CONCENTRATING PARABOLIC COLLECTORS - A PATENT SURVEY

A detailed patent survey of various types of low and intermediate temp erature concentrating collectors is presented. The survey examines the progress in the area of concentrating collectors (mostly novel concen trators) since 1978. The review shows a considerable decline in the am ount of invention in solar energy in the 1980s, although many innovati ve ideas exist for improved solar energy collection and application. R ecent developments have been focused on the high temperature range and power towers (dish, heliostats, etc.). Even though solar energy is fr ee and clean, little has been done to utilize fully its potential for meeting our energy needs. This survey summarizes and provides this inf ormation in an organized manner. We will trace the progress of work do ne since the energy crisis of the seventies and examine what has to be done to renew interest in solar energy collection, especially now tha t the world's attention is being drawn to the environment. The high te mperature, central receiver system, mostly used For electric power gen eration, is briefy discussed.