A solar system is provided comprising a light receiving surface, a condensation subassembly, a water collection subassembly, and a cleaning subassembly. The expansion chamber of the condensation subassembly is thermally coupled to the light receiving surface and thermally insulated from the ambient such that expansion of compressed air in the expansion chamber, as controlled by the compressed air expansion valve, encourages humidity condensation on the light receiving surface by reducing the temperature of the light receiving surface. The water collection subassembly comprises a water collection vessel and water direction hardware positioned to direct condensed water on the light receiving surface to the water collection vessel. The cleaning subassembly comprises a water dispensing unit positioned to dispense water from the water collection vessel over the light receiving surface of the solar system.

A concentrated solar power (CSP) system includes channels arranged to convey a flowing solids medium descending under gravity. The channels form a light-absorbing surface configured to absorb solar flux from a heliostat field. The channels may be independently supported, for example by suspension, and gaps between the channels are sized to accommodate thermal expansion. The light absorbing surface may be sloped so that the inside surfaces of the channels proximate to the light absorbing surface define downward-slanting channel floors, and the flowing solids medium flows along these floors. Baffles may be disposed inside the channels and oriented across the direction of descent of the flowing solids medium. The channels may include wedge-shaped walls forming the light-absorbing surface and defining multiple-reflection light paths for solar flux from the heliostat field incident on the light-absorbing surface.

A solar window system for a building is provided. The solar window system includes multiple heat generation encasements. Air inside each heat generation encasement is heated by solar energy. The solar window system further includes a storage tank for storing heat from the heated air. The solar window system also includes a set of connection pipes, wherein the set of connection pipes draw cold air from an indoor space inside the building into the plurality of heat generation encasements, connect each of the heat generation encasements to at least two other heat generation encasements, and transfer the heated air from the set of heat generation encasements to the storage tank.

A robotic actuator comprises a mass manufactured bellows, wherein the mass manufactured bellows allows a volume change by localized bending, and wherein the mass manufactured bellows is formed from a material that has a higher strength in at least two axes relative to at most one other axis, and an end effector, wherein the end effector is coupled to the manufactured bellows.

A concentrator and a solar light router for converting light energy into electrical, photochemical and thermal energy, among other possible forms of usable energy, comprising a fixed body (1) and a movable part (2), wherein the fixed body (1) has an upper side with a converging lens (4) through which the sun rays (R1) enter, and a lower side where a mirror (5) is arranged. The mobile part 2 has a support arm 7 having a lower leg 8 coupled to a movement unit 10, and an upper leg 9 extending above the converging lens 4, in which is displaceable mounted a module (11) receptor/router of convergent solar rays (R4) that emerges from the fixed body (1). The support (7) is connected to angular displacement means housed in the movement unit (10) so that the angle traveled by its arm (9) encompasses a virtual surface (17), defined between the converging lens (4) and the module (11), where a focal point (19) incise of the convergent rays (R4), that travels according to the curvilinear paths (18n) in accordance with the displacement of the sunlight captured by the converging lens (4). The module (11) presents a lower face (13) through which the converging solar rays (R4) enters, and an upper face (14) from which concentrated solar rays (R5) are emitted which are directed, for example, towards a solar energy converter receiver (20) arranged in a tower (T) spaced from the device. The module (11) is connected to translation means along the upper section (9) of the support (7) and to rotating means with respect to its axis (E1) transverse to the defined plane by the converging lens (4) and includes means detecting the positions of the focal point (19), which together with the angular arm displacement means (7) and the translational and rotational means of the module (11) are connected to a module position control and control unit (11) to maintain it facing the focal point (19) and facing the receiver/solar energy converter (20) of the tower (T). In an alternate realization, the module (11) may act as a solar energy receiver/converter, for which it may include solar cells, a thermoelectric motor, or other solar energy converters.

Systems and methods for selectively producing steam from solar collectors and heaters are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes directing a flow of water to a solar collector, directing the flow of water to a gas-fired heater, and, as a result of heating the flow of water at the solar collector and the gas-fired heater, forming steam from the flow of water. The method further includes changing a sequence by which at least a portion of the flow passes through the solar collector and the gas-fired heater.

A device is provided. The device includes mechanically stacked layers. The mechanically stacked layers include a bottom layer and upper layers. Each upper layer includes a transmissive solar cell that converts light energy into electricity. Each upper layer transmits unconverted portions of the light energy towards the bottom layer. The bottom layer includes a solar cell that converts the unconverted portions of the light energy into electricity.

A device is provided. The device includes mechanically stacked layers. The mechanically stacked layers include a bottom layer and upper layers. Each upper layer includes a transmissive solar cell that converts light energy into electricity. Each upper layer transmits unconverted portions of the light energy towards the bottom layer. The bottom layer includes a solar cell that converts the unconverted portions of the light energy into electricity.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure address problems experienced in conventional tracking systems, including problems associated with inefficiencies created during diffuse light conditions. Embodiments disclosed herein address this problem by altering an angular orientation of PV modules during diffuse light conditions to ensure that the PV modules are in a position that more efficiently generates energy from diffuse irradiance.

A thermal cell panel system for heating and cooling using a refrigerant includes a plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, and a piping network for a flow of the refrigerant through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. In addition, the system includes a compressor having a motor coupled to a variable frequency drive (VFD), where the compressor is coupled to the piping network upstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers and the VFD is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to the pressure of the refrigerant within the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. The piping network includes an inlet manifold coupled to the inlet of each solar thermal cell chamber, and an outlet manifold coupled to the outlet of each solar cell chamber.