A solar collector is provided. The collector comprises a monolithic flow control component to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid between an inlet and outlet; and a solar absorber supported by the monolithic flow control component. The monolithic flow control component is able to support the solar absorber without any additional structural components to lend mechanical strength to the monolithic flow control component.

A solar collector is provided. The collector comprises a monolithic flow control component to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid between an inlet and outlet; and a solar absorber supported by the monolithic flow control component. The monolithic flow control component is able to support the solar absorber without any additional structural components to lend mechanical strength to the monolithic flow control component.

Omnivorous solar thermal thrusters and adjustable cooling structures are disclosed. In one aspect, a solar thermal rocket engine includes a solar thermal thruster configured to receive solar energy and one or more propellants, and heat the one or more propellants using the solar energy to generate thrust. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use a plurality of different propellant types, either singly or in combination simultaneously. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use the one or more propellants in both liquid and gaseous states. Related structures can include valves and variable-geometry cooling channels in thermal contact with a thruster wall.

The present disclosure provides a solar heat absorber including: an inlet through which a heat collecting medium enters the solar heat absorber; a passage member configured to be fluidly connected with the inlet such that the heat collecting medium enters the passage member through the inlet; and a collection member configured to be fluidly connected with the passage member such that the heat collecting medium enters the collection member through the passage member. In the solar heat absorber according to the present disclosure, the ceramic particles are used as the heat collecting medium. In addition, the present disclosure also provides a solar heat collecting system including the solar heat absorber, and a solar power generation system including the solar heat collecting system.

The present disclosure provides a solar heat absorber including: an inlet through which a heat collecting medium enters the solar heat absorber; a passage member configured to be fluidly connected with the inlet such that the heat collecting medium enters the passage member through the inlet; and a collection member configured to be fluidly connected with the passage member such that the heat collecting medium enters the collection member through the passage member. In the solar heat absorber according to the present disclosure, the ceramic particles are used as the heat collecting medium. In addition, the present disclosure also provides a solar heat collecting system including the solar heat absorber, and a solar power generation system including the solar heat collecting system.

A frame for a liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric includes two first frame parts lying opposite each other, where each first frame part is configured to lie against at least a first part of a peripheral edge of the 3D fabric and to close the fabric at least substantially liquid-tightly along the first part of the peripheral edge. An assembly with such a frame and liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric, where the first parts of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric are closed at least substantially liquid-tightly by the frame. A 3D fabric includes two main surfaces which are connected to each other along at least a part of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric.

A frame for a liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric includes two first frame parts lying opposite each other, where each first frame part is configured to lie against at least a first part of a peripheral edge of the 3D fabric and to close the fabric at least substantially liquid-tightly along the first part of the peripheral edge. An assembly with such a frame and liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric, where the first parts of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric are closed at least substantially liquid-tightly by the frame. A 3D fabric includes two main surfaces which are connected to each other along at least a part of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric.

A system including a photovoltaic panel having a first heat exchanger for absorbing heat from the panel and/or from the environment by a heat exchanging fluid, connected to a heat pump. A second heat exchanger is provided for absorbing heat by the heat exchanging fluid and a control means for controlling a flow of the heat exchanging fluid through the first heat exchanger and/or the second heat exchanger. The heat pump is arranged to cool the heat exchanging fluid. The system has the following operating modes: a first mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the first heat exchanger; and a second mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the second heat exchanger and then fed to the first heat exchanger.

A system including a photovoltaic panel having a first heat exchanger for absorbing heat from the panel and/or from the environment by a heat exchanging fluid, connected to a heat pump. A second heat exchanger is provided for absorbing heat by the heat exchanging fluid and a control means for controlling a flow of the heat exchanging fluid through the first heat exchanger and/or the second heat exchanger. The heat pump is arranged to cool the heat exchanging fluid. The system has the following operating modes: a first mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the first heat exchanger; and a second mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the second heat exchanger and then fed to the first heat exchanger.

The present invention provides a solar absorber incorporated bilayer foam solar evaporator for seawater and wastewater purification including a plurality of solar absorbers partially incorporated into a porous polymer framework and partially forming a thermal insulation layer proximal to solar irradiation. In particular, low-cost commercially available B.sub.4C powders are embedded into a porous polymer foam in a one-pot method to form a scaffold of boron carbide bilayer foam (BCBF) with good hydrophilic wettability, heat-shielding, and solar-thermal conversion. The boron carbide bilayer foam (BCBF) of the present invention enables a high cost-performance seawater desalination and wastewater purification at a high evaporation rate of 2.8 kg/m.sup.2/h with 93% solar evaporation efficiency under 1 sun illumination (or 1 kW/m.sup.2). The present invention thereby provides an excellent and cost-effective solar evaporator tool for industrial-level water purification. Following the present method to prepare the BCBF solar evaporator, the fabrication cost can be as low as 3.6 $/m.sup.2.