Support of heat collectors in solar energy collectors

Abstract

Examples and variations of apparatus and Methods for concentrating solar radiation are disclosed.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A concentrating solar energy collector comprising:
 a) a housing comprising first and second identical or substantially identical panels forming at least a portion of a wall of the housing, which housing extends between first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector;   b) a first reflector and a second reflector each offset from said wall and positioned within said housing to receive solar radiation and concentrate at least a portion of said solar radiation on a heat collector, wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are identical and wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are elastically deformable flat reflectors in compression in said housing, wherein the compression provides curvature to said reflectors; and   c) said heat collector extending between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector, wherein the heat collector is supported by said housing by a first heat collector support comprising a first stanchion supporting the heat collector at a first position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and a first distance from an end of the concentrating solar energy collector, and a second stanchion supporting the heat collector at a second position between the first and second ends and at a second different distance from said end of the concentrating solar energy collector.   
     
     
         24 . The collector of  claim 23  wherein the first heat collector support has a portion spanning the first stanchion and the second stanchion that contact the heat collector. 
     
     
         25 . The collector of  claim 24  wherein the first heat collector support has a portion that is removable from said support to allow the heat collector to be removed from the collector. 
     
     
         26 . The collector of  claim 23  further comprising a second heat collector support positioned a distance from said first heat collector support and wherein said second heat collector support comprises a third stanchion supporting the heat collector at a third position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and different from the first and second positions, and a fourth stanchion supporting the heat collector at a fourth position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and different from the first, second, and third positions. 
     
     
         27 . The collector of  claim 24  further comprising a second heat collector support positioned a distance from said first heat collector support and wherein said second heat collector support comprises a third stanchion supporting the heat collector at a third position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and different from the first and second positions, and a fourth stanchion supporting the heat collector at a fourth position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and different from the first, second, and third positions. 
     
     
         28 . The collector of  claim 25  further comprising a second heat collector support positioned a distance from said first heat collector support and wherein said second heat collector support comprises a third stanchion supporting the heat collector at a third position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and different from the first and second positions, and a fourth stanchion supporting the heat collector at a fourth position between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector and different from the first, second, and third positions. 
     
     
         29 . The collector of  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of the heat collector is positioned on a rotational axis of the collector. 
     
     
         30 . The collector of  claim 29  wherein a portion of the heat collector positioned on the rotational axis of the collector passes through a bearing assembly supporting the housing. 
     
     
         31 . The collector of  claim 24  wherein at least a portion of the heat collector is positioned on a rotational axis of the collector. 
     
     
         32 . The collector of  claim 31  wherein a portion of the heat collector positioned on the rotational axis of the collector passes through a bearing assembly supporting the housing. 
     
     
         33 . The collector of  claim 25  wherein at least a portion of the heat collector is positioned on a rotational axis of the collector. 
     
     
         34 . The collector of  claim 33  wherein a portion of the heat collector positioned on the rotational axis of the collector passes through a bearing assembly supporting the housing. 
     
     
         35 . The collector of  claim 26  wherein at least a portion of the heat collector is positioned on a rotational axis of the collector. 
     
     
         36 . The collector of  claim 35  wherein a portion of the heat collector positioned on the rotational axis of the collector passes through a bearing assembly supporting the housing. 
     
     
         37 . The collector of  claim 27  wherein at least a portion of the heat collector is positioned on a rotational axis of the collector. 
     
     
         38 . The collector of  claim 37  wherein a portion of the heat collector positioned on the rotational axis of the collector passes through a bearing assembly supporting the housing. 
     
     
         39 . The collector of  claim 28  wherein at least a portion of the heat collector is positioned on a rotational axis of the collector. 
     
     
         40 . The collector of  claim 39  wherein a portion of the heat collector positioned on the rotational axis of the collector passes through a bearing assembly supporting the housing. 
     
     
         41 . A concentrating solar energy collector comprising:
 a) a housing comprising first and second identical or substantially identical panels forming at least a portion of a wall of the housing, which housing extends between first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector;   b) a heat collector extending between the first and second ends of the concentrating solar energy collector, wherein the heat collector is supported by said housing by a first heat collector support comprising a first stanchion and a second stanchion;   c) a first reflector and a second reflector offset from said wall and positioned within said housing to receive solar radiation and concentrate at least a portion of said solar radiation on said heat collector, wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are identical and wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are elastically deformable flat reflectors in compression in said housing to provide curvature to said reflectors; and   d) a storage reservoir attached to the housing, wherein the storage reservoir is in fluid communication with the heat collector.   
     
     
         42 . The collector of  claim 41  wherein the storage reservoir and the heat collector are in fluid communication through the heat collector support supporting said heat collector. 
     
     
         43 . The collector of  claim 23  wherein each of the first reflector and the second reflector are entirely flat.