A solar collector with reflecting surfaces according to the present invention prevents overheating of the solar collector by reflecting the radiation in a way that the light beams, by means of a first transparent surface, are corrected to the preferred angle and further directed towards channels. On a second transparent surface the beams are directed again and on a third transparent surface the light beams are reflected if in the channels is air. If the working fluid flows through the channels, on the third surface there is no reflection, so the light beams pass through the opaque part of an absorber where the solar radiation is converted into the thermal energy that is then removed by the working fluid.

A modular, solar energy system comprising one or more modular solar panels. The solar panels include a pair of general planar, plates that are secured together to form a narrow channel therebetween for the circulation of a liquid. The solar panels have header assemblies affixed to opposite edges thereof and which control the entry of liquid into the channel and the exit therefrom. The inlet header assembly has a plurality of nozzles that are adjustable in size to control flow therethrough while the outlet header assembly has elongated nozzles to receive flow or liquid from the channel. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell affixed thereto to face the sun and the other plate has a plurality of indentations that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.

A system for producing electricity from solar energy is provided. The system includes a window pan for installing on building such that solar radiation impinges thereon, a heat receiving element coupled to the window pan and being configured to receive heat from the solar radiation. The system further includes a gas line thermally coupled to the heat receiving element with a heat transferring member the gas line having a liquid gas being configured to evaporate by the heat generated by the heat receiving element and to increase thereby pressure in the gas line. The system further includes 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.

A system for producing electricity from solar energy is provided. The system includes a window pan for installing on building such that solar radiation impinges thereon, a heat receiving element coupled to the window pan and being configured to receive heat from the solar radiation. The system further includes a gas line thermally coupled to the heat receiving element with a heat transferring member the gas line having a liquid gas being configured to evaporate by the heat generated by the heat receiving element and to increase thereby pressure in the gas line. The system further includes 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.

Methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces to enable the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems. The methods may be in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal). In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all. In some instances the invention reduces the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

Methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces to enable the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems. The methods may be in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal). In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all. In some instances the invention reduces the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

Technologies are disclosed herein for a thin heat exchanger through which coolant may be pumped. The heat exchanger may include an envelope and a heat conduction layer provided over the envelope. The envelope may include one or more channels formed therein. The channels formed between the envelope and the conduction layer may extend the length of the heat exchange layer and be configured to carry coolant therethrough. The heat exchange layer may include an inlet manifold on a first end and an outlet manifold on another end opposing the first end. The inlet manifold may allow the flow of coolant into the heat exchange layer and the outlet manifold may allow the removal of the coolant from the heat exchange layer. Coolant flow may be controlled by a suction pump operating under computer control based at least in part on sensor data.

A plate heat exchanger for solar heating includes a plurality of channels extending between an inlet and an outlet for conducting a heat transferring fluid. The plurality of channels is defined between a first plate and a second plate, the first and second plates being formed by stainless steel. Each of the plurality of channels has a single-curved extension between the inlet and the outlet as seen in a plane corresponding to the major surface extension of the first and second plates. Each of the plurality of channels has along at least a portion of its longitudinal extension a triangular or a chamfered triangular cross-section or a parallelogram or a chamfered parallelogram cross-section. The side walls of two adjacent channels define an angle corresponding to, or smaller than, 100 degrees and more preferred smaller than 90 degrees.

A solar panel bracket with a water conducting function for carrying a plurality of solar photovoltaic panels, comprising: a plurality of first brackets, each of the first brackets is arranged in parallel with each other, each of the first brackets has a first water conducting groove; a plurality of second brackets, each of the second brackets is arranged in parallel with each other, each of the second brackets has a second water conducting groove, the second brackets and the first brackets are arranged perpendicular to each other, and the second brackets and the first brackets surround to form a plurality of square spaces, the solar photovoltaic panels are arranged on the square spaces; and a plurality of third water conducting groove groups, each of the third water conducting groove groups is disposed on the side of each of the first brackets, and each of the third water conducting groove group has a third water conducting groove, and the second water conducting grooves communicate with the third water conducting grooves.

A complex energy generation device using sunlight and solar heat includes: a heat storage tube having, at a first side portion thereof, an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and having, at a second side portion thereof, an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit at a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface thereof; and a heat radiation panel having an upper portion inserted into the heat storage tube through the slit of the heat storage tube while sealing the slit, and a lower portion laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel.