A solar receiver comprising: a low pressure fluid chamber comprising a fluid inlet , a fluid outlet , and an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation; a solar absorber housed within the low pressure fluid chamber ; and a plurality of transparent objects (703; S 1 , S 2 ...) that define a segmented wall (754; 746) of the low pressure fluid chamber , wherein the plurality of transparent objects(703; S 1 , S 2 ...) are positioned at the opening of the low pressure fluid chamber for receiving concentrated solar radiation, wherein concentrated solar radiation received through the opening passes through the segmented wall and the transparent objects (703; S 1 , S 2 ...) to pass into the low pressure fluid chamber and impinge upon the solar absorber ; wherein the low pressure fluid chamber defines a fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet , and wherein between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet , the fluid flow path extends across at least a portion of the transparent objects (703;S 1 ,S 2 ,...) and through one or more passages within the solar absorber , characterized in that the segmented wall is configured with gaps between the transparent objects (703;S 1 ,S 2 ,...) that allow for a fluid surrounding the solar receiver to pass through the segmented wall and into the low pressure fluid chamber when a pressure within the low pressure fluid chamber is lower that an environmental pressure surrounding the solar receiver during operation, wherein the low pressure fluid chamber is configured such that fluid that is drawn into the low pressure fluid chamber through the gaps between the transparent objects (703;S 1 ,S 2 ,...) enters the fluid flow path. a low pressure fluid chamber comprising a fluid inlet , a fluid outlet , and an opening for receiving concentrated solar radiation; a solar absorber housed within the low pressure fluid chamber ; and a plurality of transparent objects (703; S 1 , S 2 ...) that define a segmented wall (754; 746) of the low pressure fluid chamber , wherein the plurality of transparent objects(703; S 1 , S 2 ...) are positioned at the opening of the low pressure fluid chamber for receiving concentrated solar radiation, wherein concentrated solar radiation received through the opening passes through the segmented wall and the transparent objects (703; S 1 , S 2 ...) to pass into the low pressure fluid chamber and impinge upon the solar absorber ; wherein the low pressure fluid chamber defines a fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet , and wherein between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet , the fluid flow path extends across at least a portion of the transparent objects (703;S 1 ,S 2 ,...) and through one or more passages within the solar absorber , characterized in that the segmented wall is configured with gaps between the transparent objects (703;S 1 ,S 2 ,...) that allow for a fluid surrounding the solar receiver to pass through the segmented wall and into the low pressure fluid chamber when a pressure within the low pressure fluid chamber is lower that an environmental pressure surrounding the solar receiver during operation, wherein the low pressure fluid chamber is configured such that fluid that is drawn into the low pressure fluid chamber through the gaps between the transparent objects (703;S 1 ,S 2 ,...) enters the fluid flow path. <EOS>