A novel method is described for water heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored solar heat can then be used to heat water in a storage tank by extracting the solar heat using an antifreeze liquid which in turn heat cold water in the water tank. Water temperature in the storage tank is controlled by a thermostat. When the water temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating pump turns on and pump the cold water until it reaches the desired set temperature. Once it reaches the set point in the thermostat, the water circulation pump turns off.

A novel method is described for water heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored solar heat can then be used to heat water in a storage tank by extracting the solar heat using an antifreeze liquid which in turn heat cold water in the water tank. Water temperature in the storage tank is controlled by a thermostat. When the water temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating pump turns on and pump the cold water until it reaches the desired set temperature. Once it reaches the set point in the thermostat, the water circulation pump turns off.

An optical device and systems using an optical device are provided, where the optical device may be configured for collimating incoming light rays. The optical device may include a host medium substantially comprised of a transparent material and an array of substantially transparent structures embedded within the host medium. The structures of the array each include a convex side presented to the incoming light rays and a concave side that passes light rays through toward the output face of the host medium, collimating the rays. Multiple stages of arrays may be provided in the optical device, typically with lengthening aspect ratios and increasing indexes of refraction in a direction from the input face toward the output face. The systems may use the optical device for using an exterior light to illuminate an interior space in a building or to generate power.

A mobile solar charging facility. The present invention relates to power supply and charging techniques for a mobile electric apparatus during movement, and in particular to such a facility having a combined technique of a solar photovoltaic battery and solar thermal power generation, and matching techniques and extended applications related to light compensation, energy storage, etc. The present invention is aimed at solving the problem of charging an electric vehicle when traveling. A highly cost-effective solar power source is used for power supply. The technical solutions of a contact rail and a collector shoe are used for mobile power supply and charging. An arc extinction circuit and an energy storage super-capacitor are provided in a line, and a safety protection measure is provided. A condenser lens and a compensation lens which can increase a power generation amount and do not need to be tracked as provided for solar power generation.

A solar collector 1 for the temporary storage of heat from solar radiation comprising a radiation conductor 8, 9 for conducting the solar radiation, and lens means 7 for concentrating solar radiation onto a first extremity of the radiation conductor. A thermally-insulated core 2 is provided on an opposite second extremity of the radiation conductor 8, 9 in order to be heated by the solar radiation released from the radiation conductor and temporarily storing the heat. For this purpose, the core is provided with an insulated casing 4, virtually completely enveloping the core, which insulated casing 4 comprises a layer of porous ceramic material.

A hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panel based cogeneration system and heat pump and non-tracking non-imaging solar concentrator based CSP stabilized power generation system comprises a hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panel based cogeneration subsystem to cogenerate electricity and heat, a heat pump subsystem to raise the temperature of the cogenerated heat, a non-tracking non-imaging solar concentrator based CSP subsystem to further upgrade the cogenerated thermal energy, a thermal storage to store the cogenerated heat, and a thermal power regeneration system to take the stored cogenerated heat to regenerate power. The power output of the cogeneration subsystem supplemented with the power output from the thermal power regeneration system realizes stabilized power output.

A photovoltaic intensification system includes a solar array stand, further including a mounting base; a mounting column; a solar array frame, a solar array, solar array lenses or reflectors, a light sensor, an elevation actuator, and a horizontal actuator; and a solar system cart, further including: a cart enclosure, a radiant solar cooker chamber, cart reflectors, and cart wheels. Further included are a vertical tilt ring, a strong-arm rod, a mass pivot rod, an elevation actuating ring, a horizontal tilt ring, and mounting brackets. A power and control system for photovoltaic intensification further includes a battery charger, a battery, an A/C inverter, a solar control unit, a remote control, a thermo electric freezer component, and a heat exchanger. A solar control unit includes a light sensor control circuit and a temperature control circuit, or a processor, a non-transitory memory, an input/output, an actuator controller, and a temperature controller.

An inflatable divergent Fresnel lens and non-imaging CPC based non-tracking high concentration ratio solar concentrator system comprises a flexible domed divergent Fresnel lens, and an inflatable non-imaging CPC concentrator with a domed transparent top cover and a flat transparent bottom cover. Where, the flexible domed divergent Fresnel lens is attached onto the said domed transparent cover of the said inflatable non-imaging CPC concentrator. When in operation, the oblique incident sunlight including beam light and diffuse light onto the domed divergent Fresnel lens, is deflected to change its direction, and consequently change its original incident angle relative to the said CPC concentrator from large to small, then eventually fall in the acceptance half-angle to be concentrated by the said CPC in large concentration ratio.

The invention relates to a device for the utilization of solar energy which contains a row of absorbing members (2) arranged in a rigid lamella (1), each of the absorbing members containing an optical lens (21) and an absorbing means (20) coupled to it in an optical axis. The absorbing members (2) are oscillatingly mounted in a support bar (11) of the rigid lamella (1) which is fixedly mounted in a longitudinal frame (10). The absorbing members (2) are jointly deflectable in relation to the rigid lamella (1) by means of a movable guide bar (3) located below the support bar (11) of the rigid lamella (1) and are coupled with the absorbing means (20).

A photovoltaic array includes a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row having a pivot axis parallel to the row. Each cell has a lens which has a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic array further includes a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements and a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements configured to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.