A system and method for collecting solar energy wherein the system comprising a tower formed having a plurality of stories, the tower formed of a plurality of structural members extending between hub connectors to form a space frame providing a vertical airflow path therethrough and a plurality of solar panels secured to an outside periphery of the tower. The method comprises providing a tower formed having a plurality of stories, the tower formed of a plurality of structural members extending between hub connectors to form a space frame providing a vertical airflow path therethrough and securing a plurality of solar panels to and around an outside periphery of the tower.

A dry cooling system can include: a heat source flow duct; an air duct disposed over the heat source flow duct; an opening between the heat source flow duct and the air duct such that an air flows through the opening; and a heat pipe including an evaporator section disposed in the heat source flow duct and a condenser section disposed in the air duct. The air can flow from the opening to the condenser section.

A solar power generation system according to the present invention comprises a heat pipe arranged so as to come into close contact with an absorption module, for absorbing heat from the absorption module and directly transferring heat to a heat conversion electricity generator, and thereby has the advantages of rendering the system compact by simplifying a heat transfer structure and more effectively transferring heat by increasing contact surface area with the absorption module. Also, ample heat storage space is secured by forming the heat pipe to have a larger volume (heat capacity) than an absorption heat pipe in the absorption module so that an ample heat source can be provided by the heat conversion electricity generator, even during weather conditions when solar radiation can fluctuate suddenly, thereby allowing more stable and efficient operation of the system.

The present invention cools fluid by thermosyphon to prevent overheating at a flowing-fluid-heating device, such as a solar collector, when forced circulation stops. The introduction of the fluidic diode in the present invention affords more overheat protection system design options, higher reliability, and the opportunity to manufacture solar collectors of less expensive alternative materials.

The present invention cools fluid by thermosyphon to prevent overheating at a flowing-fluid-heating device, such as a solar collector, when forced circulation stops. The introduction of the fluidic diode in the present invention affords more overheat protection system design options, higher reliability, and the opportunity to manufacture solar collectors of less expensive alternative materials.