Solar concentrator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A solar radiation concentrator comprising: trough means, having an open portion, for reflecting solar radiation incident thereupon; refracting means, covering said open portion of said trough means, for refracting solar radiation incident thereupon onto said trough means, said refracting means comprising at least one strip of transparent material including a pattern of prismatic parallel grooves; and target means, linearly, extended in said trough means parallel with a longitudinal axis of said strip means, for absorbing solar radiation refracted and reflected thereupon by said refracting means and said trough means, respectively, said trough means including at least two side portions, each of said side portions is a circular curved reflective portion with a center of curvature offset from a center of curvature of the other side portion, and a substantially flat bottom portion, said side portions in combination with said refracting means facilitating the focussing of solar radiation, incident at angles up to 30.
degree.
from a normal to said refracting means, upon said target means so as to permit stationary operation of said concentrator without sun-tracking or seasonal orientation.
2.
A solar radiation concentrator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trough means is shaped in section so as to have two side portions arranged symmetrically on either side of the target joined by a bottom portion, passing beneath and spaced from the target, of a different form from the side portions.
3.
A solar radiation concentrator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strip is secured in grooves formed along upper edges of said trough means to form an integrated structure enclosing the target.
4.
A solar radiation concentrator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said refracting means comprises a plurality of said strips side by side arranged at different angles to focus on the target at different altitudes of the sun.
5.
A solar radiation concentrator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said strips are curved to form a continuously curved refractor