Patent ID: 7856974

Claim:
A solar chimney, comprising: a) an elongated cylindrical enclosure, the enclosure defining a path for a stream of moving air through said enclosure, the enclosure having an inner surface which has a coating which tends to reflect solar radiation, the enclosure having a first aperture, b) means for concentrating solar radiation, the concentrating means being located outside the cylindrical enclosure and being positioned to direct a concentrated beam of solar radiation through the first aperture, c) a generally cylindrical inner casing, the inner casing being located entirely inside the cylindrical enclosure, the inner casing having an inner surface which has a coating capable of absorbing solar radiation, the inner casing having a second aperture, wherein the first and second apertures are aligned so that some of the solar radiation passing through the first aperture also passes through the second aperture and enters the inner casing, d) a target substrate, located inside the inner casing, the target substrate having a coating which absorbs solar energy, and e) a heat exchanger, located entirely within the enclosure and in thermal contact with the target substrate, wherein the enclosure, the target substrate, and the heat exchanger together comprise means for creating updrafts of air within the enclosure.