Concentrating Solar Collector with Trough, Tracking, Receiver Tube system

Abstract

For concentrating solar systems, a trough, tracking system and receiver tube where the trough consists of a frame structure and vertical supports to form a parabolic shape, the trough movement is from the edges using cables (ropes) like a cradle movement, tracking system includes a variable speed cable pulling mechanism to track with sun. The tracking system further includes a controller. The tracking system further includes cables tied to the edges of the trough frame, which are pulled from the center. The tracking system further includes shaft below the trough at the center that winds and unwinds cables like a coil. An actuator and a gear is attached to the shaft structure such that actuator provides a variable and controllable driving force to the tracking mechanism to allow for controlled rotation of each solar collector assembly around its respective longitudinal axis according to sun's position at a given time and location. The receiver tube structure is either double pass (with U turn) or multi-pass (with S-shaped) and covered on top with reflective concentrating shape and with glass at the bottom to provide insulation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trough, frame structure, tracking and receiver tube system for a concentrating solar collector assembly array, tracking system comprising of cables to move the trough from the sides or edges 
     
     
         2 . The tracking system of  claim 1  including cables connecting the edges on each side of the moving axis to provide flexible free moving connection. 
     
     
         3 . The tracking system of  claim 2  including cables to connect the edge connecting cables to a shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The tracking system of  claim 3  including a shaft to coil and un-coil the cables driven by a stepper motor (actuator). 
     
     
         5 . The tracking system of  claim 4  including a controller that moves the stepper motor actuator with a non-linear function to keep moving the trough along with sun position calculated based on size of the collector, position of the trough, geographic location, date and time. 
     
     
         6 . The trough system of  claim 1  built using a frame structure and support bars to provide trough shape desired such as parabolic, elliptical, circular etc. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver tube assembly of  claim 1  comprising of double-pass tubes with U turn 
     
     
         8 . The receiver tube assembly of  claim 1  comprising of multi-pass tubes with S-shape. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver tube assembly of  claim 7  comprising of inverted concentrating trough and flat transparent surface at the bottom which create an insulating enclosure for the receiver tube