TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Heat exchanger and method of manufacturing thereof

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to heat exchangers. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with heat exchangers and method of manufacturing thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Common heat exchangers transfer heat between two different mediums, either separated or in direct contact. They are widely used in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, natural gas processing, and sewage treatment.

[0003] US 4 080 703 describes a heat exchanger in the form of a heat radiating or absorbing panel is disclosed, which consists of an aluminum panel having a copper tube secured thereto in heat exchange relationship. The panel has at least one pair of parallel, spaced, retainer legs that have angularly inwardly extending flanges. A copper tube of circular cross section is laid into the channel formed by said retainer legs, and is then squashed by means of a die into a generally oval cross section which will be confined within the retainer legs. While so confined, fluid under pressure may be introduced into the tube to expand it into intimate contact with the panel, the retainer legs and the flanges. The assembly may then be heated during the expanding step to a temperature somewhat above the expected operating temperature of the assembly, to prevent loosening of the intimate contact between the tube and panel, which have different coefficient of expansion. Provision may be made to cause flow through the tube to be turbulent or swirling. Alternatively, the introduction of fluid under pressure, and the heating of the assembly, may be omitted, and the sum of the inside surface of the back of the panel between the flanges, the inside surfaces of the flanges, and the underside of the die between the flanges, may be made equal to the outside circumference of the tube. The exposed surface of the panel may be configured to increase its area and to provide good exposure over a wide range of angles of incidence. The heat exchange relationship between the tube and panel may be enhanced by interposing a thin layer of a synthetic resin between; and the resin may have powdered metal entrained therein. If dimensional relationships alone are relied upon to provide intimate contact between the tube and panel, a mastic-like material in a thin film may be applied to the interface between the tube and panel to improve heat transfer and seal out moisture.

[0004] US 048 602 describes a heat exchanger includes a core and a pair of headers, the core including flat tubes and corrugated fins sandwiched between the tubes, the headers having holes in which the end portions of the tubes are inserted, wherein each tube comprises a stop means for ensuring that an adequate length of the tubes become inserted in the headers.

[0005] US 6 155 340 describes a heat exchanger comprises a plurality of flat tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the tubes. A pair of hollow headers is connected to the ends of the flat tubes. An inlet and outlet are provided in the headers for introducing the first fluid into the flat tubes and discharging it therefrom. Each header is composed of at least two parallel tubes with substantially circular cross-section, two adjacent tubes having integrated wall portions, thereby providing a substantially flat header.

[0006] US 6397931 describes a finned heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a unitary fin array with a multiplicity of fin banks. Each of the fin banks include a plurality of raised, folded fins for heat transfer. The fin banks extend in a transverse direction and are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction. The fin banks are retained within the fin array by looped expansion turns. The fin array is mounted on a dielectric substrate base. A closed flow channel for directing a flow of coolant is created by adding a cap to the substrate base.

[0007] US 2011/000657 describes an extruded tube for a heat exchanger is provided that includes two at least approximately parallel outer side walls that extend in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of the extruded tube and that are connected by two outer narrow sides in a vertical direction of the extruded tube, wherein at least one continuous web extends between the side walls in the longitudinal direction and in the vertical direction and separates at least two ducts of the extruded tube, and wherein at least one of the outer side walls has embossings that serve to form both bulged portions that project into the ducts of the side walls and also bulged portions that extend substantially in the transverse direction of the web, wherein the bulged portions of the at least one web have a controlled orientation with respect to the transverse direction.

[0008] EP 2 273 224 describes the unit (15) has an interior duct (17) i.e. extruded duct, comprising a set of longitudinal internal channels that circulates fluid. A hollow exterior envelope (19) is hosed in the interior duct and manufactured using a strip. Two ribbed walls (19a) are arranged on either side of the interior duct to delimit another set of longitudinal channels (29) for circulating another fluid that is in contact with the interior duct and the exterior envelope. The latter set of channels is extended in parallel to the former set of longitudinal internal channels. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a heat exchange unit between two fluids.

[0009] US2010300665 relates to a heat exchange unit and corresponding heat exchanger, method Of manufacturing a heat exchange unit. The invention relates to a heat exchange unit between a first and a second fluid the heat exchange unit comprising: at least one interior duct (17) having a plurality of first longitudinal internal channels (21) for the circulation of the first fluid, a hollow exterior envelope (19) wherein is housed the interior duct (17), and at least two ribbed walls (19a) arranged on either side of the interior duct (17), in contact with the interior duct (17) and as well with the exterior envelope (19), in such a way as to delimit a plurality of second longitudinal channels (29) for the circulation of the second fluid, the second channels (29) extending substantially in parallel to the first channels (21). The invention also relates to a heat exchanger incorporating a heat exchange unit as well as a method of manufacturing such a unit.

[0010] US6155340 relates to a heat exchanger comprises a plurality of flat tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the tubes. A pair of hollow headers is connected to the ends of the flat tubes. An inlet and outlet are provided in the headers for introducing the first fluid into the flat tubes and discharging it therefrom. Each header is composed of at least two parallel tubes with substantially circular cross-section, two adjacent tubes having integrated wall portions, thereby providing a substantially flat header.

[0011] US6397931 relates to a finned heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a unitary fin array with a multiplicity of fin banks. Each of the fin banks include a plurality of raised, folded fins for heat transfer. The fin banks extend in a transverse direction and are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction. The fin banks are retained within the fin array by looped expansion turns. The fin array is mounted on a dielectric substrate base. A closed flow channel for directing a flow of coolant is created by adding a cap to the substrate base.

[0012] US4080703 relates to a heat exchanger in the form of a heat radiating or absorbing panel is disclosed, which consists of an aluminum panel having a copper tube secured thereto in heat exchange relationship. The panel has at least one pair of parallel, spaced, retainer legs which have angularly inwardly extending flanges. A copper tube of circular cross section is laid into the channel formed by said retainer legs, and is then squashed by means of a die into a generally oval cross section which will be confined within the retainer legs. While so confined, fluid under pressure may be introduced into the tube to expand it into intimate contact with the panel, the retainer legs and the flanges. The assembly may then be heated during the expanding step to a temperature somewhat above the expected operating temperature of the assembly, to prevent loosening of the intimate contact between the tube and panel, which have different coefficient of expansion. Provision may be made to cause flow through the tube to be turbulent or swirling. Alternatively, the introduction of fluid under pressure, and the heating of the assembly, may be omitted, and the sum of the inside surface of the back of the panel between the flanges, the inside surfaces of the flanges, and the underside of the die between the flanges, may be made equal to the outside circumference of the tube. The exposed surface of the panel may be configured to increase its area and to provide good exposure over a wide range of angles of incidence. The heat exchange relationship between the tube and panel may be enhanced by interposing a thin layer of a synthetic resin therebetween; and the resin may have powdered metal entrained therein. If dimensional relationships alone are relied upon to provide intimate contact between the tube and panel, a masticlike material in a thin film may be applied to the interface between the tube and panel to improve heat transfer and seal out moisture.

[0013] US2006218954 relates to a heat storage apparatus includes heat storage panels having primary fluid passages formed therein; passage plates having secondary fluid passages formed therein; and heat reservoirs. The heat storage panels and the passage plates are layered alternately, and the heat reservoirs are interposed between the heat storage panels and the passage plates in such a manner that the heat reservoirs, the heat storage panels and the passage plates are adhered to one another. Protrusions are formed on surfaces of the heat storage panels in such a manner that the heat reservoirs are supported by the protrusions. [0014] US4270523 relates to a heat storage apparatus comprising a plurality of heat exchanger elements mounted in a housing. Each element has a central portion containing a storage medium, surrounded by portions through which a first and a second heat transfer fluid can be passed in heat contact with said storage medium. Means are provided for passing the heat transfer fluids from respective supply conduits through the apparatus through the respective portions of the heat exchanger elements to respective discharge conduits.

[0015] CA1146158 relates to a phase change material heat exchanger wherein the latent heat of a substance as its physical state changes from solid to liquid, and vice versa, is utilized as a heat storage medium. Structure is also disclosed whereby a heat transfer fluid is intimately associated with the phase change material so as to accomplish the desired hear exchange between the phase change material and the heat transfer fluid. As a result of the construction utilized for the heat exchanger, the addition of homogenizing agents to the phase change material is not required.

[0016] CN201476652 discloses a heat storage two-way heat exchanger which can fully utilizes the large phase change latent heat of a phase change material to store heat energy and can also maintain the stable heat supplying temperature of a system in the heat supplying state at the same time. The heat storage two-way heat exchanger is composed of a heat storage water tank, a phase change heat storage body, a two-position three-way solenoid valve, a low-temperature heat supplying cycle pipeline and a high-temperature heat collecting cycle pipeline. A high- temperature heat collecting cycle return pipe (7) is connected with one shunt port of the two-position three-way solenoid valve (9), a heat supplying cycle water supply pipe (8) is connected with the other shunt port of the two- position three-way solenoid valve (9), and the interflow port of the two-position three-way solenoid valve (9) is connected with the inlet of the phase change heat storage body (2) in the heat storage water tank (1). The heat storage two-way heat exchanger can switch between two operating conditions of heat storage and heat liberation according to the work requirements but can always ensure that a heat exchange fluid first exchanges heat with the heat storage body filled with the phase change material.

[0017] CN201449196 relates to a radiator with heat storage capacity, which is characterized by consisting of a heat absorbing plate (1), a heat dissipating plate (2), a circumferential frame (3), a heat transferring fin (4) and phase change heat storage medium (5), wherein the heat absorbing plate (1) and the heat dissipating plate (2) are arranged at a distance, the plate surfaces of which are opposite; the peripheries of the heat absorbing plate (1) and the heat dissipating plate (2) are connected with each other by the circumferential frame (3) in a sealed manner, thus forming a sealing cavity between the heat absorbing plate (1) and the heat dissipating plate (2); the sealing cavity is internally provided with a heat transfer fin (4); one side of the heat transfer (4) is contacted and connected with the heat absorbing plate (1), and the other side thereof is contacted and connected with the heat dissipating plate (2); and the sealing cavity is divided into a plurality of spaces which are filled with phase-changing heat storage medium (5). The radiator with heat storage capacity conducts heat dissipation in an off-peak manner, thus leading the design cost of the radiator to be reduced; and as for the forced cooling and water cooling assembled by the radiator, the designed power of the air cooling and water cooling can be reduced, thus achieving the effect of energy conservation and environment protection.

[0018] JP61243286 aims to improve the heat transfer performance of the heat exchanger by inserting the group of fine tubes between flat tubes so that the group of fine tubes is contacted with the outer walls of flat tubes. CONSTITUTION:The flow path of fluid A is made by a rectangular tube and the fine tube 1 is made by a circular tube. When this heat exchanger is compared with the same having fins, whose pitch is same as the diameter of the fine tube 1 , heat transfer area per unit length in the flow direction of the fluid B becomes about three times in this case, therefore, the size of the heat exchanger, capable of securing the same heat transfer area as before, may be compacted while heat transmitting coefficient becomes better in case the circular tube is employed since the equivalent diameter in the case of circular tube becomes half of a parallel flat plate model. Accordingly, the heat transfer area may be increased, works for making fin may become unnecessary and the heat transfer performance may be improved.

[0019] DE10243726 describes extruded composite profile (10), preferably made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, comprises at least two individual tubes (20, 30) having the same or different external and internal geometry. The individual tubes have a round or flat profile cross-section and consist of a profile wall (22, 32) with a wall thickness surrounding a hollow chamber (21, 31). The individual tubes are arranged next to each other and are interconnected by a tear-off strip (40) having a minimal width (b), preferably of 0.1-0.3 mm, which corresponds to the distance between two adjacent tubes. The tear-off strip has a wall thickness (w4) which is at least 20% narrower than the wall thickness of the profile wall of the adjacent tubes. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) Heat exchanger comprising individual tubes forming a composite profile; and (2) Production of a heat exchanger.

[0020] DE10150213 describes an extruded profile, particularly for a heat exchanger, is preferably of aluminum or aluminum alloy and comprises at least two tubes (2,3) with equal or different inner and outer geometry joined to each other by ribs (4). The profile is of the compound type (1), the tubes of which have a flat profile cross-section, two parallel broad sides and arched or flat narrow sides. The tubes are connected to each other on their narrow sides.

[0021] GB2424265 describes a heat exchanger core element (300 fig 3a) has an extruded tubular body with integrally formed fin segments (308 fig 3a) on an outer surface of the tubular body. The fin segments are twisted out of alignment with the tube longitudinal axis, for at least a part of the fin length between the fin tip 408 and the fin root 410. The tubular body may have a flattened cross section, such as a rectangular profile, and may include a plurality of longitudinal passages (208 fig 2a). The passages may include internal fins or protrusions (210 fig 2a) to increase the surface area of fluid contact. The core element is formed by a shearing and deforming tool (312 fig 3g) mounted within a tool holder (302 fig 3a), which shears each extruded fin into several fin segments and then twists each segment. The core element may be made of metal, such as aluminium, and several core elements may be arranged in a heat exchanger. The elements may be stacked such that the spaces between fin segments are occupied by adjacent element fin members, and the heat exchanger may include a casing having inlets and outlets for a pair of fluids between which heat is exchanged.

[0022] JP5215482 aims to make a flowing speed of fluid uniform and to enhance a heat exchanging rate by arranging outer fins between tubes formed with a plurality of fluid passages therein, connecting both ends of the tubes to a header, and forming the passages of the tubes in a lateral circular section. CONSTITUTION:A heat exchanger 1 to be used as a refrigerant condenser of a vehicle refrigerating cycle is composed by alternately laminating many flat tubes 2 and outer fins 3 and integrally brazing them in a state that a header 4 is connected to both ends of the tubes 2. Each tube 2 is formed of an extrusion molded form of aluminum and a plurality of fluid passages 5 for passing refrigerant therein. The plurality of the passages 5 are aligned on one row, and the section of each passage is formed in a round hole having roundness.; That is, a corner is eliminated in the passage 5, a flowing speed of fluid flowing along the inner wall of the passage 5 is made uniform, and a flowing resistance of the fluid is reduced. Thus, a high heat exchanging rate is realized.

[0023] WO0000778 relates to a heat exchanger radiating element and to a process for making such a heat exchanger by using said type of radiating element, the mentioned heat exchanger being meant to be used as cooling or heating radiators for motor vehicles with internal combustion engines, as oil radiators or coolers for motor vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines or for technological installations, such as evaporators or condensers in the air conditioning apparatuses for motor vehicles, industrial refrigerating storage rooms or installations, and as convection or central heating apparatuses for dwellings, offices, industrial spaces. According to the invention, the radiating element for heat exchangers comprises some tubes (1) bent in the shape of a "U" and some fins (2), the tubes (1) being characterized in that, in the area of the bent sides, namely in the active area of the radiating element, where they come into contact with the fins (2), they have the shape of their cross-section, other than the circular shape, namely the elliptical, oval shape.

[0024] CN20092111391 U provides a solar high-temperature heat collector which comprises a parabolic mirror reflecting plate. The solar high-temperature heat collector is characterized in that a heat absorber filled with heating medium is arranged in the focal position of the parabolic mirror reflecting plate and is connected with a heat exchanger filled with heating medium through a heat transfer pipefilled with heating medium, so that the solar energy can be focused on the heat absorber in the focal position through the parabolic mirror reflecting plate. Firstly, the heating medium in the heat absorber is heated, the heat is transmitted to the heating medium in the heat transfer pipe and the heating medium in the heat exchanger in sequence mainly through a heat conduction method, then the heat absorption and the energy storage are further carried out, and finally the hot water is provided for the users after the heat exchanger performs quick heating and temperature increasing to the waterflowing through the heat exchanger. The utility model has the advantages of quick heat absorption, high heat collection efficiency, convenient heat and energy storage, long holding time and high heating speed, is free from the limitation of sunshine time, and can meet the demands of instant use for the users.

[0025] GB987521 relates to a system for the collection, storage and release of solar energy comprises a heat collector such as a parabolic mirror 2 which radiates the heat on to a boiler portion 4 of a fluid circuit 6, a heat storage device 8, and a heat exchanger 16 from which the cooled fluid is returned to the boiler portion through pump 18. In the system shown, steam generated in a coil 37 of the heat exchanger 16 supplies a turbine 39 driving generator 40 and is then condensed in condenser 44, heated in heat exchanger 48, most of the liquid returning to the exchanger 37 and the remainder passing through conduit 52 to ejector 54. A by-pass 20 by-passes the heat storage unit and is controlled by thermostatic valve 22 to keep the temperature of the input fluid to coil 14 constant. A radiator 24 in bypass 26 which is controlled by thermostatic valve 28, disposes of excess heat. Flow through a further by-pass 30 is controlled by thermostatic valve 32. The heat storing unit 10 contains a heat absorbing liquid.

[0026] CN101825072 discloses a trough-dish combined solar thermal power generation system with a fixed focus and relates to a solar thermal power generation technology. The system comprises a trough type heat-collecting and heat-storing subsystem, a dish type heat-collecting and heat-storing subsystem and a power generation subsystem, wherein the trough type heat-collecting and heat-storing subsystem and the dish type heat-collecting and heat-storing subsystem are separately connected with the power generation subsystem; and the low temperature heat exchanger of the trough type heat-collecting and heat-storing subsystem is connected with the high temperature heat exchanger of the dish type heat-collecting and heat-storing subsystem. A parabolic dish reflecting mirror contains one dish or two dishes which can perform single-spindle automatic tracking and the focus, namely the receiver is fixed, thus facilitating the heating and heat insulation of large flow high temperature fluid. The invention adopts a trough type solar field with low investment cost to heat the low temperature section of the working medium and a dish type solar field to heat the high temperature section of the working medium, thus reducing the investment of the electric power plant under the premise of ensuring high generating efficiency.

[0027] US2011277471 relates to a method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000 DEG F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency.

[0028] ES2193000 relates to a parabolic solar collector.The solar collector includes a parabolic reflector (1) from which the solar rays are reflected, a primary heat exchanger (8) mounted at the focal point of the parabolic reflector (5), a secondary heat exchanger (4) inside a tank of domestic hot water (9) that is to be heated and a circuit (6) connected between the said heat exchangers (8, 4) and characterised by the fact that the said parabolic reflector (1) is mounted on a rotating mounting (3) fitted with a pair of motors (2) connected to a supply and control unit (11) so that the said parabolic reflector (1) can rotate vertically and horizontally according to the position of the solar rays by means of the said supply and control panel (11). The collector makes the maximum use of the sun's light, producing optimum efficiency of the solar collector.

[0029] US4362149 relates to a thermal energy storage system and method for storing substantial quantities of heat for extended periods of time. The system includes a heat collecting fluid which is in a heat-exchange relationship with a source of heat or thermal energy, a housing containing a large volume of particulate material such as rocks for the storage of thermal energy, a heat transfer gas in a heat-exchange relationship with the rocks and means for causing the heat collecting fluid and the heat transfer gas to flow in counter-current, indirect heat-exchange relationship with one another, the means further includes provisions for reversing the direction of flow of the heat collecting fluid and gas for the introduction and removal of heat from a portion of the body of rock. There further is provided a working fluid and means for passing the working fluid and heat collecting fluid in indirect, heat-exchange relationship with one another for the transfer of heat to the working fluid, and a means operatively associated with the working fluid to extract energy therefrom. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the source of heat comprises a solar heat collector which uses a liquid alkali metal as the heat collecting fluid and the preferred heat transfer gas comprises air.

[0030] US7441558 relates to an active thermal energy storage system is disclosed which uses an energy storage material that is stable at atmospheric pressure and temperature and has a melting point higher than 32 degrees F. This energy storage material is held within a storage tank and used as an energy storage source, from which a heat transfer system (e.g., a heat pump) can draw to provide heating of residential or commercial buildings and associated hot water. The energy storage material may also accept waste heat from a conventional air conditioning loop, and may store such heat until needed. The system may be supplemented by a solar panel system that can be used to collect energy during daylight hours, storing the collected energy in the energy storage material. The stored energy may then be used during the evening hours to heat recirculation air for a building in which the system is installed.

[0031] There is a need for a modular, multi-mode heat exchanger adaptable to a range of applications and involving at least two fluids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0032] More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a heat exchanger comprising at least a first and a second tubular bodies, a first fluid flowing within the first tubular body and a second fluid flowing within the second tubular body; and a bridge thermally linking the first and second tubular bodies.

[0033] There is further provided an assembly of heat exchangers, each comprising at least a first and a second tubular bodies, a first fluid flowing within the first tubular body and a second fluid flowing within the second tubular body; and a bridge thermally linking the first and second tubular bodies.

[0034] There is further provided a method for making a heat exchanger, comprising providing at least a first and a second tubular bodies, selecting a bridge depending on a required thermal exchange between the tubular bodies, connecting the first and the second tubular bodies by the bridge, and circulating a first fluid within the first tubular body and a second fluid within the second tubular body.

[0035] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In the appended drawings:

[0037] Figures 1 show a) a perspective view and b) a cross section of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, and Figures 1c and 1d show cross sections of other embodiments of the heat exchanger;

[0038] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of operating modes of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 is a perspective side view of an assembly of heat exchangers according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 is a perspective side view of an assembly of assemblies of Figure 3;

[0041] Figure 5 is a detail of the assembly of Figure 4;

[0042] Figure 6 shows a manifold used to connect heat exchangers in the assembly of Figure 4;

[0043] Figure 7 shows the assembly of Figure 4 mounted with the manifold of Figure 6;

[0044] Figure 8 is a cross-section of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of a system according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and

[0046] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the system of Figure 9 mounted on the roof of a plant.

[0047] Figure 1 A: represents a general perspective view of a highly efficient system (S), for recovering solar energy by solar energy concentration, wherein a module consisting of a multiplicity of series of interconnected one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present application is incorporated therein. [0048] Figure 2A: represents a perspective side view of the streamlined structure of a solar dish unit of the assembly as represented in Figure 1A.

[0049] Figure 3A: represents a perspective back view of the streamlined structure of the solar dish unit assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the parabolic solar collectors represented in Figure 2 A.

[0050] Figure 4A: represents a side view of the streamlined isometric structure of the solar dish unit assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the parabolic solar collectors represented in Figures 1 A, 2A and 3A.

[0051] Figure 5A: represents an aerial view of the streamlined structure of a solar dish unit assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as represented in Figure 2A.

[0052] Figure 6A: represents a vertical cross view, in a vertical crossing the left wheel, of the streamlined structure of the solar dish unit assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention represented in Figures 2A and 3A, this view showing 2 supporting elements ant the parabolic solar reflector.

[0053] Figure 7A: represents a front view a), a side view b) and a perspective view of the structural wheel of the solar dish unit assembly represented in Figure 2A.

[0054] Figure 8A: is a perspective view and a detailed view of the rotating mechanism of the rotating ring inside the internal wheel represented in Figure 7A.

[0055] Figure 9A: is a perspective vertical side view of a calo-arm that supports the heat transfer tube represented in Figure 2A.

[0056] Figure 10A: represents an horizontal cross view a) and an horizontal perspective side view b) of the calo- arm represented on Figure 9A.

[0057] Figure 11 A: represents the detailed of the calo-clam a front view a), side view b), perspective view c) and linear view d) attaching a calo-arm and a heat transfert tube according to the preferred embodiment of the invention represented in Figure 2.

[0058] Figure 12A: represent a perspective view of the solar beam connected to the rotating mechanism in Figure 8A.

[0059] Figure 13A: represents a perspective view one joint between heat transfer tubes at focal point.

[0060] Figure 14A: represents the exploded view and split view of joints between 2 heat transfer tube as use in the a cross section, according

[0061] Figure 15A: represents the general diagram of the highly efficient system (S) represented in Figure 1 A.

[0062] Figure 16A: is a perspective view of a line of solar dish unit, with supporting means apparent. [0063] Figure 17A: I a perspective view of the system S mounted on the flat roof of a dairy plant.

[0064] Figure 18A: represents a perspective view a) and an horizontal cross view of a one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to a first preferred embodiment of the present application.

[0065] Figure 19A: represents a side view of a heat exchanger series of 8 one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units according to a first preferred embodiment of the present application.

[0066] Figure 20A: represents a detailed perspective vertical side view of a module constituted by 10 series of 8 interconnected one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units according to the first preferred embodiment represented on Figure 19.

[0067] Figure 21A: represents a detailed perspective vertical side view of the superior part of the module represented on Figure 20A.

[0068] Figure 22A: represents a perspective vertical view of a one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present application wherein the cross-section represents 3 circular tubes and 3 flat tubes, each of the circular tube being adjacent to 2 of the circular tubes.

[0069] Figure 23A: represents the manifold used to connect units in the embodiment represented on Figure 20 A.

[0070] Figure 24A: represents the module of Figure 20A mounted with the manifold represented on Figure 23A and positioned in a tank placed inside an assembled tank with inert gas blanket system.

[0071] Figure 1 B is a perspective side view of a solar concentrator unit according to a first embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0072] Figure 2B is a perspective back view of the solar concentrator unit of Figure 1 B;

[0073] Figure 3B is a vertical cross view of the solar concentrator unit of Figure 1 B;

[0074] Figure 4B is a) a front view, b) a side view and c) a perspective view of a wheel in the solar concentrator unit of Figure 1 B;

[0075] Figure 5B shows a perspective view of a support for a wheel of a solar concentrator unit according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0076] Figure 6B is a perspective side view of an arm supporting a heat collector in the solar concentrator unit of Figure 1 B;

[0077] Figure 7B shows a) a horizontal cross view and b) a horizontal perspective side view, of the supporting arm of Figure 6B; [0078] Figure 8B shows a) a front view, b) a side view, c) a perspective view and d) a linear view, of a connection element between a supporting arm and a heat collector in a solar concentrator according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0079] Figure 9B is a perspective view of a solar tracker in a solar concentrator according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0080] Figure 10B is a first perspective side view of a series of solar concentrator units according to a second embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0081] Figure 11 B is a second perspective side view of a series of solar concentrator units according to the second embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0082] Figure 12B is a cross section of a parabolic mirror according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0083] Figure 13B is a partial perspective view of a heat collector according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0084] Figure 14B is a perspective view of an arm supporting a heat collector in a solar concentrator unit of Figures 10B and 11 B;

[0085] Figure 15B shows attachment of the supporting arm of Figure 14B to a mirror of a solar concentrator unit according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0086] Figure 16B is a detail of Figure 15B;

[0087] Figure 17B is a detail of a connecting member between a supporting arm and the heat collector of the solar concentrator unit of Figures 10B or 11 B;

[0088] Figure 18B is a first sectional view of Figure 17B;

[0089] Figure 19B is a second sectional view of Figure 17B;

[0090] Figure 20B shows a detail of Figures 17B, 18B and 19B;

[0091] Figure 21 B is an exploded view of Figure 20B;

[0092] Figure 22B is a perspective view of a wheel of a solar concentrator unit according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0093] Figure 23B is a view of a motorized wheel of a solar concentrator unit according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0094] Figure 24B shows a wheel and heat collector of a solar concentrator unit according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and

[0095] Figure 25B is a schematic view of a system for recovering solar energy by solar energy concentration, using a battery of parabolic solar concentrators according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0096] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following non-limiting examples.

[0097] As illustrated in Figures 1 , a heat exchanger 10 according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention comprises tubular bodies 12 and 14, adapted to receive therein a first fluid and a second fluid respectively, connected, along at least part of a length thereof, by a bridge 16, immersed in an external fluid (F).

[0098] In Figures 1 a and 1 b, the bridge 16 is shown as a tubular body, i.e. adapted to receive therein a third fluid, two adjacent tubular bodies sharing a common wall portion, i.e. the fluid in the tubular body 12 is separated from the fluid in the central tubular body 16 by a common wall 17, and the fluid in the lateral tubular body 14 is separated from the fluid in the central tubular body 16 by a common wall 19. The fluids within the tubular bodies are separated from the external fluid (F) by non-shared outer walls 20.

[0099] Fins 18 extending radially and outwardly from the non-shared outer walls 20 of the tubular bodies 12, 14, 16, on at least part of the length of the tubular bodies, allow an additional thermal exchange between the fluids within the tubular bodies and the external fluid (F) in which the heat exchanger 10 is immersed, in addition to a direct thermal exchange between the fluids within the tubular bodies and the external fluid (F) through the non-shared walls 20 of the tubular bodies 12, 14, 16.

[00100] In a one-piece extruded heat exchanger 10, the fins 18 extend perpendicularly to the outer walls 20, and run longitudinally along at least a length thereof, i.e. perpendicularly to a flow direction of the fluids within the tubular bodies 12, 14. These fins 18 also enhance the mechanical resistance of the heat exchanger 10.

[00101] Corrugations or protrusions on the outer walls 20 may also be used to increase the thermal exchange surface of the heat exchanger 10.

[00102] The external fluid, i.e. outside the outer walls of the heat exchanger 10, accumulates heat, as a battery. It may be a fluid, a liquid, a solid, a gas or a mixture thereof. It may be dynamic (flowing) or static (not flowing). It may be used as a heat buffer.

[00103] The fluids in the tubular bodies 12, 14 are typically flowing fluids, either similar or different. They may be heat transfer liquids.

[00104] In cases when the bridge 16 is a tubular body, as illustrated in Figures 1 a and 1 b, the tubular body 16 extends along the whole length of tubular bodies 12 and 14 for example. It may receive a fluid, either a liquid or a solid for example, such as a phase change material for example. [00105] As shown in Figure 1c, the bridge 16 may be formed by a common shared wall between the tubular bodies 12 and 14, i.e. along the whole length of the tubular bodies 12, 14. The bridge 16 may also be a solid member connecting the tubular bodies 12 and 14, along part or the whole length of the tubular bodies 12, 14, as exemplified in Figure 1d. The shape of the bridge may vary as long as it provides a mechanical thermal contact between the tubular bodies 12 and 14.

[00106] The bridge 16 ensures mechanical heat conduction, through walls, between the tubular bodies 12 and 14, by providing a mechanical interface between the tubular bodies 12 and 14, in addition to the interface provided by the external fluid (F).

[00107] The form and nature of the bridge 16 is selected depending on the required thermal exchange between the tubular bodies 12 and 14 on the one hand, and with the external fluid (F) on the other hand. The length of the bridge 16 between the tubular bodies 12 and 14, i.e. the width (W) of the solid member connecting the tubular bodies 12 and 14 (see Figure 1d) or the section of the tubular body linking the tubular bodies 12 and 14 (see Figure 1 b), for example, and hence the thermal exchange surface of the bridge 16 may thus be adjusted.

[00108] Figure 2 shows different operating modes of the heat exchanger 10. For example, a cold fluid may be heated through the tubular body 14 and the hot fluid cooled down in the tubular body 12, in a heat exchanger mode (see full lines), i.e. part heat extractor and part radiator. The bridge 16 may be a central tubular body with a phase-change material therein, the latent heat of the phase-change material in the central tubular body 16, at its physical change from solid to solid or liquid to solid for example, being used as a heat storage medium.

[00109] Still in this example, in the case of a same fluid, by using a valve mechanism (V), the heat exchanger 10 may also be operated as a full heat extractor (see dotted lines in Figure 2) or as a full heat radiator (see dashed lines in Figure 2).

[00110] Flowing fluids may have counterflow or parallel flows within the tubular bodies 12, 14.

[00111] The tubular bodies are generally parallel to maximize the surface area of walls between fluids while minimizing resistance to fluid flow therethrough. Other configurations may be contemplated.

[00112] The tubular bodies 12 and 14 are shown with generally circular sections, and the bridge 16 as a central tubular body is shown with a flattened cross section, such as a rectangular section, in Figure 1 b, as these are easily extruded geometries. Other sections and shapes may be contemplated.

[00113] Although the tubular bodies 12 and 14 are shown as identical in Figure 1 b, they may be of different cross sections (see Figures 1c and 1d for example).

[00114] As people in the art will now be in a position to appreciate, the present heat exchanger can be tailored and tuned according to a range of different needs, by adjusting the lengths and sections of the tubular bodies 12, 14 and of the bridge 16, by selecting different fluids, and by selecting modes of operation as described hereinabove for example.

[00115] As illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, heat exchangers 10a, 10b, 10c... may be connected together in series (see for example Figure 3) or in parallel (see for example Figures 4 and 5) using U-tubes 22 for fluid circulation between the heat exchangers, for scalability of the thermodynamic exchanges depending on target applications.

[00116] In Figure 4 for example, the assembly is immersed in a phase change material (F) acting as a battery.

[00117] The heat exchanger 10, or an assembly thereof, is connected to an external circulation system by connectors 24, as shown for example in Figures 3 and 5. A fluid supply manifold 26, as shown for example in Figures 6 and 7, may be used for connection to the external circulation system.

[00118] In Figure 7, the assembly of Figure 5 is mounted with the manifold shown in Figure 6 and positioned in a tank placed inside an assembled tank.

[00119] In another embodiment illustrated for example in Figure 8, a heat exchanger 100 comprises three tubular bodies 112, 114, 116, connected two by two by bridges 118, 120, 122 shown as central tubular bodies 118, 120, 122. Again, radially surrounding fins 18 may be provided on the external walls of these cavities 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 and 122. When seen in section, as in Figure 8, the heat exchanger 100 has a triangular cross-section, the three lateral tubular bodies 112, 114, 116 defining the three edges of the triangular cross-section of the heat exchanger 100, and the bridges as central tubular bodies 118, 120, 122 defining the three sides of the triangular cross-section of the heat exchanger 100.

[00120] For example, a fluid may be flowing within the tubular bodies 112, 114, 116 and a solid-liquid phase may be partially flowing or not within the central tubular bodies 118, 120, 122.

[00121] As some phase change materials may be more efficient for heat extraction than for heat accumulation, a configuration as shown in Figure 7 allows using two lateral tubular bodies for accumulating heat and one lateral tubular body for extracting heat, thereby achieving a desired performance.

[00122] Flowing fluids may have counterflow or parallel flows within the lateral tubular bodies.

[00123] Other embodiments of a heat exchanger comprising for example four lateral tubular bodies connected two by two by thermal bridges may be contemplated, for ease of manufacturing and / or to increase the thermal exchange with the external fluid and/or to accommodate higher flow rates.

[00124] The heat exchanger is a one-piece unit. It may be made of extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy for example.

[00125] Assemblies formed by one-piece heat exchangers of the present invention or interconnected assemblies thereof may be used in a number of applications, for example in systems recovering heat from industrial processes. [00126] An application in systems for recovering solar energy by solar energy concentration, for example, is illustrated in relation to Figures 9 and 10.

[00127] Figure 9 shows an installation comprising a system (S) for recovering solar energy by solar energy concentration, with a battery of parabolic solar collectors 70, as a complementary energy system for an industrial dairy plant (P) for example, and installed on the roof of the plant (Figure 10).

[00128] The battery of parabolic solar collectors on the roof is connected to a heat storage system 200 by means of tubular connection 300 (see insert Figure 9). The heat storage system 200 comprises a module 80 of heat exchanger units of the present invention as described hereinabove.

[00129] A tubular connection 40 feeds the battery of parabolic solar connectors with cold fluid coming, in this example, from the plant (P). A tubular connection 50 connects the heat storage system 200 with the plant (P) and feeds the plant (P) with heated fluid.

[00130] A pump and expansion tank system 60 ensures the circulation of the fluids in the tubular connections 40 and 50 and absorbs volumes expansion according to the temperature of the fluids circulating in tubular connections 40 and 50.

[00131] There is provided a one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing inside one of the lateral or central tubes, and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside one of said tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the lateral tubes being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the central tubes, the axis of each the tubes being about parallel and positioned about the same plan or positioned in about parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a common wall with at least one of the central tubes and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by the walls of the central tubes that are not shared with the lateral tubes.

[00132] The one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit comprises lateral tubes are configured for the circulation or for the non-circulation of a liquid and/or for the circulation or for the non-circulation of a solid and/or for the circulation or for the non-circulation of a gaseous phase, and the central tube is configured for the circulation or for the non- circulation of a gaseous and/or for the circulation or the non-circulation of a fluid phase and/or for the circulation or the non-circulation of a solid phase.

[00133] Parts of the external walls of the tubes that are not common to other of the tubes are equipped with fins, which may be symmetrically distributed on the surface of the external wall of the tubes.

[00134] The cross-section of the lateral tubes is about circular and the cross-section of the central tube is about rectangular.

[00135] The one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit may comprise 3 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing, inside the tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section and a pair of ends, 2 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the 3 third tube (the central tube), the 3 tubes having axes that are about parallel and positioned about the same plan, each of the 2 lateral tubes sharing a common wall with the central tube and the 2 opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the 2 lateral tubes; for example the 2 lateral tubes are configured for the circulation of a fluid and the rectangular tube is configured for the partial circulation or non-circulation of a solid liquid-phase.

[00136] The one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit may comprise 6 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing, inside the tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section and a pair of ends, 3 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being symmetrically positioned adjacent to 2 of the other 3 tubes (the central tube), the 6 tubes having axes that are about parallel and positioned in parallel plan, each of the 3 lateral tubes sharing a common wall with each of the 2 adjacent central tubes and 2 opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the 2 lateral tube, the section of the 3 lateral tubes defining the 3 edges of the triangular cross-section of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit and the section of the central tubes defining the 3 sides of the triangular cross-section of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit. The heat exchanger unit comprises a central triangular tube, the 3 walls of the central triangular tube being walls of the 3 rectangular tubes directed in direction of the center of the triangular section of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit. The common shared wall may be curved.

[00137] Flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, that are perpendicular to the external surfaces of each tube to which they are connected with, act like longitudinal fins thereby promoting direct exchange area between the walls that are metal walls and the fluid circulating outside the walls of the radiator / heat exchanger. The radiator/heat exchanger may be immersed in a third fluid that may be used as a heat buffer.

[00138] For extrusion purposes, at least the width W of the rectangular section of the central tube may represent about 1,5 to 2,5 the diameter of the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral tubes; the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity may represent about half the diameter of the circular section of each of the 2 lateral cavities; the width of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are about the diameter of the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral cavities and/or the width of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are about 1 to 1.5 the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity.

[00139] The heat exchanger unit may be made of extruded aluminum.

[00140] Radiator/heat exchanger series are provided, which include at least n one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units, wherein each of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units being connected with two other adjacent one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units, at the exception of each of the 2 end one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units assuring the connection with an external circulation system. The connection between two adjacent one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units may be performed by connecting the ends of the external tubes, by a U-tube for example; or by the volume defined by the external walls of the radiator/heat exchanger units and the wall of a tank in which the radiator/heat exchanger series are positioned.

[00141] The fluid circulating in a lateral tube may be a heat transfer liquid, the fluid present in the bridge may be a component such as a polyol, for example mannitol, presenting a solid-liquid phase transition under the use conditions, and the fluid outside the external wall of each one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units may be a component such as a polyol, for example mannitol, presenting a solid-liquid phase transition under the use conditions; the fluid in the rectangular tubular bridge may be the same as the fluid outside the external wall of each one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units and, the tubular bridges and the volume outside the external wall of each one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units may communicate.

[00142] In a series, the one-piece radiator/ heat exchanger units are positioned side-by-side.

[00143] Series of interconnected one-piece radiator/heat exchangers may be assembled in modules of a multiplicity of series, the series being connected in series or in parallel in order to increase the thermodynamic exchanges.

[00144] The radiator/ heat exchanger series are maintained in contact by using connecting means such as connecting road.

[00145] A connector may be used for the connection between the radiator/heat exchanger module and a fluid supply such as XCELTHERM ^® Grade 500 type.

[00146] The radiator/ heat exchanger series may be held in position by welding and/or threading and/or by a manifold connecting the radiator/ heat exchanger series to the fluid supply.

[00147] The one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit and/or a radiator/ heat exchanger series and/or a module of radiator/ heat exchanger series may be used for the reversible storage of heat energy, for example in the solar industry and/or in the food industry.

[00148] The radiator/heat exchanger unit may be made by using as extrusion, melding and/or screwing.

[00149] As people in the art will appreciate, the heat exchanger of the present invention may be used as a scalable and tunable radiator / heat exchanger. It may use one or two dynamic fluids and another static or dynamic fluid as an immersing medium. Its thermal storage capacity is adjustable by using various combinations of immersing medium in which it is immersed, bridges and tubular bodies. It allows staged heat transfer.

[00150] A heat exchanger of the present invention with longitudinal fins may be manufactured by extrusion, at reduced manufacturing costs, and allowing mass production in a range of sizes and lengths.

[00151] The simplicity of the heat exchanger and assemblies of units results in a reduced number of required mounting operations. [00152] The present heat exchanger may be used for the reversible storage of heat energy, for example in the solar industry and/or in the food industry.

[00153] In a radiator mode, the present heat exchanger allows direct thermal exchange from two similar fluids circulating in tubular bodies with a surrounding medium. This mode can be regarded as 100% thermal dumping or 100% thermal extraction by the same unit.

[00154] In a direct heat exchanger mode, the present heat exchanger may be used for a direct thermal exchange between fluids in tubular members, through walls connecting the tubular members.

[00155] In a hybrid mode, the present heat exchanger may be used for a staged heat transfer between three fluids for example, i.e. between a primary fluid flowing in a first tubular body and a secondary fluid flowing in a second tubular body, and between the first and second fluids and the external medium.

[00156] As people in the art will now be in a position to appreciate, the present heat exchanger may be operated with a range of fluids, including for example oil, water, glycol, etc Various immersing materials, gas, solid phase change material etc ... may be used.

[00157] The present heat exchanger may be made in a range of materials, including for example metal, plastic and composite.

[00158] The present heat exchanger can be used with a solar concentrator. The following is a description of preferred embodiments of such a solar concentrator.

[00159] A solar concentrator of the invention generally comprises a self-supporting reflector, a heat collector and a positioning unit.

[00160] In a solar concentrator 10 according to an embodiment illustrated for example in Figures 1 B-9B, the self- supporting reflector comprises a parabolic trough 31, made in this example of two adjacent parabolic mirrors 22, 23 of laminated aluminum coated with a reflective film. The mirrors have a thickness less than about 1 inch, for example about ½ inches.

[00161] The longitudinal edges of the parabolic trough 31 are reinforced by longitudinal rails 27, 28. The longitudinal rails 27, 28 are connected at the back of the trough 31 to a spinal rail 26 by vertical members 34, two consecutive vertical members being connected together by diagonal members 25.

[00162] The positioning unit comprises side wheels 20, connected together by the rails 26, 27 and 28 by brackets at three contact points 61 as shown in Figures 4B for example.

[00163] The rails 26, 27, 28, and vertical and diagonal members 34 and 24 may be of extrusions of aluminum or other extrudable material for example, or molded members. Connection between rails and members may be done by riveting or welding or screwing for example. [00164] The side wheels 20 are mounted on supports 32, such as roller supports best seen in Figure 5B, for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the unit (10) on at least 180°, for example at least 210°, to allow optimization of the capture of solar light beams by the parabolic trough 31 in an operational mode and rotation into a rest mode as will be described hereinbelow.

[00165] In the example of Figure 1 B, the side wheels 20 have a diameter of 1 ,20 meter, for a solar concentrator unit 10 of 4,84 meter broad between the two wheels 20.

[00166] Such reflector is resistant to torsion without the need for any additional torsion rigidifying member.

[00167] The trough 31 may be dismounted from the rails 26, 27 and 28 and members 25 and 34, for maintenance or replacement for example, without having to dismantle the positioning unit.

[00168] The heat collector 29 is shown as a tubular member. It is made in a thermally conductive structural material, resistant to pressures of at least 80 bars, with a high absorbency/low emissivity surface. For example, it may be a stainless steel tube with a metallic coating of absorbance a of 0.95 and emissivity ε of 0.15.

[00169] The heat collector 29 is maintained in a predetermined fixed position above the concave surface of the trough 31 and relative to the focus of the trough 31, by means of supporting arms 47 attached to the heat collector 29 (for example at an end 49 and at the center 50 of heat collector 29 as shown in Figure 1 B) and to the spinal rail 26 (for example at to left end and to its center as shown in Figure 1 B) respectively.

[00170] In Figures 6B to 8B, the supporting arm 47 is shown as a corrugated shaft 200, made by extrusion. A connecting member 73 for connection of the supporting arm 47 to the heat collector 29 is shown in Figure 8B. The connecting member 73 comprises a ring part 203 engaging the section of the heat collector 29 and tabs 204 secured to sides of the supporting arm 47.

[00171] The solar concentrator unit 10 may be manually operated or operated through a control unit (d).

[00172] A control unit (d) may comprise a solar tracker as shown in Figure 9B for example, tracking the position of the sun to drive the solar concentrator unit, or a series thereof, and a processor configured to send positioning instructions to a motor (M) powering the positioning unit (see Figure 5B). The solar tracker may be positioned on a longitudinal edge of the trough 31 , or on the heat collector 29. In the example illustrated in Figure 9B, an optical solar tracker is shown, comprising photo cells 82 and 83 for tracking the position of the sun by means of two reference angles, supported by a plate 81 mounted on a cylinder 80, and a half disc 100, for example, providing a shaded zone for the photo cells 82 and 83.

[00173] Alternatively, the control unit (d) may receive data on the sun position from a remote database and use these data to send instructions to the motor (M) powering the positioning unit.

[00174] When high positioning precision is requested, both a solar tracker positioned on the solar concentrator unit and databases data may be combined by the control unit (d) to compensate for mechanical or optical errors or environmental interferences.

[00175] When solar concentrator units are assembled in series, one control unit (d) may be used for a row for example. The control unit (d) thus precisely controls movement of the positioning unit, by rotation of the wheels for example, for an optimal orientation of the trough 31 relative to the solar beams, the trough 31 then focusing the sun's rays onto the heat collector 29, for a maximum efficiency during operation of the solar concentrator unit.

[00177] During the night, or when the intensity of solar beams is too weak, the unit may be rotated into a rest position, the concave part of the trough 31 facing generally downwards, the heat collector 29 thus under cover of the concave part of the trough 31 from rain, hail, ice or any other environmental aggressive natural elements.

[00178] The unit is rotated back into an operational position when operational conditions are present. In the operational position, the control unit (d) controls an optimized positioning of the trough 31 for receiving the solar beams. Heat from the solar beams focused onto the heat collector 29 is transferred thought the walls of the heat collector 29 to a heat transfer fluid for example, such as XCELTHERM ^® Grade 500 for example, which may then be pumped by means of a pump system through a thermal storage system for example as will be discussed in relation to Figure 25B hereinbelow.

[00179] In another embodiment illustrated for example in Figures 10B-24B, the self-supporting reflector is a parabolic mirror 310 of a sandwich structure, comprising outer metallic sheets 500, 502 sandwiching inner layer 503, assembled together by gluing and shaped into a parabolic curve (see Figure 14B). The thickness of the parabolic mirror 310 is about 2 inches. The longitudinal edges of the mirror are reinforced with rails 270 and 280 (see Figures 10B and 11 B). The assembly is further locked into shape by lateral rails 504.

[00180] The reflective surface of the parabolic mirror 310 is made for example with a laminated aluminum sheet 502 coated with a reflexive layer. The sheet 500 for the back surface may be of aluminum or steel for example. The inner layer 503 may have a honeycomb structure for example, such as aluminum honeycomb, for rigidity and lightness, or a polymer, resistant to humidity and to thermal expansion, flexible while dense enough, such as polystyrene, polypropylene or polyurethane for example, for a more precise and smooth finish surface, once curved, of the reflective surface 502.

[00181] ateral extrusions 504 and longitudinal rails 279, 280, the parabolic mirror 310 is resistant to loads in torsion. Interestingly, ateral extrusions 504 also allow connecting together lengths of parabolic mirrors, for example when assembling solar concentrator units 100 in series (see Figures 10B and 11 B for example). The mirror 310 is supported at lateral edges by bow arms 352 extending across the wheels 210 and secured at lateral edges thereof by clips 350, as shown in Figures 10B, 11 B and 22B to 24B for example.

[00183] The wheels 210 are allowed to rotate on supports 320, on at least 180°, for example at least 210°. The supports 320 comprises side arms 322, 324, which may be adjustable (see arrows B and C in Figure 22B) to modify orientation and height of the wheel 210.

[00184] As best seen in Figure 13, the heat collector 290 comprises an inner tube 291 for circulation of a fluid, within an outer tube 292 generally coaxial with the inner tube. The inner tube is made in a thermally conductive material, the outer tube being in a material transparent to sun rays, such as glass for example. Vacuum is achieved between the inner tube 291 and the outer tube 292, to minimise thermal loss while letting the sun beams go through. Vacuum may be maintained by a vacuum pump (see connection at 293), which allows overcoming any permeability of the glass tube, and also allows adjusting to pressure variations caused by temperature variations for example. The heat collector 290 is maintained on the focal line of the parabolic mirror 310 by supporting arms 470, shown in Figures 14B to 21 B.

[00186] Each supporting arm 470 is connected to the heat collector 290 at a first end thereof by a connecting member 730. The connecting member 730 comprises a ring part 2030 adapted to be positioned about the heat collector 290 over a sleeve 400 and tabs 2040 adapted to be secured on sides of supporting arm 470. The tabs 2040 may be provided with openings 740 at different positions for adjusting the positioning of the supporting arm 470 relative to the heat collector 290 (see arrow A in Figure 14B).

[00187] The heat collector 290 may be made of a number of heat collectors members 290a (inner tube 291 a and outer tube 292a) and 290b (inner tube 291 b and outer tube 292b) joined in series for example (see Figure 19B), using a dismountable joint, best seen in Figures 18B-21 B.

[00188] The joint is shown as comprising two half rings 505, maintaining in a clipping engagement around abutting tubular fittings 501 by the sleeve 400, each fitting 501 receiving an extremity of a section of heat collector member (see Figure 19B), or a an extremity of a section of heat collector member and an extremity of another tubular element respectively (see Figure 18B. In Figure 21 B the half rings 500 of the joint are shown exterior to the sleeve 400 for clarity only). In case of an extremity of a heat collector member, a sealing ring 502 is also provided between the inner tube and the outer tube of the heat collector member. Coaxial movement of the connected tube members is allowed within the sleeve 400. The outer surface of the half rings 500 may be provided with grooves 505 for accommodating a layer of material having a low coefficient of friction against solid, such as Teflon™ for example.

[00189] Upon internal pressure applied by the fluid within the heat collector members thus joined in series into a resulting heat collector, or upon expansion of the resulting heat collector, the half rings 505, and O-rings 503, 504, are compressed, thereby ensuring fluid tightness of the joint.

[00190] Such joint and sleeve between tubular members as described hereinabove may be used as locations for connecting the supporting arms 470 to the heat collector 290 at a first end of the supporting arm 470, as shown for example in Figure 17B. [00191] At an opposite end 744 thereof, the supporting arm 470 is secured to the back of the parabolic mirror 310. As shown in Figures 15B and 16B, a plate 745, riveted to the mirror and supporting a positioning plate 476, engaging the open end 744 of the supporting arm 470 for example, may be used. The supporting arm 470, with its end 744 thus secured at a desired position on the mirror 310, and connected to the heat collector as described hereinabove, is further held into position by cables 747 tensioned between the connecting member 730 and the lateral extrusions 504 of the mirror 310. The supporting arms 470 are rigid and light, such as aluminum extrusions for example, and may be secured at any location at the back of the parabolic mirror 310 (see Figure 10B). The present reflector is thus a structural modular element, which length may be varied according to specific needs and constraints.Operation of the unit 100 is similar to that described in relation to the embodiment described hereinabove in relations to Figures 1 B- 9B. In the operational mode, the control unit (d), from the position of the solar beams relative to the reflector, controls an optimized orientation of the reflector as described hereinabove for receiving the solar beams. Heat from the solar beams focused by the reflector onto the heat collector may then be transferred thought the walls of the heat collector to a fluid.

[00196] an installation comprising a system (S) for recovering solar energy by solar energy concentration, with a battery of parabolic solar concentrators (B), as a complementary energy system for an industrial dairy plant (P) for example, and installed on the roof of the dairy plant. With an efficiency of about 70% on an average sunny day, the battery (B) of parabolic solar connectors can absorb 700 Watts of 1 000 watts received per square meters. The solar energy thereby captured is then converted to thermal energy as a heat transfer fluid is circulated at the apex of the parabolic solar concentrators in a heat collector.

[00197] The battery of parabolic solar concentrators (B) is made of six lines of 120 feet of parabolic solar concentrators according of the present invention, covering 252 square meters, the parabolic solar connectors being connected in series, in six parallel lines, of solar concentrators units. The battery (B) of parabolic solar concentrators on the roof is connected to a heat storage system (HS) by means of tubular connections (see insert Figure 25B). A tubular connection feeds the battery (B) of parabolic solar connectors with cold fluid coming, in this example, from the dairy plant (P). A tubular connection connects the heat storage system HS with the plant (P) and feeds the plant (P) with heated fluid. A pump and expansion tank system ensures the circulation of the fluids in the tubular connections and absorbs volumes expansion according to the temperature of the fluids circulating in tubular connections.

[00198] There is thus provided a concentrating solar dish unit assembly having a rotational axis, which solar dish unit assembly comprises at least one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at least one solar mirror, at least one heat transfer collector positioned above the concave part of the self-supporting solar collector and to receive light reflected from the parabolic solar collector, the heat transfer collector being connected, in a rigid way, to the parabolic self-supporting solar collector; one structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation around the rotational axis, the rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning relative to the positioning of the solar beam at the place; and one solar beam detection system configured to analyse the specification, such as the positioning and such as the intensity, of the solar beam at the place and to send optimised positioning parameters to the structural rotational system, the solar beam detection system being preferably positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar mirror.

[00199] The rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure. The rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system can be made of various elementary mirrors having preferably the same features, particularly the same curves, to receive solar radiation and to concentrate at least portion of the solar radiation on the heat transfer collector. The heat transfer collector, such as a heat transfer tube, is positioned to receive light reflected from the parabolic solar collector, the heat transfer tube being positioned at a position that is about parallel to the axle of the parabolic mirror and that is sensibly constant relative to the spatial positioning of the parabolic self-supporting mirror. A heat transfer tube support is positioned under the heat transfer tube for assuring support and rigidity of the heat transfer tube. The positioning unit can be a structural rotational system comprising at least two parallel external wheels having sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of the solar dish unit and a mechanical system connected to the wheels for positioning the dish unit according to the position of the solar beam comprising a motor that may be positioned in the supporting arm. A beam detection system and a conversion unit may be provided for providing the mechanical system with instructions for positioning the wheels.

[00200] The parabolic self-supporting mirror may be attached directly or indirectly to the positioning unit, its reinforced structure comprising at least 3 rails, a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to the internal part of the two external wheels, each of the 2 lateral sides of the parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least 2 edge rails; the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by the reinforcing elements; the heat transfer tube being inside the cylinder defined by the 2 external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the beam; and the heat transfer tube support being attached to the spinal tube and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube.

[00201] The structural rotational system is configured to be able to position the system from 0 to 360 degrees, an in a non-use position wherein the rotational angle of the wheel system may vary from 0 to 180 degrees relative to the use position,, preferably the non-use rotational angle is about 200 degrees.

[00202] The structural circular wheel, which is fixed, on the structure, allows rotation of the assembly in order to pursue the sun's orientation.

[00203] The heat collector has a low to very low emissivity, the emissivity being measure according to ASTM E408- 71 is preferably between 3 and 10 %, and more preferably is about 5 %.

[00204] The combination of the parabolic solar collector system and its reinforced structure allows the entire system to make up the forces applied (especially shear and torsion) without adding special piece. The reinforced structure is composed of three reinforced rails positioned in a triangle. The reinforced structure comprises 2 identical edge rails or tubes and the third rail named spinal rail may be a tube. The reinforcing elements are diagonal reinforcement bars. The three rails may be designed, with tracks for example, to make possible riveting with diagonal reinforcement bars (without adding extra room). The positioning of the three rails in a triangle made by the diagonal reinforcement bars can give shape to the structure to accommodate the solar collectors or dishes. The two side rails allow radial positioning of parabolic solar collector and its holding it in the predetermined position, this result may be achieved, for example, by riveting.

[00205] The parabolic mirror may be made of a sandwich structure such as a honeycomb type structure. The structural strength and sustainability of the curvature of the mirror is achieved through the sandwich structure which provides the necessary rigidity with low weight, in addition to ensuring high precision optics. A sandwich structure auto carrier can be disassembled from the front of the solar unit assembly and regardless of the complete structure.

[00206] The structural strength and sustainability of the curvature of the mirror is achieved without mechanical maintenance or additional torque.

[00207] At least the concave surface of the self-supporting parabolic solar collective system is reflective.

[00208] The heat transfer collector, such as a heat transfer tube, is supported at the focal line of the parabolic solar collector by a supporting arm allowing optimal and permanent positioning of the heat transfer collector, while thermal fluid circulating inside the heat transfer collector, absorbs and transports the thereby collected energy.

[00209] The heat transfer collector can consist of a highly thermally conductive structural material, which material is preferably coated with a high absorbency surface material such as electrodeposited chrome material.

[00210] The mechanical system allows the rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror that may be an assembly of mirrors, to rotate on an axis to allow optimization of the capture of light beams.

[00211] The solar beam sensing system detects solar potential evaluates its intensity and steer precisely the structure (via the mechanical system) towards optimal solar collection and if appropriate steers the structure to a non- use (sleep) position.

[00212] A solar assembly series comprising at least two solar unit assemblies connected together, in series for example, can be assembled.

[00213] A solar assembly or a solar assembly series can be used for heating a heat transfer fluid, for producing industrial steam.

[00214] The solar dish unit assembly or the solar assembly series can be manufactures by using assembling methods such as welding, moulding, riveting, coating, bending, laminating, extruding, screwing and combination of at least 2 of the latter technologies.

[00215] Assembly in series or parallel allows a modular approach adaptable to a range of applications, involving at least two fluids.

Example 1- Dairy plant :

[00216] The installation partially represented in Figure 1 A comprises a highly efficient system (S) for recovering solar energy by solar energy concentration by using a battery (1) of parabolic solar collectors (7) according to the present invention. The system (S) was implemented as a complementary energy system for the industrial dairy plant (P) and installed on the roof of the dairy plant as apparent on Figure 17A.

[00217] The battery (1) is connected to the heat storage system (2) by means of the tubular connection (industrial piping?) (3). The tubular connection (4) feed the battery (1) of parabolic solar connectors with the cold fluid coming from the dairy plant (P). The tubular connection (5) connects the heat storage system (2) with the plant and feed the plant (P) with heated fluid.

[00218] In the case of the present example, the battery (1) comprises of 6 ranks of 120 feet of parabolic solar collectors (7) of the said elements covering 252 square meters, the parabolic solar connectors are connected in series, in 6 parallel lines, of solar collectors units.

[00219] The pump and expansion tank system (6) assures the circulation of the fluids in tubular connections (4) and (5) and absorbs the volumes expansion according to the temperature of the fluid circulating in tubular connections (4) and (5). The thermal storage system (2) comprises a radiator / heat exchanger assembly (8) positioned inside the walls of the heat storage system (2).

[00220] The parabolic solar collectors (7) are installed on the roof (9) of the dairy plant and cover a surface of 252 square meters. The collectors have an approximate efficiency of 70% so on an average sunny day, they can absorb 700 Watts of the 1 000 watts received per square meters of ground covered by the parabolic collectors. The solar energy thereby captured is then converted to thermal energy as a heat transfer fluid is circulated at the apex of the parabolic solar collectors (7) on the heat transfer tube (10).

[00221] The solar collectors (7) of the invention are mechanised in order to be able to follow the sun path as the day advances. This path fellowship is obtained by the solar beam apparatus (100) mounted on the solar concentrators in junction with a mechanical motor and drive (M) to adjust accordingly the collector's position relative to the sun.

[00222] The solar collector (7) represented on Figure 2A is 1 ,25 meter broad and the parallel side wheels (20) and (21) have a diameter of 1,20 meter.

[00223] The rigidity of the self-supporting structure solar collector (7) is assures by 2 rails (27) and (28), each end of a rail being connected to the internal surface on one of the two parallel side wheels (20) and (21) and by the spinal rail (26) also connecting the two side wheels.

[00224] The parabolic surface (31) is constituted by the two adjacent parabolic mirrors (21) and (22). In the present example the parabolic mirrors are made of laminated aluminum with a reflective film.

[00225] The two lateral edges of the two adjacent parabolic mirrors (21) and (22) are fixed respectively to the rails (27) and (28) of the self-supporting structure.

[00226] The rigidity of the self-supporting structure is also created by 6 diagonal supporting elements (25) (only 3 of them are apparent on Figure 2A) and by 4 vertical supporting elements (34).

[00227] Each of the supporting elements (25) connecting 2 adjacent parallel vertical supporting elements (34).

[00228] Each vertical supporting element (34) connecting the spinal rail (26) with one of 2 lateral rails (27) and (28).

[00229] The heat transfer tube (29) is maintained in a predetermined fixed position above the concave part of the mirror and relative to the focus of the mirrors (22) and (23), by means of the 2 so called Calo-arms (47) and (48) perpendicularly attached respectively to the extremity (49) and to the center (50) of the heat transfer tube (29). The Calo-arms (47) and (48) being also attached, respectively to the left extremity and to the center of to the spinal rail (26).

[00230] The Calo-arms (47) and (48) are identical and represented in a more detail way in Figures 9A, 10A and 11A. The Calo-arms (47) and (48) is constituted by a shaft (200) with parallel guides (201) in form of structural grooves (70) and by arise (71). The connecting element (73) is made of an annular part (203) positioned around the circular section of the heat transfer heating tube (29) and ends by two flat parts (204) and (205) represented in Figures 11 Aa, 11Ab, 11 Ac and 11 Ad.

[00231] The Solar beam sensing system (d) is of the Analogue Guy type is generally represented on Figure 2A and in details on Figure 12A. The Solar beam sensing system (d) comprises a cylinder (80), 2 photovoltaic cells (82) and (83) measuring the positioning (by means of 2 reference angles), an half disc (100) assuring the presence of a shaded zone for one of the photovoltaic cells, 2 photovoltaic cells measuring the positioning (by means of 3 reference angles) of the mirror in respect of the solar beam, and a plate (81).

[00232] Globally the Solar beam sensing system (80) identify the optimal positioning of the solar beam relative to the place and comprise a calculating unit configured to send positioning instructions to the motor (M).

[00233] The solar beam sensing system detects solar potential and steer precisely the structure (via the mechanical system) towards optimal solar collection. In order to place the pair of mirrors (22) and (23) in the appropriate position respective the solar beam and for a maximum recovering efficiency during the complete period of the day wherein the system (S) is in function.

[00234] During the night, or when the intensity of the solar beam is too weak, the assembly of mirrors rotates in a protective mode wherein the heat transfer tube (29) is in under the convex part of the mirrors (22) and (23). Then, the back parts of the mirrors (22) and (23) act as protectors against rain, hail, ice or any other environmental aggressive natural element. The assembly of mirrors will return in operational mode as soon as the operational conditions are present.

[00235] The assembly of mirrors of supporting elements, of rails of heat transfer tube and of Calo-arm are connected in a solider way rotates by means of the structural wheels (20) and (21) and on the 3 contact points (61), (62) and (63) apparent on Figure 7Ac.

[00236] Once the heat is transferred thought the walls of the heat transfer tube (29) from the solar beam to the heat transfer fluid that in the present case is XCELTHERM® Grade 500, then the heat transfer fluid is pumped by means of pump system (6) through the thermal storage system which comprises a heat exchanger (8)of the type represented on Figure 20A and is constituted of a module of 10 series 8 one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units, with a maximum heat storage capacity of 209 kWatts for a total volume of the heat exchanger of 1 ,23 m3.

[00237] The detail of the heat exchanger and of its components is represented on Figures 18A, 19A, and 20A.

[00238] The heat transfer fluid in the system (S) is pumped and controlled by a control system, the circulatory pump, an expansion tank positioned in pump and extension tank (6) and various types of valves and plumbing fittings.

[00239] The control system measures the thermal storage system's temperature and evaluated if the need of heat is present, if so, it sends a signal to the solar collectors (7) to verify if there is sufficient solar potential to heat and if so, it starts the pump and begin to ramp up the heat transfer fluid through the solar collectors (7) and then through the storage system (2).

[00240] In the storage system is in the case of the present example a phase-change material (in this case mannitol which is at least 99 % pure) which turn into liquid phase at temperatures around 170°C.

[00241] The metal tank of the heat storage system (s) has approximate exterior measurements as follows: 96" x 37" x 37" without insulation (add 11" thickness all around if you use mineral mats).

[00242] In this tank made of metal lays the heat exchanger/radiator which is submerged in the phase-change material. So the heat storage tank allows heat exchange between 3 fluids: hot heat transfer fluid; cold heat transfer fluid; and phase-change material.

[00243] The invention relates to A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing inside one of said lateral or central tubes, and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside one of said tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the said lateral tubes being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the said central tubes, the axis of each said tubes being about parallel and positioned about the same plan or positioned in about parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a common wall with at least one of the central tubes and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by the walls of the central tubes that are not shared with the said lateral tubes.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to item 1, wherein :

the lateral tubes are configured :

for the circulation or for the non circulation of a liquid and/or

for the circulation or for the non circulation of a solid and/or

for the circulation or for the non circulation of a gaseous phase, and

the central tube is configured for the circulation or for the non circulation of a gaseous and/or for the circulation or the non circulation of a fluid phase and/or for the circulation or the non circulation of a solid phase.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to items 1 and 2, wherein the parts of the external walls of said tubes that are not common to other of said tubes are equipped with fins, that are preferably symmetrically distributed on the surface of said external wall of said tubes.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to anyone of items 1 to 3 wherein the cross-section of the lateral tubes is about circular and the cross-section of the central tube is about rectangular.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to anyone of items 1 to 4, comprising 3 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing, inside the tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section and a pair of ends, 2 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the 3 third tube (the central tube), the 3 tubes having axes that are about parallel and positioned about the same plan, each of the 2 lateral tubes sharing a common wall with the central tube and the 2 opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the said 2 lateral tubes; preferably the 2 lateral tubes are configured for the circulation of a fluid and the rectangular tube is configured for the partial circulation or non circulation of a solid liquid-phase.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to anyone of items 1 to 4, comprising 6 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing, inside the tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section and a pair of ends, 3 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being symmetrically positioned adjacent to 2 of the other 3 tubes (the central tube), the 6 tubes having axes that are about parallel and positioned in parallel plan, each of the 3 lateral tubes sharing a common wall with each of the 2 adjacent central tubes and 2 opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the said 2 lateral tube, the section of the 3 lateral tubes defining the 3 edges of the triangular cross-section of said one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit and the section of the central tubes defining the 3 sides of the triangular cross-section of said one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit, according to item 6, comprising a central triangular tube, the 3 walls of said central triangular tube being walls of the 3 rectangular tubes directed in direction of the center of the triangular section of said one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit according to items 5 or 6, wherein the common shared wall is curved.

A one-piece radiator / heat exchanger according to anyone of items 3 to 8, wherein flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, that are preferably perpendicular to the external surfaces of each tube to which they are connected with, act like longitudinal fins thereby promoting direct exchange area between the walls that are preferably metal walls and the fluid circulating outside the walls of said radiator / heat exchanger. A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to item 9, wherein said radiator/heat exchanger can be immersed in a third fluid that may be use as a heat buffer.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to anyone of items 4 to 10, wherein at least the length (L) of the rectangular section of the central tube represents about 1 ,5 to 2,5 the diameter (d) of the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral tubes.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to anyone of items 4 to 11 , wherein the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity represents about half the diameter of the circular section of each of the 2 lateral cavities.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to anyone of items 4 to 12, wherein the width of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are about the diameter of the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral cavities.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to anyone of items 4 to 13, wherein the width (w) of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are about 1 to 1.5 the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to anyone of items 1 to 14 made of extruded aluminum.

A radiator/heat exchanger series, which includes at least n one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units as defined in anyone of items 1 to 15, wherein each of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units being connected with two other adjacent one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units, at the exception of each of the 2 end one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units assuring the connection with an external circulation system.

A radiator/heat exchanger series according to item 16, wherein the connection between two adjacent one- piece radiator/heat exchanger units is performed by :

connecting the ends of the external tubes, the connection being preferably a U-tube; and

the volume defined by the external walls of said radiator/heat exchanger units and the wall of a tank wherein said radiator/heat exchanger series are positioned.

A radiator/heat exchanger series according to anyone of items 13 to 17, wherein the fluid circulating in the left lateral tube is a heat transfer liquid, the fluid present in the central tube being a component (preferably a polyol, more preferably mannitol) presenting a solid-liquid phase transition under the use conditions, and the fluid outside the external wall of each one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units is a component (preferably a polyol, more preferably mannitol) presenting a solid-liquid phase transition under the use conditions;

preferably the fluid in the rectangular tube is the same as the fluid outside the external wall of each one- piece radiator/heat exchanger units and, more preferably, the rectangular tubes and the volume outside the external wall of each one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units communicate. A radiator/ heat exchanger series according to anyone of items 16 to 18, wherein the one-piece radiator/ heat exchanger units are positioned side-by-side.

A radiator/ heat exchanger series according to item 19, wherein the one-piece radiator/ heat exchanger units are positioned side-by-side as represented on Figure 19.

A radiator/ heat exchanger series according to item 17, which includes 5 radiator/ heat exchanger units positioned side by side.

A module consisting of a multiplicity of series of interconnected one-piece radiator/heat exchanger as defined in anyone of items 16 to 21, which series being connected in series or in parallel in order to increase the thermodynamic exchanges.

A module according to item 22, wherein the radiator/ heat exchanger series are maintained in contact by using connecting means such as connecting road.

A module according to items 22 or 23 wherein a connector allows the connection between the radiator/heat exchanger module and a fluid supply that is preferably of the XCELTHERM ^® Grade 500 type. A module according to anyone of items 22 to 24, wherein the radiator/ heat exchanger series are held in position preferably by welding and/or threading and/or by a manifold connecting said the radiator/ heat exchanger series to the fluid supply. Use of a one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit as defined in anyone of items 1 to 15 and/or of a radiator/ heat exchanger series as defined in anyone of items 16 to 21 for the reversible storage of heat energy. Use of a one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit as defined in anyone of items 1 to 15, or of a radiator/ heat series as defined in anyone of items 16 to 21 or of a module as defined in anyone of items 22 to 25 for the reversible storage of heat energy for example in the solar industry and/or in the food industry. Process for manufacturing radiator/heat exchanger unit as defined in anyone of items 1 to 15, or of a radiator/ heat series as defined in anyone of items 16 to 21 or of a module as defined in anyone of items 22 to 25, by using assembling known methods such as extrusion, melding and/or screwing.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to anyone of items 1 to 5 and 7 to 15, wherein:

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or and

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to items 6, wherein:

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube;

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the third tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the third tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the third tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the third tube.

A one-piece radiator/heat exchanger according to items 6, wherein: the fluid and its state, gaseous, liquid or solid, in the central triangular tube defined by the wall of the rectangular tubes, is the same or different from the fluid or from the state of the fluid circulating in the circular or rectangular tubes.

The invention also relates to: 1. A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said collected energy in a reversible way, said system comprising:

- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly having a rotational axis, which solar dish unit assembly comprises at least:

- one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at least one solar mirror, at least one heat transfer collector positioned above the concave part of said supporting solar collector and to receive light reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer collector being connected, preferably in a rigid way, to the said parabolic self-supporting solar collector,

- one structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation around said rotational axis, the rigid parabolic self supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning relative to the positioning of the solar beam at the place; and

- preferably one solar beam detection system configured to analyse the specification, such as the positioning and such as the intensity, of the solar beam at the place and to send optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system, said solar beam detection system being preferably positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar mirror;

- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide, when required, the heat energy collected through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat transfer collector; and

- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat transfer collector to the said thermal storage unit and/or means for circulating a heat transfer fluid heated in the said heat storage system to an exterior element to be heated; the heat transfer fluids being preferably the same .

2. A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said collected energy in a reversible way, said system comprising:

- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly configured to heat a heat transfer fluid circulating in a heat transfer collector positioned close to the focus of said concentrating solar dish unit;

- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide when required, heat energy collected through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat storage system, said heat storage system comprising at least one housing wherein an assembly of n (n being superior or equal to 1)one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing, inside one of said tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside one of said tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the said lateral tubes being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the said central tubes, the axis of each said tubes being about parallel and positioned about the same plan or positioned in parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a common wall with at least one of the central tubes and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by the walls of the central tubes that are not shared with the said lateral tubes, and

- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat transfer collector to the said thermal storage unit and/or for means for circulating heat transfer fluid heated in the said heat storage system to an element to be heated. high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said collected energy in a reversible way, according to item 1 , wherein the heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide when required, heat energy collected through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat storage system, said heat storage system comprising at least one housing wherein an assembly of n (n being superior or equal to 1) one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid, flowing or not flowing, inside one of said tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside one of said tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the said lateral tubes being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the said central tubes, the axis of each said tubes being about parallel and positioned about the same plan or positioned in parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a common wall with at least one of the central tubes and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by the walls of the central tubes that are not shared with the said lateral tubes volume defined by the external walls of the at least one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit and the internal walls of the housing is at least partially filled by at least one thermal absorbing material which is a solid-liquid phase change material.

high efficiency system, according to item 2, wherein said concentrating solar dish unit assembly has a rotational axis, which solar dish unit assembly comprises at least:

- one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at least one solar mirror, at least one heat transfer collector positioned above the concave part of said supporting solar collector and to receive light reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer collector being connected, preferably in a rigid way, to the said parabolic self-supporting solar collector,

- one structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation around said rotational axis, the rigid parabolic self supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning relative to the positioning of the solar beam at the place; and preferably one solar beam detection system configured to analyse the specification, such as the positioning and such as the intensity, of the solar beam at the place and to send optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system, said solar beam detection system being preferably positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar mirror.

5. A high efficiency system, according to items 3 or 4, wherein the rigid parabolic self-supporting collector system comprises one solar beam detection system configured to analyse the specification, such as the positioning and such as the intensity, of the solar beam at the place and to send optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system, said solar beam detection system being preferably positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar mirror.

6. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 1 to 5, wherein said heat storage unit being at least partially filled with a suitable amount of a thermal absorbing immersing material to store heat from the heat transfer fluid through the assembly of radiator/heat exchanger units.

7. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 6, wherein said rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at least one solar mirror.

8. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 7, wherein said rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector comprises at least:

- a rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, which mirror system can be made of various elementary mirrors having preferably the same features, particularly the same curves, to receive solar radiation and to concentrate at least portion of said solar radiation on said heat transfer collector;

- a reinforced structure for supporting said parabolic mirror, which reinforcing structure being positioned under said parabolic mirror;

- a heat transfer collector, preferably a heat transfer tube, positioned to receive light reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer tube being positioned at a position that is parallel to the axle of said parabolic mirror and that is sensibly constant relative to the spatial positioning of the parabolic self- supporting mirror;

- a heat transfer tube support positioned under said heat transfer tube for assuring support and rigidity of said heat transfer tube;

- a structural rotational system that is a wheel system comprising at least two parallel external wheels having sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of said solar dish unit; - a mechanical system connected to the said structural wheel system for positioning said dish unit according to the position of the solar beam comprising a motor that may be positioned in the calo-arm; and

- a beam detection system and a conversion unit for providing said mechanical system with instructions foe positioning said structural wheel system.

9. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 8, wherein the concentrating solar dish unit assembly, presents at least one of the following specifications:

- said parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached directly or indirectly to the structural wheel system,

- said reinforced structure comprising at least 3 rails, a spinal rail and two edge rails connected together by reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to the internal part of the two external wheels,

- each of the 2 lateral sides of said parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached and/or supported to/by one of the at least 2 edge rails;

- the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by the said reinforcing elements;

- said heat transfer tube being inside the cylinder defined by the 2 external parallel wheels, and positioned at the focal of the beam; and

- the heat transfer tube support being attached to the spinal tube and to the heat transfer tube and being perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube.

10. A high efficiency according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 9, wherein the structural rotational system of the concentrating solar dish unit assembly is configured to be able to position the system from 0 to 360 degrees, an in a non use position wherein the rotational angle of the wheel system may vary from 0 to 180 degrees relative to the use position, preferably the non-use rotational angle is about 200 degrees.

11. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 10, wherein the heat collector of said solar dish unit assembly has a low to very low emissivity that, as measured according to ASTM E408-71 , is preferably between 3 and 10 %, and is more preferably about 5 %.

12. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 11 , wherein, in the solar unit assembly, the combination of the parabolic solar collector system and of the self-supporting reinforced structure allows the entire system to make up the forces applied (especially shear and torsion) without adding special piece. 13. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 3 to 12, wherein, in the solar unit assembly, the freestanding said parabolic mirror is made of a sandwich structure preferably of a "honeycomb" type structure.

14. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 13, wherein, in the solar unit assembly, at least the concave surface of the self-supporting parabolic solar collective system is reflective.

15. A high efficiency system assembly according to items 13 and 14, wherein structural strength and sustainability of the curvature of the said mirror is achieved through the sandwich structure which provides the necessary rigidity with low weight, in addition to ensuring high precision optics.

16. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 13 to 15, wherein structural strength and sustainability of the curvature of the mirror is achieved without mechanical maintenance or additional torque.

17. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 14 to 16, wherein said sandwich structure auto carrier can be disassembled from the front of said solar unit assembly and regardless of the complete structure.

18. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 and 3 to 17, wherein said reinforced structure of the solar unit assembly is composed of three reinforced rails positioned in a triangle.

19. A high efficiency system according to item 18, wherein in said reinforced structure the 2 edge rails are identical and are preferably tubes and the third rail named spinal rail is preferably a tube.

20. A high efficiency system according to items 18 or 19, wherein the reinforcing elements are diagonal reinforcement bars.

21. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 18 to 20, wherein the 3 rails are designed, preferably with tracks, to make possible riveting with diagonal reinforcement bars (without adding extra room). 22. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 18 to 21 , wherein the positioning of the 3 rails in a triangle made by the diagonal reinforcement bars can give shape to the structure to accommodate the solar collectors or dishes.

23. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 9 to 17, wherein the two side rails allow radial positioning of parabolic solar collector and its holding it in the predetermined position, this result may be achieved, for example, by riveting.

24. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of item 8 to 18, wherein, in the solar unit assembly, said structural circular wheel, which is fixed, on the structure, allows rotation of the assembly in order to pursue the sun's orientation.

25. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 24, wherein, in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit, the lateral tubes are configured for the circulation of a liquid and/or for the circulation of a solid and/or for the circulation of a gaseous phase, and the central tube is configured for the circulation of a gaseous and/or for the circulation of a fluid phase.

26. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 25,wherein, in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit, the parts of the external walls of said tubes that are not common to other of said tubes are equipped with fins, that are preferably symmetrically distributed on the surface of said external wall of said tubes.

27. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 26, wherein, in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit, the cross-section of the lateral tubes is about circular and the cross-section of the central tube is about rectangular.

28. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 27, wherein the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit comprising 3 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section and a pair of ends, 2 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being symmetrically positioned adjacent to the 3 third tube (the central tube), the 3 tubes having axes that are about parallel and positioned about the same plan, each of the 2 lateral tubes sharing a common wall with the central tube and the 2 opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the said 2 lateral tubes.

29. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 28, comprising 6 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross- section and a pair of ends, 3 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being symmetrically positioned adjacent to 2 of the other

3 tubes (the central tube), the 6 tubes having axes that are about parallel and positioned in parallel plan, each of the 3 lateral tubes sharing a common wall with each of the 2 adjacent central tubes and 2 opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the said 2 lateral tube, the section of the 3 lateral tubes defining the 3 edges of the triangular cross-section of said one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit and the section of the central tubes defining the 3 sides of the triangular cross-section of said one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit.

30. A high efficiency system, according to items 28 or 29, wherein, in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit, the common shared wall of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit is curved.

31. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 28 to 30, wherein in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger flat walls, surrounding the at least three cavities, are preferably perpendicular to the external surfaces of each tube to which they are connected with, and act like longitudinal fins thereby promoting direct exchange area between the walls that are preferably metal walls and the fluid circulating outside the walls of said radiator / heat exchanger.

32. A high efficiency system, according to item 31 , wherein said radiator/heat exchanger can be immersed in a third fluid that may be used as a heat buffer, this fluid is preferably a polyol, more preferably mannitol.

33. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 28 to 32, wherein, in the one-piece radiator / heat exchanger, the length (L) of the rectangular section of the central tube represents about 1 ,5 to 2,5 the diameter (d) of the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral tubes.

34. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 28 to 33, wherein, in the one-piece radiator / heat exchanger, the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity represents about half the diameter of the circular section of each of the 2 lateral cavities. 35. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 28 to 34, wherein, in the one-piece radiator / heat exchanger, the width of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are about the diameter of the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral cavities.

36. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 4 to 35, wherein in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger the width (w) of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are about 1 to 1.5 the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity.

37. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 36, wherein the one-piece radiator / heat exchanger is made of extruded aluminum.

38. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 6 to 37, wherein the thermal absorbing material (solid- liquid) present in the heat storage system is an organic or inorganic or is a mixture of organic and inorganic materials.

39. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 38, wherein the organic material is selected in the group of the sugar, thermo oil, indalloy, and paraffin and the inorganic material is for example among the salt sand stin, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulphate, lead, steel, cupper, and aluminum sulphate and phosphate, granite, concrete.

40. A high efficiency system according to items 38 or 39, wherein the thermal absorbing material is stable for at least 4 000 cycles, preferably for at least 5000 cycles, or for 5 years.

41. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 38 to 40, wherein the thermal absorbing material has a phase transition temperature ranges from 100 to 250 degrees Celsius, preferably ranges from 150 to190, preferably about 170 degrees Celsius.

42. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 38 to 41 , wherein the thermal absorbing material has a thermal capacity in solid phase ranging from 1000 to 3000, preferably ranging from 1500 to 2500, more preferably being about 1893 kJoule par m3 .K in the case of mannitol.

43. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 38 to 42, wherein the thermal material has an absorbing capacity in liquid phase ranges from 3000 to 5000, preferably ranges from 3500 to 4000, more preferably being about 3972 in the case of mannitol.

44. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 38 to 43, wherein the at least one housing is a metal tank, a concrete tank, or a high temperature polymeric material.

45. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 38 to 44, wherein the at least one housing is thermically isolated.

46. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 2 to 45, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to allow heat exchange of the liquid-liquid type and of the liquid-solid type, and optionally of the liquid-vapour type and or additionally of the solid-vapour type.

47. A high efficiency system A thermal storage unit according to 47, wherein the heat exchanger is of the radiator / heat exchanger (for example ref: patent radiator / heat exchanger) type.

48. A high efficiency system A thermal storage unit according to anyone of items 2 to 47, wherein the heat exchanger is constituted by a multitude of elementary element that are connected together by a manifold and said manifold being connected to a net wherein the heat transfer fluids circulate.

49. A high efficiency system according to item 48, wherein the manifold to distribute fluids in the assembly of radiator / heat exchanger.

50. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 to 49, wherein the thermal storage system comprises a multiplicity of thermal storage units as defined in anyone of items 4 to 49.

51. A high efficiency system according to item 49, wherein the units are connected in parallel and or in series.

52. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 to 51 , wherein said thermal storage system comprises at least a thermal storage unit and at least one heat exchanger with a variable heat exchange capacity.

55. A high efficiency system according to anyone of items 1 to 51 , wherein the heat storage system is configured to be submitted to a, preferably slight, overpressure, preferably of an inert gaz, when necessary.

56. A high efficiency system, according to item 55, wherein the light overpressure is created by an expansible housing which unit or system communicates with said expansible housing.

57. Use of a system, as defined in anyone of items 1 to 56, for the reversible storage of solar heat energy.

58. Use according to item 57 for the reversible storage of solar heat energy in the solar industry, food industry.

59. Process for manufacturing the thermal storage system according to anyone of items 1 to 56, by using assembling methods such as extrusion, melding and screwing.

60. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of 1 to 5 and 7 to 15, wherein:

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or and

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube.

61. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of 1 to 28 and 30 to 56, wherein , in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger, :

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the second tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the second tube;

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the third tube ; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the third tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid circulating in the third tube; or

- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the fluid circulating in the third tube.

62. A high efficiency system, according to item 29 to 56, wherein, in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger, the fluid and its state, gaseous, liquid or solid, in the central triangular tube defined by the wall of the rectangular tubes, is the same or different from the fluid or from the state of the fluid circulating in the circular or rectangular tubes.

63. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of items 1 to 7 and 10 to 56, wherein the concentrating solar dish unit assembly comprises at least:

- a rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, which mirror system can be made of various elementary mirrors having preferably the same features, particularly the same curves, to receive solar radiation and to concentrate at least portion of said solar radiation on said heat transfer collector;

- a reinforced structure for supporting said parabolic mirror, which reinforcing structure being positioned under said parabolic mirror and supporting part of the back of said rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, preferably said reinforced structure is a circular tube or a circular tube longitudinally cut in order to have 2 contact surfaces between said cut tube and the back of the said parabolic mirror, having an axis about parallel to the mirror axis;

- a heat transfer collector, preferably a heat transfer tube, positioned to receive light reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer tube being positioned at a position that is about parallel to the axle of said parabolic mirror and that is sensibly constant relative to the spatial positioning of the parabolic self-supporting mirror;

- a heat transfer tube support positioned under said heat transfer tube for assuring support and rigidity of said heat transfer tube, preferably the heat transfer tube support is connected to said reinforced supporting structure;

- a structural rotational system that is a wheel system comprising at least two parallel external wheels having sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of said solar dish unit;

- a mechanical system connected to the said structural wheel system for positioning said dish unit according to the position of the solar beam comprising a motor that may be positioned in the calo-arm; and

- a beam detection system and a conversion unit for providing said mechanical system with instructions foe positioning said structural wheel system.

[00245] The parabolic solar collector and the heat exchanger can both be used in batteries or alone, oversized and/or in small installations.

[00246] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.