WO2011153337A2

WO2011153337A2 - Solar energy collection, storage and distribution system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2011153337A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/038910
Authority: WO
Inventors: David M. Lynn
Original assignee: Lynn David M
Priority date: 2010-06-02
Filing date: 2011-06-02
Publication date: 2011-12-08
Also published as: WO2011153337A3

Abstract

A system for collecting, storing and distributing solar energy includes a primary solar energy reflector, a secondary solar energy reflector, a solar energy storage and distribution device and a conveying system that transports heat energy between the storage device and a heat-dependent use application. Also disclosed are methods for collecting, storing and distributing solar energy.

Description

SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTION, STORAGE

AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Serial No. 61/350,914 filed June 2, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to solar energy production and, more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method for collecting, storing and distributing solar energy.

[0003] Systems utilizing photovoltaics and harnessing solar energy are known in the ait; however, such conventional systems are disadvantaged by limited maximum efficiency and high cost, Many of the existing solar power systems focus on utility scale systems to produce electricity and provide a source of consumable energy for uses such as space conditioning. Expanding practical usage of solar power to adequately accommodate a more residential setting will require addressing the issues in the art such as efficiency, cost and consistency.

[0004] Utility scale systems mainly use concentrated solar power (CSP) such as solar towers, solar troughs or solar dishes. However, large scale systems are generally located remotely in desert type areas because of the exposure to higher daily levels of solar radiation. One problem with remote location of solar receivers is that the electricity generated must be transported to the end user. These systems produce electricity at efficiencies from about 10% to 30%, with the remaining energy wasted as lost heat.

[0005] In residential and small business systems utilizing solar power, the solar power is generally distributed and located at or near the point of use. Generally, photovoltaic or hot water solar systems are found in residential or small businesses. Photovoltaic systems generally use the electrical grid for backup and stores electricity in batteries with a 1 to 2 day conservative use period at an efficiency of around 15%. Heat stored in water tanks provides hot water for only a couple of days at a maximum efficiency of around 50%. [0006] There are five primary categories of active solar thermal production. Solar towers and solar troughs are about 60% heat efficient and are not suitable for residential or small business use. Glazed flat panels and evacuated tubes are about 60% heat efficient; however, neither is sufficiently productive to produce energy in cold climates on cold days. Flat panels and tubes have relatively high heat losses to the environment and thus are much less efficient in cooler weather or when the proposed uses require higher temperatures such as for sorption cooling or process heat. Parabolic dishes can be greater than 90% efficient at focusing solar energy to a point, are little affected by ambient temperature changes, and focus energy to high temperatures efficiently. But, taking advantage of such efficient solar collection is hindered by the problem of high losses and inefficiency in transitioning to remote storage.

[0007] Currently, most small scale solar energy systems are custom designed. Most systems are attached to or mounted on the structure to be supplied which results in the added cost of onsite sales, design, permitting, custom installation and inspection. Many systems also lose efficiency due to transport of the collected energy to a remotely attached storage device.

Applicant believes that a freestanding solar power collection and self-contained storage system could largely eliminate or reduce these expenses and enable a larger portion of the cost to be in manufactured products as opposed to being built onsite. A freestanding residential solar collection device would reduce the design requirements currently mandating placement and installation of conventional solar systems.

[0008] Applicant recognizes a need in the art to increase efficiency in a cost effective manner in order to widen the range of practical uses of solar energy, especially for residential users. It is to these and additional problems that this invention is directed.

Summary

[0009] The present invention fulfills one or more of these needs in the art by providing an economical, efficient and convenient collection, storage and distribution system for solar energy.

[0010] In one embodiment, a system for collecting, storing and distributing heat energy includes a primary and a secondary solar energy reflector where solar energy is collected by the primary solar energy reflector and directed to a first focal point located ahead of the secondary solar energy reflector. The system further includes a lens designed to accept solar energy redirected from the secondary solar energy reflector where the redirected solar energy passes through the lens to a second focal point behind the primary reflector. There is an energy absoiption chamber at the second focal point and a thennal storage media surrounding the energy absorption chamber. The system further includes at least one insulation shell surrounding the thermal storage media and a conveying system that transports the heat energy between the storage media and a heat-dependent use application. The conveying system includes a heat exchange member arranged to extract heat from the storage media and insulation shell. The system may also include a frame and a base connected by a column.

[001 1] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method for collecting, storing and distributing heat energy including collecting solar energy in a primary reflector, directing solar energy to a first focal point at a secondary reflector, and redirecting solar energy from the secondary reflector to a second focal point behind the primary reflector. The method also includes, passing the redirected solar energy through a concentration lens as it passes to the second focal point, housing the solar energy from the second focal point in an energy absorption chamber located at the second focal point, absorbing the solar energy from the energy absoiption chamber into an insulated storage medium and retaining the energy in the storage media. The method may also include extracting the heat from the insulated storage media with a heat exchange member and transporting the stored heat energy between the storage media and a heat dependent use application. [0012] The invention can also be considered as a solar energy collector that includes a focusing mechanism to collect solar energy from a first area and concentrate the solar energy in a second area that is smaller than the first area. A collection and storage device made up of a predominantly iron storage medium has an outer surface that has an opening to an internal cavity within the collection and storage device. A support arrangement supports the focusing mechanism so that the smaller areas in which solar energy is concentrated is located within the internal cavity of the collection and storage device. Solar energy is concentrated within the predominantly iron storage medium and can be absorbed as heat by the predominantly iron storage medium. A heat exchanger in thermal communication with the collection and storage device to extracts heat for use.

[0013] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of various components of an embodiment of the invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is an expanded sectional view of an embodiment of the collector and storage media;

[0016] Figure 3 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the energy absorption chamber;

[0017] Figure 3 A is a sectional view of an insert that can be fabricated for components of the energy absorption chamber;

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dish;

[0019] Figure 5 is an expanded view of an embodiment of the insulted storage media including a heat extraction member;

[0020] Figures 6A-6D are various views of an embodiment of the structural support;

[0021] Figure 7 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

[0022] Figure 8 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

[0023] Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of the dish having a rain shield and a sectional reflector;

[0024] Figure 10 is a block diagram constructed according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0025] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as "forward," "rearward," "left," "right," "upwardly," "downwardly," and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. The illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto.

[0026] As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a solar energy collection, storage and distribution system, generally designated 10, is shown. The system 10 includes a primary solar energy reflector 2, a secondaiy solar energy reflector 12, and a solar energy storage and distribution device 4,

[0027] The primary solar energy reflector 2 is designed to collect solar energy and direct the solar energy to a first focal point 13, located at a secondary solar energy reflector 12. The primary solar energy reflector may take the shape of a concave parabolic dish. A parabolic dish, utilizing 95% solar reflective mirrors, can focus up to 95% of the available energy of the incoming radiation to a receiver located beyond focal point 13. With a parabolic dish, it is possible to collect solar energy at high efficiencies and collect a higher fraction of available energy than other currently available solar collectors, allowing the dish to produce higher temperatures than other types of collectors. Utilizing a parabolic dish as the primary solar energy reflector 2 allows geographic flexibility as far as physical location of the system 10 and also allows for the system 10 to be manufactured in a size scale suitable for homes and small businesses.

[0028] By way of example, mirrors with 96% solar reflectivity, comprised of laminated glass, are suitable for use in the dish 2 and may be economically produced (as seen in Figure 4). Mirror sections 60, 62, 64, 66 may be suppoited with a molded frame 70 bonded to each section in such a way as to allow a section to be repaired or replaced without having to disassemble the complete structure. By creating a frame for each section so it bonds to the adjacent sections, each section can utilize the combined strength of the glass and frame to create a strong rigid structure. The mid-point on a 20 foot in diameter dish is typically detennined by square footage and may provide a preferable location for a support structure with the least amount of materials. Molded frame edges may form ridges which connect to an adjacent section. Ridges may be as wide and thick as necessary to provide adequate support for the minor sections, The heights of the frame edges may be tapered to be smaller away from the dish midpoints, where other dish supports 72 may be attached to the solar energy storage and distribution device 4.

[0029] As best seen in Figure 2, the solar energy focused by the primary solar energy reflector 2 is directed to a first focal point 13. The first focal point 13 is located in front of the secondary solar energy reflector 12. The secondary solar energy reflector 12 collects and redirects the solar energy to a second focal point 16 behind the primary solar energy reflector 2 where the energy may be focused and stored. At that second focal point, preferably, a Fresnel lens 14 focuses the incoming energy. The second solar energy reflector 12 may be a concave dish arranged as a cassegrain optic pair. By way of example, a cassegrainian type arrangement in a solar concentrator system helps to eliminate the limitations of collector size and weight associated with known front focus parabolic dish collectors. This arrangement also assists in eliminating the costs associated with a separate receiver, piping, pumps, and insulation where heat is transported away from the point of energy focus.

[0030] Additionally, a concave secondary solar energy reflector 12, as opposed to a convex construction, allows the secondary reflector 12 to be retracted or moved so that it is de- focused. An effective secondary reflector may be designed to be able to dissipate the potential high temperatures that may occur during system usage. A standard parabolic dish collector can turn away from the focus to avoid more heat gain. However, with a cassegrain system, with a convex secondary reflector, turning away from the focused energy or moving the convex secondary reflector forward or back, risks damage to the primary and/or secondary mirror. Not commonly used in cassegrain systems, a concave secondary reflector 12 placed just beyond the first focus point 13 may be moved away to de-focus the entire system. Such movement away can be achieved by mounting reflector 12 on a tlireaded shaft 74, which is, in turn, supported by internally threaded housing 76. Rotation o f the shaft 74 with respect to the housing 76 moves the reflector into or out of focus. Other means for movement of the reflector 12 can be used, including, but not limited to hydraulic, pneumatic, or solenoid devices. In other embodiments, the legs supporting the mirror can be made to change in ways to re-position the mirror.

[0031] As the secondary solar energy reflector 12 collects and redirects the solar energy to the second focal point 16, the solar energy passes through a lens 14 as seen in Figures 3 and 3 A, Lens 14 focuses the solar radiation as it arrives at second focal point 16 so that it travels through a minimal sized aperture to a chamber 18 in storage medium 20 at second focal point 16. By focusing the energy through as small an apeiture as is possible at the focal point 16, the losses from reflected light and black body radiation are reduced to a minimum. The apeiture size will have to be large enough to pass the incoming radiation without reflection. The size may be largely determined by the beam spread from the primary reflector 2 and the secondary reflector 12. To reduce conductive losses, it may be helpful to create a vacuum in the chamber 18 beyond the lens 14 . The lens 14 may be a Fresnel lens which will focus the energy to the second focal point 16 and then will allow the radiation to spread out within the energy absorption chamber 18. Spreading the beam back out as it is absorbed allows absorption over a larger surface area on the inside walls that define chamber 18 at a higher efficiency, so the energy is more easily distributed by conduction throughout the storage media 20.

[0032] Biconvex, plano-convex or convex lenses may be used. A convex Fresnel lens fused to a conic section may be in-tum fused to a spherical section window with a permanent vacuum between to provide a vacuum thermal barrier. However, this may create extreme temperatures on the inner spherical section which has no avenue to dissipate heat and increase corrosion of the absorption surfaces due to exposure to atmosphere at high temperatures.

[0033] As seen in Figure 3A, an insert can be fabricated to be located in a substantially cylindrical cavity formed radially in the storage medium 20 and its surrounding insulation 21. These items of the insert can be pre-assembled in to a cylindrical shape to complement the cavity in the sphere to substantially complete the sphere of storage medium 20 and its insulation shell 21 , To make the insert, optionally, a convex Fresnel lens 14 may be fused to a conic section 26, which is in-tum fused with a seal, such as metal or glass, to a metal disk (not shown). The disk may be bolted or otherwise attached to the storage media component of the insert 20' with a malleable, preferably metal, ring to form a seal to the storage media. The enclosed space may be evacuated by a small vacuum pump connected with a vacuum tube 15 as needed. The conical section 26 may be mirrored to help guide any out of focus energy into the absorption chamber 18. Under a vacuum, the primary heat loss would be by conduction through the conical section 26. The convex Fresnel lens may have an anti-reflective coating on the sun side and a low band infrared reflective coating on the inside. To further reduce losses, a contoured, movable insulated cover with a radiant barrier facing the radiation-side could be moved over the Fresnel lens overnight or anytime the sun is not available. This type of arrangement uses a minimum amount of components to achieve high efficiency collection with rriinimum losses.

[0034] In the present system, solar energy collection efficiency is maximized and then storage for that energy is within an insulated high temperature environment at the point of energy focus. This enables the receiver and the storage to be located together as one device. A parabolic dish may be the most efficient way to collect and at the same time to concentrate the solar energy. A dish is scalable to sizes appropriate to supply energy to homes and small businesses, A dish can collect solar energy at the location of use and is suitable for distributed generation and a dish is far less affected by the ambient temperatures than other solar thermal collection systems including glazed panels and evacuated tubes. While efficiently gathering and focusing the solar energy is important, it is to no avail if one is not able to store the collected energy so that it is available for use,

[0035] Applicant recognizes storage of solar energy as a challenge in the field. As much storage as is economically feasible is also desirable, even more so for people living in areas with fewer sunny days. Considering the number of days most individuals experience low sun exposure, storage capacity affects the desirability of the solar energy system, but also usually affects the cost of the system. With any storage media, Volumetric Heat Capacity (VHC) is one of the most important attributes because it determines the amount of insulation required to contain a given quantity of energy stored at a given temperature. While water is cheap and has a slightly higher VHC than particular metals, heat storage in water is limited to about 200 degrees F. Beyond 200 degrees F water requires a pressure container and, at much higher temperatures, represents a danger of explosion.

[0036] There are metals with extremely high VHC, but they are usually prohibitively expensive as thermal storage media. Sand, concrete, stone, and other commonly available materials have a VHC of about one-half or less that of many metals, would require more insulation, and have a variety of problems operating at high temperatures. Even solar salt has a substantially lower VHC than metals, requires a tank, has significant coefficient of expansion and is often corrosive. Applicant has discovered that metals, such as grey iron, store substantial amounts of energy, yet remains economical and serves to overcome many of the storage issues with other typical solar storage media commonly in use.

[0037] Storage media 20 may be any material with high volumetric energy capacity, long-term stability at high temperatures, and low cost. By way of example, one such material is iron, or alloys of iron. Gray iron has low specific heat, but it also has a high mass, which gives it a very high VHC. Iron has a high melting point and low coefficient of thermal expansion but is also inexpensive. The storage media 20 may be unitary or may be made of assembled parts. Storage media 20 may take on any of a variety of shapes, although typically, a spherical configuration provides the maximum ratio of volume to surface area, imparting the greatest absorptive capacity at the lowest cost with reduced losses to ambient. As used herein,

"predominantly iron" means a metal alloy that is at least 80% iron and any non-iron additives to the alloy do not substantially degrade the benefits of the very high VHC, a high melting point, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and relatively low cost of gray iron.

[0038] Accordingly, in the collected and focused solar energy is dispersed past the second focal point 16 into the enclosed energy absoiption chamber 18. As seen in Figure 5, the solar energy storage and distribution device 4 surrounds the absorption chamber 18. Absorption chamber 18 may have a corrugated surface to increase absoiption area and may be coated with an energy absorptive coating. The storage and distribution device 4 includes a thermal storage media 20 and at least one insulation shell 22, as seen in Figure 5. The solar energy directed into the absoiption chamber 18 is absorbed into the thermal storage media 20.

[0039] The shell 22 may include more than one insulation shell layers, such as 31, 33 and 35. The material of the insulation shell layers 31, 33, and 35 should have a low thermal conductivity and should be able to withstand high designed operating temperatures over a long period of time. The layers should also be rigid enough to support the storage media, capable of being fabricated in a desired shape and have a low cost. By way of example, the insulation shell may be made of foam glass or calcium silicate or microporous silica or more than one of them. Calcium silicate is a good thermal insulator heat and supports the weight of the storage mass. The insulation shell may further include, as seen in Figure 5, for example, hot rolled steel hemisphere layers 32 and 34 laminated or coated with copper for oxidation protection that serve as heat exchange members 36. The steel hemispheres 32 and 34 may be formed by spinning or hydro formed for larger volume production. Alternatively, the insulation shells may be formed as curved, half pie-shaped sections attached to center manifolds at each end or as wedges attached to a single central manifold. The inside of the insulation shells 31, 33, 35 may be molded or machine grooved to accommodate the heat exchange members, for example, in the form of heat exchanger tubing.

[0040] Any of the insulation shells may include the heat exchange members 36 arranged to extract heat from the insulation shell and the storage media. Heat may be extracted with one or more of the heat exchange members 36, By way of example, metallic tubing may be attached to or inserted into the insulation shells or the heat exchange members 36. High temperature fluid may be pumped through the tubing to extract heat. A first hemisphere 32 may extract heat at its highest temperature as it dissipates through the insulation. A secondshell 34 and additional shells may extract heat at lower temperatures. Thus, as the heat dissipates through the insulating layers, heat is captured at lower temperatures than the maximum storage media temperature. Temperature sensors may provide information to adjust mixing valves or mixing manifold to extract energy at desired temperatures for the most efficient mix. Valves and/or manifold can be enclosed by insulation to further reduce losses. High temperature heat transfer fluid may selectively be mixed with a low temperature exchanger to pump to the user and/or to dump heat if necessary to avoid saturation and over-heating of fluid or insulation. The thermal fluid may be selectively pumped through the different shells or exchange members to modulate the temperature of extraction and thereby capture the heat as it disperses through the insulating shell layers, allowing heat that would otherwise be lost to be captured at usable temperatures.

[0041] As seen in Figures 6A-6D, the system 10 may further include a frame 6 designed to provide structural support for the primary solar energy reflector 2 (not seen in those figures) and the solar energy storage and distribution device 4. Conventional types of supports for parabolic dishes may be suitable as a frame in some embodiments. The frame 6 may support the system so that the primary solar energy reflector 2 is able to rotate or adjust to track to collect differing amounts of solar radiation. Motors may rotate device 4 about a vertical and horizontal axes, to allow the focus of the device 4 to follow the sun as it moves through the day. The frame 6 may surround the device 4 and may include a U-shaped support attaching laterally to the sides of the solar energy storage and distribution device 4, as best seen in Figure 6C. As seen if Fig 6C , the U-shaped support attachments may be offset forward of center to the device 4 to balance the weight of the device 4 and the primary reflector 2. One or both sides of the U-shaped support attachments may include a flexible hose or a right angle concentric pipe connector 40, as seen in Figure 6D. Pipe connector 40 allows for heat transfer and connects the heat exchange shells to a heat conveying system that transports heat energy between the storage media and the heat dependent use application(s).

[0042] The frame 6 may be attached to a support column 38 that may be of various lengths, depending on the size of the system and the desired height of the system. The column 38 is typically well insulated and includes at least a pair of heat exchange pipes and at least one electrical conduit. The column 38 may further attach to a base 8 (seen in Figure 1). By way of example, the column 38 may attach to the base 8 by I beams or C channel bolting.

[0043] Turning to Figure 7, base 8 may include a light weight metal cover forming a utility housing for any other energy devices such as a heat exchanger, adsorption or absorption cooling equipment, heat pumps, geothermal loop, backup power supply, inverter, backup battery, heat sink, and and/or any other device appropriate for connection to the system 10. The base 8 may include sorption equipment 46 for adsorption or absorption cooling. Adsoiption cooling requires a minimum of 180 degrees F to operate effectively and 200 degrees F or better to reach peak efficiency, Absoiption cooling requires even higher temperatures. At these high temperature requirements other systems, such as flat plate and tubular collectors are extremely inefficient. The column 38 could support a rejected heat exchanger 42 with a cover and convection air guide 44. The column 38 provides an ideal structure for a reject heat exchanger 42 because it is off the ground in an area that will have free airflow and will always be in the shadow of the device 2. The column 38 may be vertically elongated and provided with a columnar cover to facilitate convection cooling so as to possibly eliminate the need for a fan. The exchanger 42 may be used to dump heat from the heat exchange shells, if necessary to prevent saturation. Additionally, the exchanger 42 may provide the cold side for an integrated absorption or adsoiption cooling system. The base 8 may further include a ground loop pump 48, a ground loop manifold 50 and/or ground loop pipes 52.

[0044] In one embodiment, seen in Figure 8, the base 8 may be adapted to include a larger base enclosure 54 to serve as a utility building or storage space.

[0045] The base 8 may further include a prefab foundation that eliminates the need for digging and pouring a foundation. The only preparation would be to level the ground and pre install a service pipe to a home or to a heat-dependent use application. The foundation may be manufactured in one or more sections, forming a flat donut shape delivered to the site and anchored to the ground. Earth anchors, for example, are quick to install, available at low cost and may provide thousands of pounds of anchoring.

[0046] The system may further include, as seen in Figure 9, a shield 56 and a conical section 58. The shield 56 serves as a rain and weather shield and is positioned above the lens 14. The shield 56 may prevent a large amount of moisture (such as from a thunderstorm) from contacting the lens. The conical section 58 may be added to enhance solar energy capture.

[0047] In one embodiment, as seen in Figure 10, in operation, the system 10 is composed of a cassegrain type optic pair consisting typically of a concave parabolic primaiy dish 2 focusing solar energy to a concave secondary dish 12. This secondary dish in-tum focuses the solar energy through a Fresnel lens 14 into an evacuated absorption chamber 18. This chamber is enclosed by and integrated into a thermal storage media 20 comprised of Gray Iron or an alloy of Iron in the shape of a sphere. This iron sphere is enclosed and supported by two or more spherical shells 22 of rigid insulation separated by one or more heat exchangers 36. These heat exchangers in the shape of spherical shells utilize a high temperature thermal fluid to extract the solar energy as heat. This thermal fluid can be selectively pumped through the different shells to modulate the temperature of extraction and thereby capture the heat as it disperses through the insulating shell layers. Heat that would otherwise be lost is captured at usable temperatures. Capture of the solar energy and transport through a conveying system, such as flow of the themial fluid through the heat extraction shells, converts the solar energy to heat energy that may, in-tum be used to supply energy for a heat dependent usage such as for sorption cooling, electricity, and water and space heating.

[0048] By way of example, the high temperature heat generated may be converted to electrical usage for electrical battery storage, inverted to alternating current for supplying electricity to a primary and/or secondary grid connected electrical supply . The mix of high, intermediate and low temperatures generated may be converted to supply space heating, water heating, cooling and electrical needs.

[0049] The invention may also be considered a method for solar energy collection, storage and distribution including: collecting solar energy in a primary reflector; directing the solar energy from the secondary reflector to a second focal point behind the primary reflector; housing the solar energy from the energy absorption chamber into an insulated storage media; extracting the heat from the insulated storage media with a heat exchange member; transporting the stored heat energy between the storage media and a heat dependent use application.

[0050] Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for collecting, storing and distributing heat energy, comprising: a primary and a secondary solar energy reflector wherein solar energy is collected by the primary solar energy reflector and directed to a first focal point located at the secondary solar energy reflector, a lens positioned to accept solar energy redirected from the secondary solar energy reflector, wherein the redirected solar energy passes through the lens to a second focal point behind the primary reflector, an energy absorption chamber at the second focal point, a thermal storage medium surrounding the energy absorption chamber, at least one insulation shell surrounding the thermal storage media, a conveying system that transports the heat energy stored in the storage medium to a heat dependent use application, wherein the conveying system includes a heat exchange member arranged to extract heat from one or more of the storage medium and the insulation shell, a frame supporting the primary reflector and the thermal storage media, a base designed to anchor the system to a foundation, and a column connecting the frame to the base,

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary solar energy reflector is a concave parabolic dish.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the secondary solar energy reflector is a concave dish.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the primary solar energy reflector and the secondary solar energy reflector are arranged as a cassegrain pair.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the lens is a convex Fresnel lens,

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy absorption chamber has an absorber surface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the thermal storage media is made of metal.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the metal is predominantly iron.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the insulation shell includes a heat exchange member.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the heat exchange member includes tubing.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the insulation shell is made of a material selected from the group consisting of foamed glass, layers of calcium silicate, microporous silica and more than one of them.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the frame has a U-shaped support.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the heat dependent use application includes a use selected from the group consisting of generating electricity, space heating, cooling, water heating and more than one of them.

14. The system of claim 1 further including a rejected heat exchanger.

15. The system of claim 1 further including a tracking mechanism to track movement of the reflectors with the sun.

16. A system for collecting and storing heat energy, comprising: a concave, parabolic dish configureed to collect and direct solar energy to a first focal point, a secondary concave reflector beyond the First focal point, wherein the secondary concave reflector receives the solar energy directed from the dish to the first focal point and redirects the solar energy to a second focal point behind the dish, a convex Fresnel lens designed to accept the solar energy redirected from the secondary reflector wherein the lens concentrates the redirected solar energy through an aperture at the second focal point, an energy absorption chamber at the second focal point, a metallic thermal storage media having at least one insulation shell, wherein the storage media is designed to absorb the solar energy collected in the energy absorption chamber, a plurality of heat exchange members within the insulation shell containing thermal fluid, a frame supporting the dish and the storage media, a column attached to the frame, a base connected to the column and anchor the system to a foundation, a conveying system that transports heat energy from the heat exchange members to a heat dependent use application.

17. A method for collecting, storing and distributing heat energy, comprising: collecting solar energy in a primary reflector, directing solar energy to a first focal point at a secondary reflector, redirecting solar energy from the secondary reflector to a second focal point behind the primary reflector, passing the redirected solar energy through a concentration lens as it passes to the second focal point, housing the solar energy from the second focal point in an energy absoiption chamber located at the second focal point, absorbing the solar energy from the energy absoiption chamber into an insulated storage media, extracting the heat from the insulated storage media with a heat exchange member, and transporting the extracted heat energy from the storage media to a heat dependent use application.

18. A solar energy collector comprising a focusing mechanism to collect solar energy from a first area and concentrate the solar energy in a second area that is smaller than the first area, a collection and storage device comprising a storage medium having an outer surface that has an opening to an internal cavity within the collection and storage device, a support arrangement to support the focusing mechanism so that the smaller areas in which solar energy is concentrated is located within the internal cavity of the collection and storage device, so that solar energy is concentrated within the predominantly iron storage medium and can be absorbed as heat by the predominantly iron storage medium, and a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the collection and storage device to extract heat for use.

19. A solar energy collector as claimed in claim 18 wherein the storage medium is predominantly iron.

20. A solar energy collector as claimed in claim 18 wherein the storage medium is gray iron.