Chinese ink is applied on various materials and stabilized by atomic layer deposition to fabricate solar steam generation devices. The encapsulated ink has excellent photothermal properties and evaporation efficiency under simulated sunlight, holding great promise in solar evaporation device applications.

Chinese ink is applied on various materials and stabilized by atomic layer deposition to fabricate solar steam generation devices. The encapsulated ink has excellent photothermal properties and evaporation efficiency under simulated sunlight, holding great promise in solar evaporation device applications.

The invention provides in some aspects a thermal energy collection system comprising a first solar collector through which a first heat transfer fluid flows to absorb energy from sunlight as it passes through the first solar collector, and a second solar collector that collects energy from sunlight that has passed through the first solar collector. The first heat transfer fluid of the thermal energy collection system according to these aspects of the invention is in thermal coupling with the first solar collector, but not with the second solar collector. In other aspects, the invention provides a radiator system, comprising a multi-wall panel, an interior of which is in fluid coupling with, and that forms part of, a fluid circuit through which a first heat transfer fluid flows. A reflective surface is disposed in a vicinity of a second face of the multi-wall panel. Still other aspects of the invention provide a reflective film solar energy collector and a solar energy absorber.

The invention provides in some aspects a thermal energy collection system comprising a first solar collector through which a first heat transfer fluid flows to absorb energy from sunlight as it passes through the first solar collector, and a second solar collector that collects energy from sunlight that has passed through the first solar collector. The first heat transfer fluid of the thermal energy collection system according to these aspects of the invention is in thermal coupling with the first solar collector, but not with the second solar collector. In other aspects, the invention provides a radiator system, comprising a multi-wall panel, an interior of which is in fluid coupling with, and that forms part of, a fluid circuit through which a first heat transfer fluid flows. A reflective surface is disposed in a vicinity of a second face of the multi-wall panel. Still other aspects of the invention provide a reflective film solar energy collector and a solar energy absorber.

A medium-deep non-interference geothermal heating system based on loose siltstone geology includes a water return pipe and a water inlet pipe. The system further includes a differential pressure overflow pipe, a gauge, a differential pressure controller, a first high area water return pipe, a first water return pipe, a third water return pipe, a bypass pipe, a high area water supply pipe, a second high area water return pipe, a geothermal well water return pipe, a geothermal well water supply pipe, a heat pump unit, a second water return pipe, a water supply pipe, a geothermal well water pump, a first geothermal well water supply pipe, a first geothermal well water return pipe, a second geothermal well water return pipe, a second geothermal well water supply pipe, a geothermal wellhead device, and a geothermal well that are combined for use.

A medium-deep non-interference geothermal heating system based on loose siltstone geology includes a water return pipe and a water inlet pipe. The system further includes a differential pressure overflow pipe, a gauge, a differential pressure controller, a first high area water return pipe, a first water return pipe, a third water return pipe, a bypass pipe, a high area water supply pipe, a second high area water return pipe, a geothermal well water return pipe, a geothermal well water supply pipe, a heat pump unit, a second water return pipe, a water supply pipe, a geothermal well water pump, a first geothermal well water supply pipe, a first geothermal well water return pipe, a second geothermal well water return pipe, a second geothermal well water supply pipe, a geothermal wellhead device, and a geothermal well that are combined for use.

A thermal cell panel system for heating and cooling using a refrigerant includes a plurality of solar thermal cell chambers, and a piping network for a flow of the refrigerant through the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. In addition, the system includes a compressor having a motor coupled to a variable frequency drive (“VFD”), where the compressor is coupled to the piping network upstream of the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers and the VFD is configured to adjust a speed of the motor in response to the pressure of the refrigerant within the plurality of solar thermal cell chambers. The piping network includes an inlet manifold coupled to the inlet of each solar thermal cell chamber, and an outlet manifold coupled to the outlet of each solar cell chamber.

A solar heating system for heating domestic water or a heat transfer heating fluid has at least one external heating element which receives solar energy. The heating element is in the form of a panel which is formed by a first plate and a second plate which is connected to the first plate, the first and second plates being symmetrically profiled so as to form, outside contact zones between the first plate and the second plate, a flow channel for the passage of the domestic water or the heat transfer heating fluid which is to be heated and which flows in the panel. The first plate and second plate are deep-drawn from steel and connected to each other by laser welding over the entire surface of the contact zones. At least one of the first plate or the second plate has been subjected to surface texturing by laser processing.

A solar heating system for heating domestic water or a heat transfer heating fluid has at least one external heating element which receives solar energy. The heating element is in the form of a panel which is formed by a first plate and a second plate which is connected to the first plate, the first and second plates being symmetrically profiled so as to form, outside contact zones between the first plate and the second plate, a flow channel for the passage of the domestic water or the heat transfer heating fluid which is to be heated and which flows in the panel. The first plate and second plate are deep-drawn from steel and connected to each other by laser welding over the entire surface of the contact zones. At least one of the first plate or the second plate has been subjected to surface texturing by laser processing.

An interconnected open-pore 2.5D Cu/CuO foam-based photothermal evaporator capable of achieving a high evaporation rate of 4.1 kg m.sup.-2 h.sup.-1 under one sun illumination by exposing one end of the planar structure to air is disclosed. The micro-sized open-pore structure of Cu/CuO foam allows it to trap incident sunlight, and the densely distributed blade-like CuO nanostructures effectively scatter sunlight inside pores simultaneously. The inherent hydrophilicity of CuO and capillarity forces from the porous structure of Cu foam continuously supply sufficient water. Moreover, the doubled working sides of Cu/CuO foam enlarge the exposure area enabling efficient vapor diffusion. The feasible fabrication process and the combined structural features of Cu/CuO foam offer new insight into the future development of solar-driven evaporators in large-scale applications with practical durability.