Disclosed is a nanowire bundle array. Particularly, the nanowire bundle array according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of nanowire assemblies arranged therein. Each of the nanowire assemblies includes nanowires, a surface of at least a portion of which is coated with a thin metal film and the widths between the nanowires gradually decrease from one end to another end.

A closed-loop system and method for heating of target contaminant zones having environmental contaminants of concern present in the groundwater and the soil by thermal conduction, and subsequent enhancements of physical, biological and chemical processes to attenuate, remove and degrade contaminants in the target contaminant treatment zones, is disclosed. The system and method collects solar or other heat and transfers the heat via a closed-loop and a set of borehole exchangers to subsurface soil in the proximity of and/or directly to the target contaminant treatment zones. The target contaminant treatment zone may comprise contaminated soil, contaminated groundwater in an aquifer, or industrial waste comprising water and/or solids. Solar collectors or heat exchangers capturing waste heat from industrial processes may be used as the heat source.

A closed-loop system and method for heating of target contaminant zones having environmental contaminants of concern present in the groundwater and the soil by thermal conduction, and subsequent enhancements of physical, biological and chemical processes to attenuate, remove and degrade contaminants in the target contaminant treatment zones, is disclosed. The system and method collects solar or other heat and transfers the heat via a closed-loop and a set of borehole exchangers to subsurface soil in the proximity of and/or directly to the target contaminant treatment zones. The target contaminant treatment zone may comprise contaminated soil, contaminated groundwater in an aquifer, or industrial waste comprising water and/or solids. Solar collectors or heat exchangers capturing waste heat from industrial processes may be used as the heat source.

A method for operating a hybrid collector solar system includes a heat transfer agent, which is present in a buffer accumulator, that passes via a pump into a thermal solar collector of the hybrid collector in order to heat the heat transfer agent. The pump is connected into a feed line that connects the buffer accumulator to the thermal solar collector. The hybrid collector solar system is partially filled with the heat transfer agent so that part of the hybrid collector solar system is not filled and so that the heat transfer agent is moved back and forth between the thermal solar collector and the buffer accumulator via the feed line depending on its temperature, thereby realizing an oscillating method of operation.

A method for operating a hybrid collector solar system includes a heat transfer agent, which is present in a buffer accumulator, that passes via a pump into a thermal solar collector of the hybrid collector in order to heat the heat transfer agent. The pump is connected into a feed line that connects the buffer accumulator to the thermal solar collector. The hybrid collector solar system is partially filled with the heat transfer agent so that part of the hybrid collector solar system is not filled and so that the heat transfer agent is moved back and forth between the thermal solar collector and the buffer accumulator via the feed line depending on its temperature, thereby realizing an oscillating method of operation.

The present disclosure provides a solar energy system. The solar energy system comprises a solar collector for providing energy generated from incident solar radiation. The system comprises a first heat exchange system comprising an ejector that is arranged to operate using at least a portion of the energy provided by the solar energy collector. Further, the system comprises a second heat exchange system arranged to operate using energy from an energy source other than a source of solar source. The solar energy system is arranged for direct or indirect transfer of thermal energy between the first heat exchange system and a region and between the second heat exchange system and the region. Further, the solar energy system is arranged for direct or indirect transfer of thermal energy from the second heat exchange system for use by at least one of: the first heat exchange system and a system for heating water.

A system for heating a work fluid and for air circulation comprises a plurality of collectors fitted top-to-top in one or more columns, such that air ducts of the modules constitute a single duct along a column, wherein the solar collector comprises: one solar radiation planar absorber with one anterior face exposed to solar radiation and another posterior face affixed to the work fluid piping; one duct for exchanging heat with the planar absorber via the air duct which has its air inlet and outlet on opposite tops of the solar collector. The system can additionally comprise a descendent air duct to collect air from the upper part of the building and to supply air to the lower side of one or more columns of the facade.

A system for heating a work fluid and for air circulation comprises a plurality of collectors fitted top-to-top in one or more columns, such that air ducts of the modules constitute a single duct along a column, wherein the solar collector comprises: one solar radiation planar absorber with one anterior face exposed to solar radiation and another posterior face affixed to the work fluid piping; one duct for exchanging heat with the planar absorber via the air duct which has its air inlet and outlet on opposite tops of the solar collector. The system can additionally comprise a descendent air duct to collect air from the upper part of the building and to supply air to the lower side of one or more columns of the facade.

A dual-cavity method and device for collecting and storing solar energy with metal oxide particles. Solar radiation irradiates into a light receiving cavity of a dual-cavity, heat-collecting reactor to heat a separating plate and preheat metal oxide particles. The preheated metal oxide particles then enter a reacting cavity. As temperature increases, the metal oxide particles reduce to release oxygen, which discharges through a gas outlet. Reduced metal oxide particles discharge through a particle outlet into a particle storage tank, and then into an oxidation heat exchanger to react with the discharged oxygen discharged to release and transfer stored chemical energy to a medium to be heated. The oxidized metal oxide particles are conveyed into a storage tank, and again enter into a particle inlet of the light receiving cavity. Ambient air controls the gas flow rate in the reactor and the reacting rate in exchanger.

A dual-cavity method and device for collecting and storing solar energy with metal oxide particles. Solar radiation irradiates into a light receiving cavity of a dual-cavity, heat-collecting reactor to heat a separating plate and preheat metal oxide particles. The preheated metal oxide particles then enter a reacting cavity. As temperature increases, the metal oxide particles reduce to release oxygen, which discharges through a gas outlet. Reduced metal oxide particles discharge through a particle outlet into a particle storage tank, and then into an oxidation heat exchanger to react with the discharged oxygen discharged to release and transfer stored chemical energy to a medium to be heated. The oxidized metal oxide particles are conveyed into a storage tank, and again enter into a particle inlet of the light receiving cavity. Ambient air controls the gas flow rate in the reactor and the reacting rate in exchanger.