Patent ID: 7669592

Claim:
A collector system for solar energy comprising: an at least partially closed hollow partially spherical container having a window for permitting solar energy to enter the container, and the container having a reflective inner surface for retaining solar energy within the container; wherein the container is supported on a gimbaled structure with one drive for inclination and a second drive motor for rotational orientation, with the drive motors being controlled by a sun sensor; central tubing supported in the container; a pump for a circulating liquid through the tubing; a heat sink mounted upon the tubing for receiving focused solar energy and for conducting the solar energy to the tubing; a torque converter comprising: a drum, a radial array of blades extending inward from the drum, a rotor driven about a shaft within the drum, and a radial array of tangential nozzles extending from the rotor in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for dispensing condensed steam from the nozzles at the stator blades thereby driving the rotor for rotation about the shaft; a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy from the liquid in the tubing to the torque converter; and air contained within the container in contact with the tubing.