A solar heat exchanger in which the manifolds are connected together using a threadless connection arrangement in which the end of one manifold tube carries at least two annular seals and the internal bore of the end of the adjacent manifold tube is cammed and when locked, the connection of the two manifolds is resistant to loosening when exposed to repeated thermal expansion and contraction cycles.

A solar heat exchanger in which the manifolds are connected together using a threadless connection arrangement in which the end of one manifold tube carries at least two annular seals and the internal bore of the end of the adjacent manifold tube is cammed and when locked, the connection of the two manifolds is resistant to loosening when exposed to repeated thermal expansion and contraction cycles.

The invention can make up the entire roof of a building or vehicle, or be integrated into a portion of said roofs. This invention utilizes and reduces the amount of solar radiation that enters a building or vehicle via the roof. This system can include a water holding tank or a plurality of tanks, heat exchangers, fire sprinkler heads and various glazing options. Said heat exchangers are contained between the rafters or trusses, and takes advantage of thermal syphoning to store energy in said tank or said plurality of tanks. Additionally, this roof system can function as a fire suppression apparatus and a skylight apparatus that allows natural light into the structure, and may be integrated with LED lighting to illuminate the skylight glazing and interior space. The exterior upper covering may consist of a glazing material like tempered glass coupled with additional roofing elements or standard upper covering assemblies.

The invention can make up the entire roof of a building or vehicle, or be integrated into a portion of said roofs. This invention utilizes and reduces the amount of solar radiation that enters a building or vehicle via the roof. This system can include a water holding tank or a plurality of tanks, heat exchangers, fire sprinkler heads and various glazing options. Said heat exchangers are contained between the rafters or trusses, and takes advantage of thermal syphoning to store energy in said tank or said plurality of tanks. Additionally, this roof system can function as a fire suppression apparatus and a skylight apparatus that allows natural light into the structure, and may be integrated with LED lighting to illuminate the skylight glazing and interior space. The exterior upper covering may consist of a glazing material like tempered glass coupled with additional roofing elements or standard upper covering assemblies.

A pumpless solar energy-based air heater includes a body housing a chamber surrounded by a heat conducting medium; an intake pipe to draw cool air into the chamber; and one or more exit pipes to push warm air out from the chamber, the one or more exit pipes having one or more structures within the interior of the one or more exit pipes to create a low friction factor for the air flowing upwards in the exit pipe while creating a high friction factor for the air attempting to move downward, thereby ensuring air flow in an upward direction; a pressure difference is created between an entry point of the intake pipe and an end point of the one or more exit pipes, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or a fan.

In one embodiment, a thermodynamic system includes multiple types of thermodynamic cycles and multiple types of solar thermal fields that provide thermal energy to the thermodynamic cycles.

A solar water-heating panel is provided, comprising a plurality of risers configured for utilizing solar radiation impinging thereon to heat a fluid therein. Each riser comprises a riser wall defining a fluid path for flow therethrough of the fluid. The panel further comprises one or more headers for facilitating delivery of the fluid between the panel and an external source of the fluid. The risers are parallely-arranged and separate from one another, and each comprises a longitudinal fin projecting sidewardly therefrom toward, and contacting, an adjacent riser.

A solar water-heating panel is provided, comprising a plurality of risers configured for utilizing solar radiation impinging thereon to heat a fluid therein. Each riser comprises a riser wall defining a fluid path for flow therethrough of the fluid. The panel further comprises one or more headers for facilitating delivery of the fluid between the panel and an external source of the fluid. The risers are parallely-arranged and separate from one another, and each comprises a longitudinal fin projecting sidewardly therefrom toward, and contacting, an adjacent riser.

A system for rapidly assembling solar receiving tubes and solar energy systems comprises a welding station is described. The welding station provides for rapidly assembling solar receiver tubes by welding together two or more solar receiving tubes and comprises means for receiving and restraining solar receiver tubes and a welding station comprising an orbital or a rotational weld head.

A system for rapidly assembling solar receiving tubes and solar energy systems comprises a welding station is described. The welding station provides for rapidly assembling solar receiver tubes by welding together two or more solar receiving tubes and comprises means for receiving and restraining solar receiver tubes and a welding station comprising an orbital or a rotational weld head.