A system for heating a work fluid and for air circulation comprises a plurality of collectors fitted top-to-top in one or more columns, such that air ducts of the modules constitute a single duct along a column, wherein the solar collector comprises: one solar radiation planar absorber with one anterior face exposed to solar radiation and another posterior face affixed to the work fluid piping; one duct for exchanging heat with the planar absorber via the air duct which has its air inlet and outlet on opposite tops of the solar collector. The system can additionally comprise a descendent air duct to collect air from the upper part of the building and to supply air to the lower side of one or more columns of the facade.

A system for heating a work fluid and for air circulation comprises a plurality of collectors fitted top-to-top in one or more columns, such that air ducts of the modules constitute a single duct along a column, wherein the solar collector comprises: one solar radiation planar absorber with one anterior face exposed to solar radiation and another posterior face affixed to the work fluid piping; one duct for exchanging heat with the planar absorber via the air duct which has its air inlet and outlet on opposite tops of the solar collector. The system can additionally comprise a descendent air duct to collect air from the upper part of the building and to supply air to the lower side of one or more columns of the facade.

A pumpless solar energy-based air heater includes a body housing a chamber surrounded by a heat conducting medium; an intake pipe to draw cool air into the chamber; and one or more exit pipes to push warm air out from the chamber, the one or more exit pipes having one or more structures within the interior of the one or more exit pipes to create a low friction factor for the air flowing upwards in the exit pipe while creating a high friction factor for the air attempting to move downward, thereby ensuring air flow in an upward direction; a pressure difference is created between an entry point of the intake pipe and an end point of the one or more exit pipes, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or a fan.

A pumpless solar energy-based air heater includes a body housing a chamber surrounded by a heat conducting medium; an intake pipe to draw cool air into the chamber; and one or more exit pipes to push warm air out from the chamber, the one or more exit pipes having one or more structures within the interior of the one or more exit pipes to create a low friction factor for the air flowing upwards in the exit pipe while creating a high friction factor for the air attempting to move downward, thereby ensuring air flow in an upward direction; a pressure difference is created between an entry point of the intake pipe and an end point of the one or more exit pipes, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or a fan.

An ultra-supercritical (USC) tower-type solar heat absorber includes a grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen, a tube row, and a graphite filling layer. The grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen is assembled by a plurality of grille hot plates. Each of the plurality of grille hot plates includes a liquid-absorbing core and a grille, and is filled with a phase-transition working medium (such as sodium, potassium, and lithium) and pumped to a vacuum state. When sunlight is reflected and concentrated on the grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen, the phase-transition working medium absorbs heat and evaporates on an evaporation surface of a grille hot plate, is condensed on a condensation surface of the grille hot plate, and returns to the liquid-absorbing core through a grille to produce a stable two-phase flow, which allows efficient heat transfer, homogenizes a surface heat-flow density, and greatly reduces a temperature difference and a thermal stress on a surface of the grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen.

An ultra-supercritical (USC) tower-type solar heat absorber includes a grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen, a tube row, and a graphite filling layer. The grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen is assembled by a plurality of grille hot plates. Each of the plurality of grille hot plates includes a liquid-absorbing core and a grille, and is filled with a phase-transition working medium (such as sodium, potassium, and lithium) and pumped to a vacuum state. When sunlight is reflected and concentrated on the grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen, the phase-transition working medium absorbs heat and evaporates on an evaporation surface of a grille hot plate, is condensed on a condensation surface of the grille hot plate, and returns to the liquid-absorbing core through a grille to produce a stable two-phase flow, which allows efficient heat transfer, homogenizes a surface heat-flow density, and greatly reduces a temperature difference and a thermal stress on a surface of the grille-hot-plate current-sharing screen.

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 solar thermal control system includes a membrane configured to receive solar energy, wherein the membrane is configured to form a cavity between the membrane and an outer surface of a structure by coupling to the outer surface, and wherein the solar energy is configured to heat air within the cavity. The control system also includes a thermal collection unit configured to connect to the cavity and receive and direct air from the cavity, and a ducting system coupled to the thermal collection unit and configured to direct air from the thermal collection unit to at least one of the interior of the structure and a vent.

A solar thermal control system includes a membrane configured to receive solar energy, wherein the membrane is configured to form a cavity between the membrane and an outer surface of a structure by coupling to the outer surface, and wherein the solar energy is configured to heat air within the cavity. The control system also includes a thermal collection unit configured to connect to the cavity and receive and direct air from the cavity, and a ducting system coupled to the thermal collection unit and configured to direct air from the thermal collection unit to at least one of the interior of the structure and a vent.

A water cooling and heating system for swimming pools and hot tubs for heating and/or cooling a flow of water drawn from a body of water and then returning the heated and/or cooled flow of water back to the body of water wherein the system includes an inner conduit within an outer conduit, the outer conduit having an exterior conduit surface that is exposed to solar energy from the sun whereby a portion of the solar energy absorbed by the outer conduit is transferred to and heats an outer water flow within the outer conduit and the outer water flow in the outer conduit heating an inner water flow of water in the inner conduit, the system further including at least one control valve to selectively control a flow of water to the inner and outer conduits and a bypass flow of water that is directed back toward the body of water.