Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Porter Arbogast · William Gross · Steve Schell ·
Assignee(s)	None listed in document.  View assignee updates
Correspondent	CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP ·
Application Number	US12413449
Filing date	03/27/2009
Publication date	10/01/2009
Predicted expiration date	03/27/2029
U.S. Classifications	126/643  ·
International Classifications	F24J230  ·
Kind Code	A1

Patent Family

Abstract

A receiver system for harnessing solar radiation. Embodiments of a receiver system include a receiver including one or more receiver elements, each receiver element including: a plurality of transparent tubes including a first tube and at least one second tube at least partially within the first tube; a first passage interposed between the first tube and the at least one second tube, the first passage having an inlet and an outlet; a second passage within the at least one second tube, the second passage having an inlet and an outlet; and an absorber in the at least one second tube, the absorber adapted to absorb the solar radiation. In some embodiments, a receiver further includes a housing having at least one transparent portion, the housing configured to enclose the plurality of receiver elements, whereby a third passage is formed between the first tube and the housing.

Independent Claims | See all claims (24)

1. 1. A receiver system for harnessing solar radiation, the receiver system comprising: a receiver comprising one or more receiver elements, each receiver element comprising: a plurality of transparent tubes comprising: a first tube; and at least one second tube at least partially within the first tube; a first passage interposed between the first tube and the at least one second tube, the first passage having an inlet and an outlet; a second passage within the at least one second tube, the second passage having an inlet and an outlet; and an absorber in the at least one second tube, the absorber adapted to absorb the solar radiation.
2. 24. A receiver system for harnessing solar radiation, the receiver system comprising: a receiver comprising: a transparent front wall; an opaque back wall; one or more receiver elements between the front wall and the back wall; and a first passage interposed between the front wall and the back wall and outside of the one or more receiver elements, the first passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein each of the receiver elements comprises a single transparent tube; a second passage within the tube, the second passage having an inlet and an outlet; and an absorber in the tube, the absorber adapted to absorb the solar radiation.