An apparatus including a photovoltaic panel; a first fluid container thermally attached to a bottom of the photovoltaic panel; and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of a fluid inside the first fluid container is part of a sub-system for a power generation system using solar energy. The sub-system further includes a heating assembly, including a second fluid container, a second temperature sensor, and an electrical heating element. The second fluid container is fluidically connected to the first fluid container. The heating element is configured to heat the pre-heated fluid in the second fluid container to its vapor state. The sub-system additionally includes a turbine generator fluidically connected to the second fluid container to generate AC power from the vapor. A system employing a plurality of sub-systems and a method for using the sub-systems are also provided.

ThermaSat? propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations. Additionally, a conductive insulative system or method can include a phase change material and an insulated thermal capacitor wrapped in an insulative material including an inner layer of a high temperature multi-layer insulation and an outer layer of low temperature multi-layer insulation and the outside of the outer layer is covered with a reflective material.

Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

System for storage of electricity in the form of thermal energy, and release of thermal energy during times of demand. The system includes a unit for containing at least one electrically conducting phase change material and electrical circuitry for driving electrical current through the phase change material to heat the phase change material into a molten state, or at least one electrical heater used to convert electricity into heat stored in the phase change material. Structure is provided for transferring heat in the phase change material to a working fluid such as steam or gas for electricity generation in a steam turbine or gas turbine, capable of generating supercritical fluids. Structure is also provided for transferring heat in the phase change material to a thermal energy to electrical energy conversion device. A suitable phase change material is elemental silicon or an aluminum-silicon alloy.

An apparatus for production of steam from an aqueous liquid includes (a) a solar panel with a pliable, essentially impermeable, polymer membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface is adapted to be directed towards the sun; a lattice structure adapted to support the inner surface of the polymer membrane; a backing, which together with the pliable polymer film, encases the lattice structure; an inlet for the aqueous liquid; an outlet for the steam produced, and (b) means for providing a vacuum connected to the outlet. The apparatus can be produced with few and relatively simple components thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus.

Compositions, devices, systems, and methods directed to concentrating solar power are disclosed. In certain aspects, the disclosure is directed to a heat storage material comprising a transformative alloy composition (internal core component) AlBSiFe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3B.sub.2O.sub.3SiO.sub.2Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 embedded in a SiC outer coating.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising heating a strontium-containing compound using radiation in a first reactor; decomposing the strontium-containing compound into an oxide and carbon dioxide as a result of heat generated by the exposure to the radiation; reacting the oxide and the carbon dioxide in a second reactor; where the oxide and carbon dioxide react to produce heat; heating a working fluid using the heat produced in the second reactor; and driving a turbine with the heated working fluid to generate energy. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising strontium carbonate; and strontium zirconate; where the mass ratio of strontium carbonate to strontium zirconate 2:8 to 8:2.

A solar thermal power generation system includes a solar heat collection system that generates superheated steam by solar heat, a main power generation system that performs power generation by part of the superheated steam generated by the solar heat collection system, a solar heat storage/release system that stores heat in a heat storage medium or releases the heat stored in the heat storage medium, and a secondary power generation system that performs power generation by saturated steam generated by the heat storage or the heat release in the solar heat storage/release system. The solar heat storage/release system includes a heat storage heater for exchanging heat between the rest of the superheated steam generated by the solar heat collection system and the heat storage medium to store heat in the heat storage medium and to generate saturated steam, a low-temperature tank for containing the heat storage medium to be supplied to the heat storage heater, and a high-temperature tank for containing the heat storage medium after the heat storage in the heat storage heater. The secondary power generation system includes a saturated steam turbine into which the saturated steam generated by the heat storage heater can be introduced.

A heat engine, in particular an ORC engine, includes a crankcase and at least one working cylinder connected to the crankcase, in which cylinder a working piston that is rigidly connected to a piston rod can be moved and the end of the piston rod facing away from the working piston is articulatedly connected to a connecting rod by a crosshead running in the longitudinal direction of the piston rod. The interior of the working cylinder, which is supplied with a working medium, is separated from the interior of the crankcase, which is supplied with oil, by two walls, each of which has a sealing through-opening for the piston rod.

An expander of the piston (2) and cylinder (3) type is inverted from normal orientation, with the crankshaft (4) upper most and the cylinder head (5) lower most. The cylinder head has a pair of liquid injectors (6, 7) oriented for respective liquids pentane and glycerine to be injected as mists into contact with each other at the bottom of the cylinder. The pentane is vaporised by transfer of latent heat to it from the glycerine. Respective injector valves (9,10) from high pressure rails (11,12) fed by pumps (14,15) are provided. An exhaust valve (16) is opened by a cam (17) driven at crankshaft speed by a chain drive.