A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.

The invention relates to a solar energy collection system that uses linear parabolic concentrators designed on a small scale and with a modular configuration that allows optimum usage of solar collection surface area in places such as the roofs or flat roofs of factories or shops where space is generally small or irregular. The solar collector is coupled in rows actuated by a fully autonomous system for electronically controlling solar tracking, the operation of which is based on an algorithm programmed in a microcontroller. An autonomous solar tracking system can efficiently control two parallel rows with a pre-defined number of solar concentrators, as well as automatically detecting the presence of impurities on a reflecting radiation surface for the maintenance thereof. The thermal energy produced is harnessed by a heat exchanger, the operation of which is based on conduction, convection and radiation for dehydration uses.

The invention relates to a solar energy collection system that uses linear parabolic concentrators designed on a small scale and with a modular configuration that allows optimum usage of solar collection surface area in places such as the roofs or flat roofs of factories or shops where space is generally small or irregular. The solar collector is coupled in rows actuated by a fully autonomous system for electronically controlling solar tracking, the operation of which is based on an algorithm programmed in a microcontroller. An autonomous solar tracking system can efficiently control two parallel rows with a pre-defined number of solar concentrators, as well as automatically detecting the presence of impurities on a reflecting radiation surface for the maintenance thereof. The thermal energy produced is harnessed by a heat exchanger, the operation of which is based on conduction, convection and radiation for dehydration uses.

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 thermal cell chamber.

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 thermal cell chamber.

The present invention relates to the utilization of solar energy for generation of electricity and/or production of clean fuels or other chemicals, as a means for long term, transportable storage of inherently intermittent solar energy.

A hydronic panel and system for heating and/or cooling a room is disclosed. The hydronic panel includes a plurality of contiguous channels. A first chamber is located at a first end, preferably the upper end, of the panel and includes an inlet and communicates with a first subset of the channels. A second chamber is located at an opposite end of the panel and communicates with the first subset and also with a second subset of the channels. A third chamber is located at the first end of the panel, the third chamber communicates with the second subset of the channels and includes an outlet. In this configuration, heated or cooled water flows from the inlet into the first chamber, through the first subset of the channels, to the second chamber, through the second subset of the channels, into the third chamber and out the outlet. Consequently, the heated or cooled water can heat or cool the space. In addition to at least one hydronic panel, the system includes a source of heated and/or cooled water under sufficient pressure to cause the water to flow through the panel. The system also includes a controller to control one or both of the temperature of the water and the flow rate of the water through the panel.

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases.

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases.

A solar concentrator comprising: a base; a framework, the framework being hingedly joined to the base such that the framework can be rotated relative to the base; and a plurality of mirrors arranged relative to a first axis of the framework, such that all of the mirrors are located on one side of a plane which contains the first axis, each mirror being fixed to the framework and each mirror being arranged to reflect light travelling parallel to the first axis towards a common focus which lies on the first axis.