Importance

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Abstract

A system for the collection of solar radiation and the recovery of thermal energy therefrom includes solar radiation receiver means at or near the focus of a solar radiation concentrating means for absorbing the solar radiation, converting it to thermal energy and transferring the thermal energy to ambient air drawn over the receiver means and, thereafter, directed to an energy reclamation unit. In the energy reclamation unit the heated ambient air deposits a portion of its thermal energy in regenerators, from which it is recovered by a compressed air stream, and transfers a portion of its thermal energy to a power fluid. The thermal energy of the ambient air is reclaimed from the compressed air stream and the power fluid as shaft work in expansion turbines. In a preferred embodiment, the solar radiation receiver means comprises a high temperature resistant, porous, convex enclosure having inner and outer porous, convex surfaces arranged in spaced apart nested relationship for defining therebetween an annular space which is randomly filled with a plurality of close to ideal black body solar radiation absorbing elements.

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First Claim