A modular solar air heater comprises an extruded metal frame having fingers operable to secure a glazing, an absorber, and an insulating back sheet to the frame. The heater may also operate as a cooler. The heater further comprises an active air circulation system, such as a fan, which may be coupled with an air inlet of the heater. The heater has an air outlet and may further include a bypass channel to direct the airflow alternatively through one or both the bypass channel and the air outlet. A heating element and a cooling element may be coupled with the air outlet to further heat and also cool the air through the air outlet, respectively. A photovoltaic panel may be included to provide electrical power to the heater.

A modular solar air heater comprises an extruded metal frame having fingers operable to secure a glazing, an absorber, and an insulating back sheet to the frame. The heater may also operate as a cooler. The heater further comprises an active air circulation system, such as a fan, which may be coupled with an air inlet of the heater. The heater has an air outlet and may further include a bypass channel to direct the airflow alternatively through one or both the bypass channel and the air outlet. A heating element and a cooling element may be coupled with the air outlet to further heat and also cool the air through the air outlet, respectively. A photovoltaic panel may be included to provide electrical power to the heater.

A thermal receiver, such as a solar flux thermal receiver, is disclosed comprising a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels or micropins to heat a working fluid by heat transfer. Disclosed solar receivers provide a much higher solar flux and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost, relative to known receivers. Unit cell receivers can be numbered up and combined in parallel to form modules, and modules combined to form full scale receivers.

A thermal receiver, such as a solar flux thermal receiver, is disclosed comprising a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels or micropins to heat a working fluid by heat transfer. Disclosed solar receivers provide a much higher solar flux and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost, relative to known receivers. Unit cell receivers can be numbered up and combined in parallel to form modules, and modules combined to form full scale receivers.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

A method of forming a thin film coating on sloped outdoor panel surfaces is disclosed. The method uses a thin-film coating applicator assembly for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative method of forming a thin-film coating may be adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

A method of forming a thin film coating on sloped outdoor panel surfaces is disclosed. The method uses a thin-film coating applicator assembly for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative method of forming a thin-film coating may be adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

A spectrally selective solar absorbing coating includes a multilayer stack including, from the substrate to the air interface: substrate (1), infrared reflective layer (2), barrier layer (3), composite absorbing layer (4) consisting of metal absorbing sublayer (4.1), metal nitride absorbing sublayer (4.2), and metal oxynitride absorbing sublayer (4.3), and antireflective layer (5). Therefore, the solar absorbing coating has good high and low temperature cycle stability and superior spectrum selectivity, with a steep transition zone between solar absorption and infrared reflection zones. It has a relatively high absorptance >95%, and a low thermal emissivity 4%, PC (performance criterion) =0.3. The solar absorbing multilayer stack can be obtained by reactively magnetron sputtering the metal target in argon or other inert gas with some amounts of gas containing oxygen or nitrogen or their combination.

A spectrally selective solar absorbing coating includes a multilayer stack including, from the substrate to the air interface: substrate (1), infrared reflective layer (2), barrier layer (3), composite absorbing layer (4) consisting of metal absorbing sublayer (4.1), metal nitride absorbing sublayer (4.2), and metal oxynitride absorbing sublayer (4.3), and antireflective layer (5). Therefore, the solar absorbing coating has good high and low temperature cycle stability and superior spectrum selectivity, with a steep transition zone between solar absorption and infrared reflection zones. It has a relatively high absorptance >95%, and a low thermal emissivity 4%, PC (performance criterion) =0.3. The solar absorbing multilayer stack can be obtained by reactively magnetron sputtering the metal target in argon or other inert gas with some amounts of gas containing oxygen or nitrogen or their combination.

A method of manufacturing a solar heat collection pipe includes an inner circumferential film forming step of forming an antireflection film on an inner surface of a glass pipe and an outer circumferential film forming step of forming an antireflection film on an outer surface of the glass pipe. These film forming steps are performed so that a part of a coating film through which a coating material is flowed when the coating material is discharged from the glass pipe in a coating material discharging step of the inner circumferential film forming step and a part of a coating film with which the coating material is in contact when the glass pipe is lifted from the coating material in a lifting step of the outer circumferential film forming step are positioned within a half circumference of the glass pipe in a circumferential direction of the glass pipe.