A metal composition suitable for originating a joint by means of welding with a borosilicate glass for a solar collector. The composition, expressed in weight percentage, comprises the following alloy elements: TABLE-US-00001 Ni Co Mn Si C Ti Zr Ta Ti + Zr + Ta 28-31 15-18 0.5 0.3 0.05 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.40
and it is such that 45.5(Ni+Co)46.5, and that (Ti+Ta+Zr)4C, the remaining part being made up of iron, apart from the inevitable impurities. Additionally, a metal ring made of the metal composition described above and suitable for originating a metal-glass joint by means of welding; the metal-glass joint thus obtained; and the tubular solar collector thus obtained.

A method for full spectrum solar thermal energy harvesting and collection includes storing a first heat in a phase change material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, harvesting a second heat from the phase change material in the presence of solar radiation, storing molecular energy in a molecular storage material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, transferring the second heat from the phase change material to the molecular storage material in the absence of solar radiation, and harvesting the molecular energy released by the molecular storage material.

A water supply and heating system that includes a flexible water tank, a flexible heating carpet and an electrical connection mechanism. The water tank includes a flexible outer layer and separable inflatable and collapsible water bag. The water bag is equipped with a water inlet and outlet hoses for receiving supplying water. The water bag is positioned inside the outer layer and is designed to remain collapsed when and to inflate when filled with water. The outer layer too is designed to inflate when the water bag is filled with the water and to deflate when the water is drained from the water bag. A dry space is defined between the outer layer and the water bag in which the heating carpet is positioned. The heating carpet includes flexible flat electrical heating strips that are connected to the electrical connection mechanism.

A modular inliner assembly can be used in a centrifugal particle receiver to facilitate the formation of a particle film. The modular inliner assembly may include a plurality of inliner tiles coupled to a rotating shell of the centrifugal particle receiver. Each inliner tile may include an inliner panel and a spacer extending from the inliner panel to the shell. An insulation module may be disposed between the inliner panels and the shell. A protection module may be disposed between the inliner panel and the insulation module to reduce wear of the insulation module. The top surface of each inliner panel can include surface features such as recessed slots. Two opposing ends of the inliner panel may include non-linear edges. The non-linear edge pattern on each of the two opposing ends may be different. A consistent gap between inliner panels can be maintained between the non-linear edges.

The invention concerns a multilayer material comprising at least: a support having a reflectance R higher than 80% for radiations of wavelengths higher than 5 m, a selective layer comprising a combination of Vanadium oxides VO.sub.2 and VO.sub.2O.sub.2n+/1, with n>1, said selective layer having an absorbance higher than 75% for radiations of wavelengths comprised between 0.4 and 2.5 m, regardless of the temperature T, and having, for radiations of wavelengths comprised between 6 and 10 m, a transmittance Tr such that: Tr>85% for T<Tc, a critical temperature, 20%Tr50% for T>Tc. Application to the production of thermal solar panels having a low stagnation temperature and high performance.

A holding element made of a sheet metal for at least one solar element, more particularly a solar module and/or solar collector, with a base that forms a support surface for the holding element, with two supports for the solar element that protrude up from the base at different heights, and with connecting elements, which are provided on ends of the holding element is disclosed, which has at least one, more particularly hole-shaped, opening and at least one tab, which tab is shaped for being inserted into such an opening. In order to be able to easily install a highly rugged holding element, it is proposed for at least one opening and at least one tab to be respectively provided next to each other on each of the ends, wherein the sheet metal is a metallically coated, more particularly hot-dip coated, sheet steel.

A solar-thermal conversion member includes a -FeSi.sub.2 phase material. The solar-thermal conversion member exhibits a high absorptance for visible light at wavelengths of several hundred nm and a low absorptance for infrared light at wavelengths of several thousand nm and, as a consequence, efficiently absorbs visible light at wavelengths of several hundred nm and converts the same into heat and exhibits little thermal radiation due to thermal emission at temperatures of several hundred C. The solar-thermal conversion member may therefore efficiently absorb sunlight, provide heat, and prevent thermal radiation due to thermal emission.

A holding element made of a sheet metal for at least one solar element, more particularly a solar module and/or solar collector, with a base that forms a support surface for the holding element, with two supports for the solar element that protrude up from the base at different heights, and with connecting elements, which are provided on ends of the holding element is disclosed, which has at least one, more particularly hole-shaped, opening and at least one tab, which tab is shaped for being inserted into such an opening. In order to be able to easily install a highly rugged holding element, it is proposed for at least one opening and at least one tab to be respectively provided next to each other on each of the ends, wherein the sheet metal is a metallically coated, more particularly hot-dip coated, sheet steel.