20130340431 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY - An energy conversion system includes a heat to power conversion unit to convert thermal energy of a high temperature fluid into electricity. A space heating element is connected to a heated fluid storage unit to provide heating. A heat driven cooling element is connected to the heated fluid storage unit to provide refrigerated fluid to provide cooling. An array of sensors is distributed to measure system parameters and collect data. A central processing unit is coupled to the array of sensors to process data from the array of sensors, electrical grid data from a utilities operator and data history on water, heat, and power used to calculate operation parameters for components of the energy conversion system. A memory unit coupled to the central processing unit to store processing instructions to be executed by the central processing unit and to store the data history on water, heat, and power used. | 12-26-2013 |