an energy collecting area;   assembling a heating conduit in said energy collecting area by tubularly connecting the heat exchangers of said plurality of energy collecting modules; and   connecting a pump to one end of said heating conduit so as to stream fluids via said heating conduit toward an energy consumption unit at another end of said heating conduit.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting the operation of said pump to the number of said plurality of energy collecting modules. 
     
     
         23 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An energy collecting modular system, comprising:
 a plurality of separable energy collecting modules which are set to be connected physically to one another so as to form a heating conduit having an inlet and an outlet for conducting target fluid, each said separable energy collecting module having at least one energy collecting element mounted to concentrate radiation onto a segment of said heating conduit; and   a pump, which is connected tubularly to said inlet for conducting said target fluid via said outlet.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a controller which controls said pump. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said outlet is connected to a reservoir; said radiation performs at least one of the following actions: purifying said target fluid, causing a chemical reaction to said target fluid, enhancing a biological process in said target fluid, and suppressing a biological process in said target fluid. 
     
     
         32 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The energy collecting unit of  claim 6 , wherein said transparent fluid channel contains at least one solid body adapted to absorb solar radiation. 
     
     
         37 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one pump that circulates said working fluid. 
     
     
         38 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , wherein said working fluid contains a plurality of particulates which enhance absorption of a solar radiation. 
     
     
         39 . The energy collecting module of  claim 10 , further comprising a sun tracker unit which tracks a motion of the sun and includes at least one actuator that tilts said at least one energy collecting element according to said motion.