A novel thermal storage device is made up of a plurality of thermal storage canisters. The canisters are in thermal contact with one another so as to form a single thermal storage body. Because the thermal storage device can be broken down into a plurality of discrete thermal storage canisters, it is portable and has a high thermal storage capacity. In a particular embodiment, each canister contains a metal phase change material. In a more particular embodiment, the canisters each have a concave region such that when the canisters are assembled the concave regions, together, define a solar receiver.

A novel method is described for room heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored heat can then be extracted by air circulation for room heating. The temperature of the room air is controlled by a thermostat. When the room temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating air pump turns on and extract the solar heat until the room temperature air reaches the desired set temperature. Once room temperature reaches the set point in the thermostat, the air circulation pump turns off.

A system includes an algae bioreactor that contains an algae slurry, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the algae bioreactor to receive the algae slurry from the algae bioreactor and heat and increase a pressure of the algae slurry, and one or more valves and a flash vessel in fluid communication with a discharge of the heat exchanger to flash the algae slurry and create steam and algae biomass. A separator receives the algae biomass from the flash vessel and separates oils from the algae biomass to generate a biofuel.

A system includes an algae bioreactor that contains an algae slurry, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the algae bioreactor to receive the algae slurry from the algae bioreactor and heat and increase a pressure of the algae slurry, and one or more valves and a flash vessel in fluid communication with a discharge of the heat exchanger to flash the algae slurry and create steam and algae biomass. A separator receives the algae biomass from the flash vessel and separates oils from the algae biomass to generate a biofuel.

Shipping systems and methods associated with solar concentrator receivers are disclosed herein. Representative securement devices extend into the interior of a receiver segment at both ends of the receiver segment. A first retention element and a second retention element, each having a first portion and a second portion configured to stack on top of each other, are configured to receive a corresponding securement device in notches manufactured into the first and the second retention elements. The first and the second retention elements can be configured to receive a vertical stability element to clamp the first portions to corresponding second portions, thereby retaining the securement devices. In these and other embodiments, a third retention element can be stacked on top of the first retention element and a fourth retention element can be positioned vertically adjacent to the first retention element.

The present invention relates to a solar evacuated heat collecting panel for collecting solar energy and more particularly, to a solar evacuated heat collecting panel having a heat absorbing plate and a heat medium circulating tube mounted therein so as to withstand external stress by means of a glass window structure and to minimize loss of solar energy collected therein. The present invention provides a solar evacuated heat collecting panel for collecting solar heat to obtain energy, the solar evacuated heat collecting panel comprising: a case made of glass or a metallic material; a glass window mounted on the upper portion of the case so as to form a space together with the case; a heat collecting portion comprising a heat collecting plate seated inside the case and the glass window and at least one heat medium circulating tube attached to the lower portion of the heat collecting plate by brazing welding and mounted so as to penetrate one side of the case; a side spacer made of a metallic material so as to connect a edge of the glass window and a edge of the case to each other; an inner spacer that penetrates the heat absorbing plate so as to support the case and the glass window at a predetermined interval; and an evacuating tube mounted on one side of the case so as to evacuate the interior of the panel.

A system includes an algae bioreactor that contains an algae slurry, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the algae bioreactor to receive the algae slurry from the algae bioreactor and heat and increase a pressure of the algae slurry, and one or more valves and a flash vessel in fluid communication with a discharge of the heat exchanger to flash the algae slurry and create steam and algae biomass. A separator receives the algae biomass from the flash vessel and separates oils from the algae biomass to generate a biofuel.

A system includes an algae bioreactor that contains an algae slurry, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the algae bioreactor to receive the algae slurry from the algae bioreactor and heat and increase a pressure of the algae slurry, and one or more valves and a flash vessel in fluid communication with a discharge of the heat exchanger to flash the algae slurry and create steam and algae biomass. A separator receives the algae biomass from the flash vessel and separates oils from the algae biomass to generate a biofuel.

A retaining device for absorber tubes that have a metal tube and a glass cladding tube is provided. The retaining device includes a tube clamp made of two tube clamp halves, which have a main part with a retaining feature. The tube clamp surrounds the metal tube in the mounted state, and the retaining feature rests against the exterior of the metal tube. A thermal radiation shield is arranged on the interior of the main part of the tube clamp in order to reduce the loss of heat at the ends of the metal tube of the absorber tube.

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.