A system comprises: at least one heat exchange panel (700) comprising: a main body (100) comprising a sealed cavity in which is provided a fluid in both liquid and gas phases and being configured to communicate heat energy by allowing evaporation of the liquid at one location and condensation of the liquid at a different location in the cavity; and at least a first heat exchanger part (130, 210a, 211a) including an inlet and an outlet for allowing the passing of fluid through the heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger part being thermally coupled to the heat spreading part so as to communicate heat energy between fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger part and the heat spreading part and thus the environment in which the heat spreading part is present. A controller is configured to cause control of pumps and valves to as to cause the system to operate in a number of different modes of operation, wherein the system is operable in an active heating mode of operation in which the controller controls the heat pump, the one or more fluid pumps and the valves to provide the system with: a first fluid circuit in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchange panel and a first side of the heat pump, a second fluid circuit in which fluid is pumped through the heat tank and the second side of the heat pump, and transfer by the heat pump of heat energy from the first fluid circuit to the second fluid circuit.

A solar power generation system according to the present invention comprises heat pipes which are arranged radially on the outer peripheral surface of an absorber to increase heat transfer effectiveness between the absorber and the heat pipes, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency. Also, the solar power generation system has the advantage of operating the system more stably and efficiently even in suddenly changing weather conditions, due to the improved heat transfer efficiency and capability to store heat for a specific amount of time. In addition, when the heat pipes are extrapolated onto the absorber, heat can be transferred more effectively by increasing contact surface area with between the absorber and the heat pipes. Furthermore, heat can be transferred more effectively by increasing the contact surface area by coupling the heat pipes to a heat exchange portion through a block-coupling technique.

A wall module used to retrofit any existing building into solar building or construct new solar building is made of a hybrid photovoltaic and solar thermal plate, a heat pipe, a solid thermal energy storage, a glass cover, and a heat-pump system. When the incident sunlight penetrating through the transparent glass cover reaches to the cogeneration plate, portion of it is converted into electricity and the rest becomes into heat; then the heat is transferred back to the solid thermal storage; when it is needed for heating and cooling, the stored heat is retrieved and transported to its destination with heat pump system; during the transportation process, the temperature of the stored heat is boosted up. Any buildings, no matter existing building or new building, can be converted into a large scale solar power generation and storage station using the wall modules of present invention without changing their structures and functions. As the buildings share the insulation with the wall modules, the addition of the wall modules will significantly improve the encapsulation of the buildings. The wall modules change the whole body of building into large scale storage without occupying the interior space of the building.

A wall module used to retrofit any existing building into solar building or construct new solar building is made of a hybrid photovoltaic and solar thermal plate, a heat pipe, a solid thermal energy storage, a glass cover, and a heat-pump system. When the incident sunlight penetrating through the transparent glass cover reaches to the cogeneration plate, portion of it is converted into electricity and the rest becomes into heat; then the heat is transferred back to the solid thermal storage; when it is needed for heating and cooling, the stored heat is retrieved and transported to its destination with heat pump system; during the transportation process, the temperature of the stored heat is boosted up. Any buildings, no matter existing building or new building, can be converted into a large scale solar power generation and storage station using the wall modules of present invention without changing their structures and functions. As the buildings share the insulation with the wall modules, the addition of the wall modules will significantly improve the encapsulation of the buildings. The wall modules change the whole body of building into large scale storage without occupying the interior space of the building.

A method for improving the efficiency of a solar heating system based on absorbing heat from solar radiation into the outer surface of a concrete wall. The heat transfer device makes use of a fluid in a tube system to transfer heat from the outside of the wall to the inside of the wall. The inside wall is then used to heat air that is passed over it, and that air is then used to heat up a heat storage system.

Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

Disclosed is a building envelope for a building wall, floor, or roof of a building, the building envelope comprising at least two shells spaced apart from one another that enclose an intermediate space there between, the intermediate space being sealed against the interior and the exterior of the building and being filled with structural weight-bearing and building-technology components, and at least in sections with a porous, open-celled 3D-pattern material. A plurality of heat pipes which are connected to a heat-collector element on the shell facing the exterior and the interior of the building and which end in the intermediate space are arranged in the intermediate space.

Disclosed is a building envelope for a building wall, floor, or roof of a building, the building envelope comprising at least two shells spaced apart from one another that enclose an intermediate space there between, the intermediate space being sealed against the interior and the exterior of the building and being filled with structural weight-bearing and building-technology components, and at least in sections with a porous, open-celled 3D-pattern material. A plurality of heat pipes which are connected to a heat-collector element on the shell facing the exterior and the interior of the building and which end in the intermediate space are arranged in the intermediate space.

A concentrator tube comprises a reflector portion having two walls; and an aperture closing an opening to the reflector portion. The aperture and the reflector portion extend longitudinally. The aperture is substantially flat relative to curvature of the reflector portion.