Introduction
These devices work together to acquire the energy that drives heat engines.
Parabolic Trough Concentrator
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Concentrators reflect solar radiation falling into a capture area to an absorber tube at the focus of the concentrator. A document to assist designers is being developed for inclusion here.
Status: Prototypes tested, additional development underway.
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Tracker
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Trackers sense the position of the sun and rotate the concentrator to ensure that energy is focused on the absorber and reset to face east at the end of the day.
Status: Prototypes tested, additional development underway at SolarFlower.
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Absorber
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Absorbers receive the solar radiation reflected by the concentrator. This project has produced a significant efficiency breakthrough, explained in these pages.
Status: Research completed, development on hold.
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