A compact, three-dimensional (3D) photovoltaic charging system comprising a photovoltaic unit encased in a transparent housing, a power management unit, and a support base. The photovoltaic unit having non-coplanar photovoltaic surfaces that are positioned at a relative distance and a relative orientation. Compared to conventional flat solar panels, the 3D photovoltaic charging system can collect light vertically, therefore amplifying solar module power density, defined as power output per installation footprint area. A photo-tracking, 3D photovoltaic charging system is also described, having a photovoltaic unit encased in a transparent housing, a power management unit, and means to track a source of electromagnetic radiation. The photo-tracking, 3D photovoltaic charging system tracks a moving light source, resulting in improved light flux intake, and therefore, enhanced electric power output.

An apparatus, system, and method of collecting solar energy having a variable position for optimizing sunlight collection and for use in a heating and/or cooling system. The system includes a solar collector apparatus, a collector support frame assembly, a sun position tracking apparatus, a fluid transfer pump, a fluid storage tank, an insulated pipe for connecting the fluid pump to the storage tank and the solar collector, a differential temperature controller, and a safety override relay controller. The system includes a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing having an aluminum welded tube as reinforcement and method of making PEX tubing having an inner PEX layer and an outer polyethylene layer with an intermediate aluminum tube enveloped by adhesive layers for joining the inner and outer polyethylene layers with the aluminum tube. Carbon black particles are included in the outer layer of polyethylene material.

A method of determining pathogen inactivation may include performing an energy balance on a fluid heating system. Performing an energy balance may include calculating temperatures of a fluid at a plurality of locations as the fluid flows through the fluid heating system. The method of determining pathogen inactivation may also include receiving inactivation kinetic data regarding a pathogen present in the fluid and determining pathogen inactivation amounts based on exposure to the temperatures. Performing an energy balance may include receiving a plurality of input parameters relating to the fluid heating system. The plurality of input parameters may relate to a solar collection system and an associated fluid control system. The solar collection system may include a parabolic mirror and the fluid control system may include an elongated flow element arranged along a focal axis of the parabolic mirror.

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.

The invention relates to an apparatus for reflecting incident light, in particular sunlight, comprising a plurality of reflector units arranged next to one another, in particular next to one another in two directions, each reflector unit comprising at least one reflector surface (4), wherein the reflector surfaces (4) of all of the reflector units are pivotable, wherein each reflector unit (2, 3, 4, 5) comprises a rod (3) and comprises a reflector surface (4) fastened at the upper free end of the rod (3) and a lower spherical hinge (5) at the lower end of the rod (3), with which hinge the rod (3) is connected in articulated fashion to a movable coupling element (6), which is common to all of the reflector units (2, 3, 4, 5), and comprises a spherical hinge (2) in an intermediate region between the upper end and the lower end of the rod (3), said hinge connecting, in articulated fashion, the rod (3) to a stationary base element (1) which is common to all of the reflector units (2, 3, 4, 5) and bearing each reflector unit (2, 3, 4, 5) movably about a dedicated stationary hinge center point thereof and wherein, owing to the movement of the coupling element (6) arranged beneath the base element (1), the reflector surfaces (4) of all of the reflector units (2, 3, 4, 5) are movable simultaneously in the same direction and to the same extent.

The tracking device of the present disclosure includes a platform, support structure, and a cylinder. The cylinder comprises a plunger, an interior space, an aperture, and a fluid within the cylinder. Forward actuation of the plunger within the interior space the fluid to be pushed through the aperture. The platform is operably connected to the plunger, so that movement of the plunger causes the platform to rotate about a pivot point of the support structure. The tracking device can have a solar panel connected to the platform. The tracking device can also be used in any application where tracking would be of use, such as for surveillance, or time-lapse photography.

A solar panel that attains very low cost/Watt objectives is achieved by applying an optical concentrator with planar symmetry in combination with a simple 1-axis tracking system. The concentrator uses a Cassegrain optical system to provide moderate concentration factors that can be adjusted by varying the ratio of the focal lengths of the concave and convex reflecting surfaces. Concentrator dimensions can be scaled to any convenient size. They can be arrayed in parallel to form a solar panel that has the same form factor as a 1-sun solar panel. One-axis tracking is achieved by simply rotating the collector elements in synchronism so the sun is maintained in the plane of symmetry for each of the collector elements that comprise the panel.

An solar energy harvester and method for controlling the solar energy harvester, in which an insolation collector is formed of one or more elements each having two opposite major sides, a first side and a second side, and being configured to collect energy from insolation incident on any of the first and second sides. A cradle enables installation of the insolation collector on a roof with the first side generally towards the sun independently of the form of the roof. One or more heliostats reflect insolation to the second side of the insolation collector. A controller controls the one or more heliostats to maintain reflected insolation incident on the collector and to decrease the reflected insolation incident on the collector when necessary to inhibit the insolation collector receiving insolation exceeding given threshold through its first and second sides.

A light-concentrating lens assembly for a solar energy system, the assembly comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged paraboloid mirror reflectors, a conical light guide extending below the plurality of paraboloid mirror reflectors, an inner central cone disposed along a central axis of the concentrically arranged paraboloid mirror reflectors, and a compound paraboloid concentrator disposed beneath the inner central cone.

The invention is directed to a solar tracking apparatus that with permanent adjustment for latitude and pre-operation seasonal adjustment, when aimed at the Sun, will with rotation alone, track the Sun. The apparatus defines a permanently polar axis aligned shaft which rotates by the force of a weighted hydraulic timed drive continuously or intermittently at a rate simulating the apparent approximate fifteen degree per hour movement of the Sun across the sky. A two-ended carriage is fitted with a Fresnel lens or other solar concentrating or collecting element on one end and a targeted receiver is fitted to the other end. The carriage is adjustably mounted to about twenty three degrees either side of perpendicular to the polar aligned shaft thus focusing and concentrating the solar radiation on a receiving device, which stores the solar energy in the form of heat.