Pyramidal energy collector system

Claim 1

An energy collector comprising: a base and a pyramidal-shaped structure extending around and upward from said base; a wall region of said structure extending approximately one-half way around said base, and said wall region extending upward linearly at an angle of less than 90° with respect to said base; said base and said wall region having a radiant energy reflective inner side, and approximately the remainder of the way around said structure being radiant energy transmissive; and an energy absorber comprising a circular spiral of tubing rising above the base and positioned centrally with respect to said structure, and said absorber being positioned and configured to: directly receive a portion of the radiation passing through the transmissive remainder of said structure, receive some radiation via a path through said transmissive remainder onto said reflective side of said structure and then reflected onto said absorber, receive some radiation via a path through said transmissive remainder of said structure onto said base reflective inner side and then reflected onto said absorber, and to receive some radiation via a path through said transmissive remainder of said structure that includes both said base reflective inner side and said reflective side of said structure; whereby a substantial amount of all of the radiant energy passing through said transmissive remainder of said structure would be captured by the absorber, thereby effectively heating fluid directed through said tubing.