Falling particle solar receivers, systems, and methods are disclosed that include one non-linear falling particle curtain or two or more falling particle curtains within a solar receiver that receives incident solar radiation. The particles heated in the solar receiver may be used to heat a secondary fluid. In an embodiment, the particles may be recirculated to improve energy capture and thermal efficiency. In other embodiments, an air curtain may be used across the aperture of the receiver, and flow-control devices may be used to evenly spread particles across the width of the receiver inlet. Finally, feed particles may be preheated using heat from the solar receiver.

A first power and hydrogen supply station includes a hydrogen storage unit including a hydrogen generation device that performs electrolysis of an electrolytic solution to generate hydrogen, a first flow rate control device that controls a supply amount of hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen generation device, and an accumulation unit that accumulates hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen generation device, includes a fuel cell (second power generation device) that generates power based on at least one of hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen generation device and hydrogen accumulated in the accumulation unit, includes a fuel cell power storage unit (second power storage unit) that accumulates power obtained by the fuel cell, and includes an auxiliary power supply (third power storage unit). A charge capacity of a power storage device of the fuel cell power storage unit is larger than a charge capacity of a power storage device of the auxiliary power supply.

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.

A system for energy conversion including photoluminescent (PL) material for absorbing solar radiation and emitting PL radiation, a solar concentrator for concentrating solar radiation on the PL material, photovoltaic (PV) material configured to absorb the PL radiation, and a chamber for containing the PL material and Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF), and further including the system configured to pipe the HTF from the chamber to a system for conversion of HTF heat to energy. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

A vapor supply device includes a sunlight-condensing heat collection unit which condenses sunlight and collects heat to obtain thermal energy, a heat-storage and heat-exchange unit which heats a heat-storage agent stored therein using the thermal energy obtained in the sunlight-condensing heat collection unit and stores thermal energy in the heat-storage agent, and heats a supply medium using the thermal energy stored in the heat-storage agent, and a vapor supply unit which supplies a vapor of the supply medium obtained by heating the supply medium in the heat-storage and heat-exchange unit.

A system for producing electricity from solar energy is provided. The system includes a solar panel for disposing such that solar radiation impinges thereon. The solar panel includes fluid pipes configured for heating fluid therein by the solar radiation. The system further includes a fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid pipes, having an inlet configured to receive heated fluid from the solar panel and an outlet configured to transfer fluid back to the solar panel; a gas line disposed in the fluid container, the gas line having a liquid gas being configured to evaporate by the heat generated by the fluid and to increase thereby pressure in the gas line; and a turbine having a rotor configured to convert rotating motion to electricity, the turbine being configured to receive evaporated gas from the gas line and the evaporated gas is configured to rotate the motor.

An example light concentrator system for precision thermal processes includes a stabilizing base and a structure attached to the stabilizing base. The structure includes support arms. An azimuth control rotates the structure. A primary solar collector on the support arms is rotatable about two axes based on various positions of the sun throughout the day. Elevation actuators adjust an angle of the primary solar collector relative to position of the sun. Collector distancing actuators adjust distance of the primary solar collector toward and away from the sun. A variety of Thermal Processing Units (TPUs) are configured for a specific process or set of processes implementing concentrated solar energy from the primary solar collector at the receiver plane. Position of the spot can be moved on a fixed receiver plane through translation of the lens relative to the support arms or through rotation of a redirecting mirror.

An example light concentrator system for precision thermal processes includes a stabilizing base and a structure attached to the stabilizing base. The structure includes support arms. An azimuth control rotates the structure. A primary solar collector on the support arms is rotatable about two axes based on various positions of the sun throughout the day. Elevation actuators adjust an angle of the primary solar collector relative to position of the sun. Collector distancing actuators adjust distance of the primary solar collector toward and away from the sun. A variety of Thermal Processing Units (TPUs) are configured for a specific process or set of processes implementing concentrated solar energy from the primary solar collector at the receiver plane. Position of the spot can be moved on a fixed receiver plane through translation of the lens relative to the support arms or through rotation of a redirecting mirror.

A first power and hydrogen supply station includes a hydrogen storage unit including a hydrogen generation device that performs electrolysis of an electrolytic solution to generate hydrogen, a first flow rate control device that controls a supply amount of hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen generation device, and an accumulation unit that accumulates hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen generation device, includes a fuel cell (second power generation device) that generates power based on at least one of hydrogen obtained by the hydrogen generation device and hydrogen accumulated in the accumulation unit, includes a fuel cell power storage unit (second power storage unit) that accumulates power obtained by the fuel cell, and includes an auxiliary power supply (third power storage unit). A charge capacity of a power storage device of the fuel cell power storage unit is larger than a charge capacity of a power storage device of the auxiliary power supply.

A particle heat exchanger comprising: a housing including an inlet located at the top of the housing, and an outlet located below the inlet, the housing configured to enclose a flow of heat transfer particles which flows downwardly from the inlet to the outlet within the housing; at least one heat transfer tube enclosed in the housing and in contact with the flow of heat transfer particles therein, each heat transfer tube extending substantially parallel to an axis extending between the inlet and outlet of the housing; and at least one divider located between the inlet and outlet of the housing, the at least one heat transfer tube extending through each divider, each divider including at least one opening configured to form at least one flow constriction in the flow of heat transfer particles between the inlet and outlet of the housing.