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.

Articles, systems, and methods in which electromagnetic energy is converted to heat (e.g., for the purpose of inducing or inhibiting phase change of a material disposed over a surface) are generally described.

Articles, systems, and methods in which electromagnetic energy is converted to heat (e.g., for the purpose of inducing or inhibiting phase change of a material disposed over a surface) are generally described.

Disclosed are apparatuses and methods of coating glass structures installed in the field, such as installed solar panels or greenhouse roof panels. In an embodiment, an applicator for applying a coating to a glass structure comprising a plurality of glass panels, comprises an arm for supporting a spraying unit and comprising an interface for a connection to a vehicle, and a spraying unit connected to the arm and comprising a plurality of nozzles for spraying a coating onto a surface of a glass panel, wherein the spraying unit is configured to spray a coating on at least substantially the entire width of a plurality of glass panels

Disclosed are methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces. In particular, the invention enables the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems since under certain conditions less energy for heating or cooling is required to maintain, within certain boundaries, desirable temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other enclosed spaces.

In some instances the invention is in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods and algorithms to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal).

In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all, whereas in other instances the expenditure of external energy for conventional heating or cooling is reduced. In some instances the invention enables the reduction of the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

Disclosed are methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces. In particular, the invention enables the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems since under certain conditions less energy for heating or cooling is required to maintain, within certain boundaries, desirable temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other enclosed spaces.

In some instances the invention is in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods and algorithms to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal).

In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all, whereas in other instances the expenditure of external energy for conventional heating or cooling is reduced. In some instances the invention enables the reduction of the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

A portable solar heating device that having a mat shaped flexible main body with bounded edges, the main body including a front flexible layer formed of a material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, a back flexible heat insulating layer, and a flexible electromagnetic radiation absorbing layer located between the front and back layer, the electromagnetic radiation absorbing layer including a plurality of protrusions extending towards the front flexible layer, at least one allowing ambient fluids into a fluid heating chamber located between the front layer and the electromagnetic radiation absorbing layer and at least one outlet allowing heated fluids to escape from the chamber, an electric fan attached to the outlet to assist in moving heated fluids out from the chamber, and at least one solar cell for powering the electric fan.

A portable solar heating device that having a mat shaped flexible main body with bounded edges, the main body including a front flexible layer formed of a material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, a back flexible heat insulating layer, and a flexible electromagnetic radiation absorbing layer located between the front and back layer, the electromagnetic radiation absorbing layer including a plurality of protrusions extending towards the front flexible layer, at least one allowing ambient fluids into a fluid heating chamber located between the front layer and the electromagnetic radiation absorbing layer and at least one outlet allowing heated fluids to escape from the chamber, an electric fan attached to the outlet to assist in moving heated fluids out from the chamber, and at least one solar cell for powering the electric fan.

Devices, systems, and methods relating to providing a portable, rechargeable vessel for collecting, storing, and recovering thermal energy are provided. In one aspect, vessel includes a structure defining a well and an open-top portion at the top of the well; a phase-change material, wherein the phase-change material is disposed in the well, the phase-change material being configured to change phase at temperature in the range of 110-700° C.; one or more thermally-conductive fins interleaved in the phase-change material; and a thermally-conductive heat transfer plate disposed at and substantially covering the open-top portion of the structure, in direct thermal contact with the one or more fins, thereby allowing the transfer plate to directly exchange thermal energy with the phase change material.

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 thermal cell chamber.