Disclosed is a building envelope for a building wall, floor, or roof of a building, the building envelope comprising at least two shells spaced apart from one another that enclose an intermediate space there between, the intermediate space being sealed against the interior and the exterior of the building and being filled with structural weight-bearing and building-technology components, and at least in sections with a porous, open-celled 3D-pattern material. A plurality of heat pipes which are connected to a heat-collector element on the shell facing the exterior and the interior of the building and which end in the intermediate space are arranged in the intermediate space.

A solar heat collector (100) is provided which has a plurality of upper air channels (3) arranged adjacently. A first flow control means (20) is provided at a first end of the upper air channels (3) and a second flow control means (20) is provided at a second end of the air channels (3). Each flow control means (20) is movable between a first position in which flow through the upper air channels (3) is substantially prevented and a second position wherein flow though the upper air channels (3) is permitted. Also described are a heat exchanger (100B), a fan (72), and a variety of flow modes.

A solar collector is provided. The collector comprises a monolithic flow control component to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid between an inlet and outlet; and a solar absorber supported by the monolithic flow control component. The monolithic flow control component is able to support the solar absorber without any additional structural components to lend mechanical strength to the monolithic flow control component.

A system and process for targeted simultaneous use of solar radiation to generate electricity, heat a liquid circuit, and reduce the heating of a building. The system uses the thermal energy in heated air. At least one solar cell module, together with at least one further element, forms a cavity on a rear side of the at least one solar cell module. Air is in the cavity and solar radiation incident on the at least one solar cell module heats the air in the cavity beneath solar shingles. The air heated is brought into contact with an air-liquid heat exchanger which is part of a liquid circuit designed for heating a refrigerant circuit, particularly a heat pump, and/or for heating an evaporator, particularly a heat pump, and/or a buffer storage tank, particularly a water-filled buffer storage.

A heat concentrator device for a solar power system includes an evacuated hollow body with a bottom, side walls, a top and an airtight cap. Portions of the side walls have inwardly reflective surfaces for concentrating solar radiation into the chamber toward a heat sink, which is positioned in the bottom of the chamber. The heat sink also is hollow and has an inlet port formed in one of its opposite side walls and an outlet port formed in the other for heat transfer fluid to flow into and out of the heat sink. Circuitous passageways form a maze that connects the inlet and outlet ports thus maximizing heat transfer to/from system fluid(s) within the heat sink. The sidewalls of the chamber of the device extend below the heat sink to form a partial vacuum chamber between its bottom and the heat sink. The device is mounted to a reflective dish of a solar power system in a unique way adding additional solar energy collection efficiencies.

A solar collector adapted to absorb thermal heating from the sun, wherein said solar collector comprises hollow sections adapted to house a medium. The solar collector is a self-supporting composite solar collector produced from a composite material constituted of at least a first and second material, wherein said first and second materials have equal or substantially equal coefficients of elasticity.

Reactors subject to large variations in temperatures are subject to thermal stresses that can lead to failure or process disruption. In the present invention, reactors designs are provided that protect the reactor from thermal stress. Thermal stress can be reduced by providing expansion joints, or varying wall thickness or stiffness to adjust for thermal expansion.

The present application discloses a method and an apparatus for solar power generation through gas volumetric heat absorption based on characteristic absorption spectrum. A radiation energy conversion device absorbs concentrated solar radiation and converts radiation energy into thermal energy; the thermal energy is transferred to the other side of the radiation energy conversion device and then is converted into radiation energy; and the energy is transferred in a receiver cavity. The working gas from the outlet of a recuperator flows into the receiver cavity and absorbs the radiation energy. The heated working gas with high temperature flows into a turbine, doing shaft work through expansion. The expanded working gas flows through the recuperator to exchange heat. The working gas flows into a cooler, a compressor and the recuperator in sequence, and then flows into a receiver cavity to be heated volumetrically, completing a thermal power cycle.

Thermal energy storage systems and methods that include near-black body concentrated sunlight receivers disposed in thermal storage media for storing sunlight and extracting thermal energy for multiple end-use applications. The concentrated sunlight receivers are characterized by absorption of sunlight of at least 95%. The thermal energy storage systems are modular and transportable and can be scaled-up in capacity. Solar concentrators may be integrated with the thermal energy storage systems.

A building envelope, in particular a wall, a floor, or a roof of a building with at least two shells spaced some distance apart from one another, which encloses an intermediate space, said space being essentially empty with the exception of weight-bearing and/or construction-engineering elements or being filled at least in sections with porous, open-celled material and sealed from the interior and exterior of the building, wherein controllable sealing means are provided for sealing the intermediate space from the interior and exterior and optionally separated building envelope sections from one other.