Patent ID: 8378280

Claim:
A receiver for use in a solar energy collector system, the receiver comprising: a housing having an aperture adapted to receive solar radiation therethrough; a core disposed in the housing, the core configured to absorb solar radiation directed through the aperture in the housing, the core composed primarily of a refractory material, the refractory material being selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, magnesia, zirconia, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, chromium carbide, niobium carbide, zirconium carbide, molybdenum disilicide, calcium oxide, chromite, dolomite, magnesite, quartzite, aluminium silicate, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, rhenium, beryllium, and combinations thereof; and one or more fluid passageways in the core for conveying a working fluid through and facilitating extraction of thermal energy from the core; wherein the core is configured to store thermal energy during periods of low insolation; and wherein a displacement between the aperture and the core is adjustable to adjust an energy density of the solar radiation incident on the core.