A solar cooking appliance comprises a solar heat collector for collecting and storing solar heat. A first solid heat storage and conducting material for storing and conducting solar heat, the solid heat storage and conducting material is placed within the solar heat collector, the solar heat collector heats the solid heat storage and conducting material to a temperature higher than the water boiling temperature. A heat insulated solar cooking utensil is positioned outside of the solar heat collector, having a cooking utensil and a heat insulation. A second heat-transferring and conducting material connected thermally to the first solid heat storage and conducting material to the heat insulated solar cooking utensil for transferring solar heat.

In various representative aspects, a clamp assembly that secures a solar panel module to a rail support structure that utilizes a generally c-shaped clamp in combination with a t-bolt and a binding bolt such that the t-bolt and binding bolt fit through a pair of apertures in the c-shaped clamp. This enables the foot of the t-bolt to be inserted into a guide on the top of the rail support structure so that the clamp can subsequently secure the solar panel module to the rail support structure by rotating the binding bolt, which in turn locks the t-bolt within the guide and the top of the clamp is then tightened with continuous rotation of the binding bolt, which also enables raised portions on the foot of the t-bolt and top of the clamp to create an electrical bonding path between the solar panel module and the rail support structure.

A spacer (100) for spacing two adjacent stacked solar modules (101a, 101b), the spacer (100) comprising: a body (108) having spaced opposed first and second edges (110, 109), the body (108) comprising an upper contact surface (111) for contact with an upper solar module (101a), and a lower contact surface (112) for contact with a lower solar module (101b); a first upper protrusion (114) arranged to bear against a frame (102) of the upper solar module (101a), the first upper protrusion (114) protruding upwardly from or proximate to the first edge (110) of the body (108) to a free end of the first upper protrusion (114); and a first lower protrusion (118) arranged to bear against a frame (102) of the lower solar module (101b), the first lower protrusion (118) protruding downwardly from or proximate to the first edge (110) of the body to a free end of the first lower protrusion (118), the first lower protrusion (118) offset from the first upper protrusion (114) in a direction along the first edge (110).

Solar panel mounting assemblies having an arm support assembly for supporting a clamp assembly above an installation surface through a base and a base stud and configured to allow the clamp assembly to be adjusted in three dimensions while installing a solar panel module.

An apparatus for heating a working fluid of a gas turbine-solar power generation system, comprising, sequentially connected, a cold air flow channel, a heat collecting cavity, and a hot air passage. The hot air passage is formed by connecting an inner housing on the front side to a supplemental heating section on the rear side. Also comprised is a burner for heating a primary heating air within the supplemental heating section when having insufficient solar power, and the burner is arranged at the supplemental heating section.

The invention relates to a method for producing syngas by means of solar radiation, in which the reactor of a receiver-reactor is periodically heated via an aperture provided in the same for solar radiation by means of the solar radiation to an upper reduction temperature for a reduction process and subsequently cooled to a lower oxidation temperature for an oxidation process in the presence of an oxidation gas, wherein the sunlight is guided through an absorption chamber onto an absorber configured as a reactor, which includes a reducible/oxidizable material, and wherein a gas that absorbs the black-body radiation of the absorber is guided through the absorption chamber and the absorption chamber is configured so that the back radiation of the absorber through the aperture is essentially absorbed by the gas. Radiation losses caused by back radiation of the black-body radiation exiting the optical aperture are thus avoided in accordance with the invention. The heat of the back radiation, however, can be utilized directly in the heat-transporting fluid and is available for a flexible usage. The receiver-reactor has a simple design and is suitable as a low-cost receiver-reactor.

A solar water heater absorber absorbs the sun's energy on the surface of a twin-walled polycarbonate panel and conducts the heat from the sun through the panel wall into fluid flow through channels of the panel. The panel is an extruded polycarbonate glazing material that consists of two panes connected by longitudinal ribs to form a plurality of water channels that may further include twisted strips providing a helical water flow pattern that increases turbulence within the water channels. The panel is connected to large pipes or headers on the top and bottom ends of the panel that receive the heated fluid from the water channels, allow the heated fluid to exit the panel, and for return water to re-enter the panel in a solar water heating system.

A novel solar panel mounting system including a strap and one or more supports, having top flanges, attached to each other. The strap is attached between a first point and a second point on a surface. The support is designed to support a solar panel on this surface. The top flange of the support may be parallel to or at an angle to the surface. The strap may be singular or comprised of two straps one above the other. The strap may be attached to the top flange or the bottom or both. The supports may have any cross sectional shape. The strap may be attached to the support at its end or at a distance from the end; or normal to the support or at an angle to it. The length of the support is greater than the width of the strap.

In various representative aspects, an assembly for securing a solar panel rail and rail-less support structures to a shingle roof. More specifically, the apparatus includes a connection bracket and flashing device for use in installing solar panel rail support structures. The connection bracket is secured to the flashing device by rotating its base around a threaded connection until it locks in place so that a solar panel rail support guide can be connected to a generally U-shaped connection on the top of the bracket. The apparatus also offers an improved means to cover the penetration point on the flashing to protect it and prevent water from leaking into the roof as well as an improved way to install the apparatus over existing products. An alternate embodiment of the apparatus is offered to support a rail-less pivot mount as well.

The invention provides in some aspects a thermal energy collection system comprising a first solar collector through which a first heat transfer fluid flows to absorb energy from sunlight as it passes through the first solar collector, and a second solar collector that collects energy from sunlight that has passed through the first solar collector. The first heat transfer fluid of the thermal energy collection system according to these aspects of the invention is in thermal coupling with the first solar collector, but not with the second solar collector. In other aspects, the invention provides a radiator system, comprising a multi-wall panel, an interior of which is in fluid coupling with, and that forms part of, a fluid circuit through which a first heat transfer fluid flows. A reflective surface is disposed in a vicinity of a second face of the multi-wall panel. Still other aspects of the invention provide a reflective film solar energy collector and a solar energy absorber.