A focusing polymer foil for use in forming an optical element for use in a solar concentrator, and an optical element for use in a solar concentrator, arranged such that the focusing polymer foil is removable in order to renew the function of the optical element following damage and/or wear to the focusing polymer foil due to environmental conditions. A method of repair of such a damaged optical element, and methods of making the focusing polymer foil and optical element.

The present invention recognizes that there exists a long felt and unfulfilled need for a photobioreactor for treatment of wastewater (Passive Aerobic Treatment Unit (PATU). As a non-limiting introduction to the breadth of the present invention, the present invention includes several general and useful aspects, including but not limited to: a) a device or system for the passive treatment of a preferably liquid wastewater stream using autotrophic, phototrophic, and heterotrophic microorganisms growing in a photobioreactor; and b) a method of treating wastewater using the devices of the present invention.

A polymer consisting of small functional molecules can be integrated into solar thermal fuels in the solid-state for solar energy harvesting and storage. In certain embodiments, a solar energy storage device can include one or more layers of photoswitchable moieties associated with a polymer. Such solar thermal fuel polymers can be used to enable deposition from low concentration solutions, resulting in uniform and large-area thin-films. This approach enables conformal deposition on a variety of conducting substrates that can be either flat or structured and control over film growth via electrodeposition conditions and results in highly uniform and large-area thin films.

A polymer consisting of small functional molecules can be integrated into solar thermal fuels in the solid-state for solar energy harvesting and storage. In certain embodiments, a solar energy storage device can include one or more layers of photoswitchable moieties associated with a polymer. Such solar thermal fuel polymers can be used to enable deposition from low concentration solutions, resulting in uniform and large-area thin-films. This approach enables conformal deposition on a variety of conducting substrates that can be either flat or structured and control over film growth via electrodeposition conditions and results in highly uniform and large-area thin films.

In various embodiments, a tile system for mounting structures to a roof may comprise a base assembly, a fastener, a seal, a flashing, and a mounting bracket. The fastener may be installable on the base assembly. The seal may be installable on the fastener. The flashing may be configured to replace a roof tile. Moreover, a protrusion may be field formed in the flashing during installation of the tile system by driving the fastener through the flashing in response to the base assembly being positioned on the roof surface. The bracket may be installable on the fastener and configured to compress the flashing against the seal and the base assembly.

In various embodiments, a tile system for mounting structures to a roof may comprise a base assembly, a fastener, a seal, a flashing, and a mounting bracket. The fastener may be installable on the base assembly. The seal may be installable on the fastener. The flashing may be configured to replace a roof tile. Moreover, a protrusion may be field formed in the flashing during installation of the tile system by driving the fastener through the flashing in response to the base assembly being positioned on the roof surface. The bracket may be installable on the fastener and configured to compress the flashing against the seal and the base assembly.

The present invention provides a vacuum heat transfer type efficient solar panel heat absorption system, including a flat plate collector, wherein a heat absorption coil is arranged in the flat plate collector, and a heat absorption coil valve is arranged on the heat absorption coil stretching out from the flat plate collector; a heat exchange coil is arranged in a pressure bearing water tank, a water inlet and a water outlet are formed in the pressure bearing water tank, a vacuum pump is arranged on a heat transfer pipeline, the heat absorption coil, the heat transfer pipeline and the heat exchange coil are all copper tubes, the interiors of the copper tubes are in vacuum states, and heat absorption coating is coated on an outer surface of the heat absorption coil. In the present invention, the interiors of the copper tubes are vacuumized, when a part of energy radiated by the sun is transferred onto the copper tubes in a heat collection plate, this part of energy is directly, quickly and efficiently transferred to a copper coil in the water tank through the copper tubes, as the interiors of the copper tubes are vacuumized, and the polyurethane at the outside of the tubes preserve the heat in the process, the heat transfer efficiency is greatly improved, and the heat loss during the heat transfer of a flowing medium in the tubes in a circulation process is greatly reduced.

A solar collector is provided. The collector comprises a monolithic flow control component to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid between an inlet and outlet; and a solar absorber supported by the monolithic flow control component. The monolithic flow control component is able to support the solar absorber without any additional structural components to lend mechanical strength to the monolithic flow control component.

A mount assembly is provided for mounting a structure to a roof having a top surface. The mount includes a flashing including an aperture; a bracket including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an opening and a countersink extending around the opening, the second portion extending at an angle away from the flashing, the second portion including a slot configured to be coupled to the structure; a fastener extending through the aperture and through the opening of the bracket; and a seal extending around the aperture and positioned between the flashing and the first portion of the bracket, the seal engaging the countersink of the bracket and being compressed against the flashing.

A mount assembly is provided for mounting a structure to a roof having a top surface. The mount includes a flashing including an aperture; a bracket including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an opening and a countersink extending around the opening, the second portion extending at an angle away from the flashing, the second portion including a slot configured to be coupled to the structure; a fastener extending through the aperture and through the opening of the bracket; and a seal extending around the aperture and positioned between the flashing and the first portion of the bracket, the seal engaging the countersink of the bracket and being compressed against the flashing.