A system for energy conversion including photoluminescent (PL) material for absorbing solar radiation and emitting PL radiation, a solar concentrator for concentrating solar radiation on the PL material, photovoltaic (PV) material configured to absorb the PL radiation, and a chamber for containing the PL material and Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF), and further including the system configured to pipe the HTF from the chamber to a system for conversion of HTF heat to energy. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

A system for energy conversion including photoluminescent (PL) material for absorbing solar radiation and emitting PL radiation, a solar concentrator for concentrating solar radiation on the PL material, photovoltaic (PV) material configured to absorb the PL radiation, and a chamber for containing the PL material and Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF), and further including the system configured to pipe the HTF from the chamber to a system for conversion of HTF heat to energy. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

The invention provides a SolarHearth, a passive solar heating system that includes a work of art that can be mounted on a building, to bring warmed air into the building. The system includes a heat exchange chamber having a display window that contains the work of art, and is is configured to create a passive solar environment to create a natural vacuum. The system further includes means for moving air through the heat exchange chamber, such as an air plenum or fans.

The invention provides a SolarHearth, a passive solar heating system that includes a work of art that can be mounted on a building, to bring warmed air into the building. The system includes a heat exchange chamber having a display window that contains the work of art, and is is configured to create a passive solar environment to create a natural vacuum. The system further includes means for moving air through the heat exchange chamber, such as an air plenum or fans.

A selectively-absorbing material includes a silicone polymer and transition-metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed therein. Each of the transition-metal oxide nanoparticles includes manganese. A solar receiver includes (i) a metal substrate including an etched surface having a microroughness between 0.05 micrometers and two micrometers; (ii) a polymer matrix disposed on the etched surface; and (iii) transition-metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix. A method for producing transition-metal oxide nanoparticles includes recrystallizing a plurality of two-element nanoparticles at a temperature between 300 and 700° C. The plurality of two-element nanoparticles includes at least two of (i) copper oxide nanoparticles, (ii) manganese oxide nanoparticles, and (iii) iron oxide nanoparticles. A method for fabricating a selective-absorber includes etching a top surface of a metal substrate; depositing a polymer-matrix composite on the etched top surface; and interdiffusing the polymer-matrix composite and the metal substrate. The polymer-matrix composite includes transition-metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed therein.

The receiver (25,50,100,120) according to the invention is provided with the heating area (26) for heating a heat-transporting medium, which has an optical opening (3) for sunlight, an absorber (27, 51) absorbing the sunlight arranged within the path of the incidental sunlight and with a transport arrangement for the transport of the medium through the heating area, wherein the absorber (27, 52) is designed as a blackbody radiation arrangement with reduced convection and the transport arrangement (29) for the transport of a gas is designed as a heat-transporting medium. By means of this, the receiver can be designed in a simpler and more reliable manner.

The receiver (25,50,100,120) according to the invention is provided with the heating area (26) for heating a heat-transporting medium, which has an optical opening (3) for sunlight, an absorber (27, 51) absorbing the sunlight arranged within the path of the incidental sunlight and with a transport arrangement for the transport of the medium through the heating area, wherein the absorber (27, 52) is designed as a blackbody radiation arrangement with reduced convection and the transport arrangement (29) for the transport of a gas is designed as a heat-transporting medium. By means of this, the receiver can be designed in a simpler and more reliable manner.

A solar thermal cladding structure includes a frame, a membrane extending along the frame, the membrane having a first layer and a second layer, and an inflation blower connected to the membrane and in fluid communication with a space between the first layer and the second layer of the membrane. The frame includes a plurality of connectors and a plurality of beam struts. The plurality of connectors connect the plurality of beam struts together.

A solar thermal cladding structure includes a frame, a membrane extending along the frame, the membrane having a first layer and a second layer, and an inflation blower connected to the membrane and in fluid communication with a space between the first layer and the second layer of the membrane. The frame includes a plurality of connectors and a plurality of beam struts. The plurality of connectors connect the plurality of beam struts together.

A carbon dioxide collection system having a release enclosure, a capture structure, and a chimney is disclosed. The release enclosure includes a sorbent regeneration system. The capture structure includes a sorbent material, and is movable between collection and release configurations. The chimney is shaped such that an airflow upward through the chimney is created. The chimney is positioned above the release enclosure such that the airflow passes through the capture structure while in the collection configuration. The collection configuration includes the capture structure being elevated above the release enclosure so the sorbent material is exposed to the airflow generated by the chimney, allowing the sorbent material to capture CO.sub.2 from the airflow. The release configuration includes the capture structure being sufficiently enclosed inside the release enclosure that the sorbent regeneration system may operate on the sorbent material to release CO.sub.2 collected by the capture structure to form an enriched fluid.