A solar energy roof tile, thermally and/or electrically conductively connected to an adjacent solar energy roof tile, includes a lower face for placing on at least some regions of a roof construction, an upper face opposite the lower face formed at least in some regions by a solar energy utilisation module, two opposite lateral walls, a rear face connecting the two lateral walls, and a front face opposite the rear face that connects the lateral walls. The two lateral walls, the rear face and front face together connect the lower and upper faces, such that a cavity is formed between the two lateral walls, the rear face, front face, and lower and upper faces. The lower face has, in the region of the front face, a lower opening for providing access. The upper face has, in the region of the rear face, an upper opening for providing access into the cavity.

A solar energy roof tile, thermally and/or electrically conductively connected to an adjacent solar energy roof tile, includes a lower face for placing on at least some regions of a roof construction, an upper face opposite the lower face formed at least in some regions by a solar energy utilisation module, two opposite lateral walls, a rear face connecting the two lateral walls, and a front face opposite the rear face that connects the lateral walls. The two lateral walls, the rear face and front face together connect the lower and upper faces, such that a cavity is formed between the two lateral walls, the rear face, front face, and lower and upper faces. The lower face has, in the region of the front face, a lower opening for providing access. The upper face has, in the region of the rear face, an upper opening for providing access into the cavity.

A frame for a liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric includes two first frame parts lying opposite each other, where each first frame part is configured to lie against at least a first part of a peripheral edge of the 3D fabric and to close the fabric at least substantially liquid-tightly along the first part of the peripheral edge. An assembly with such a frame and liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric, where the first parts of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric are closed at least substantially liquid-tightly by the frame. A 3D fabric includes two main surfaces which are connected to each other along at least a part of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric.

A frame for a liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric includes two first frame parts lying opposite each other, where each first frame part is configured to lie against at least a first part of a peripheral edge of the 3D fabric and to close the fabric at least substantially liquid-tightly along the first part of the peripheral edge. An assembly with such a frame and liquid-throughflowable 3D fabric, where the first parts of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric are closed at least substantially liquid-tightly by the frame. A 3D fabric includes two main surfaces which are connected to each other along at least a part of the peripheral edge of the 3D fabric.

A system including a photovoltaic panel having a first heat exchanger for absorbing heat from the panel and/or from the environment by a heat exchanging fluid, connected to a heat pump. A second heat exchanger is provided for absorbing heat by the heat exchanging fluid and a control means for controlling a flow of the heat exchanging fluid through the first heat exchanger and/or the second heat exchanger. The heat pump is arranged to cool the heat exchanging fluid. The system has the following operating modes: a first mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the first heat exchanger; and a second mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the second heat exchanger and then fed to the first heat exchanger.

A system including a photovoltaic panel having a first heat exchanger for absorbing heat from the panel and/or from the environment by a heat exchanging fluid, connected to a heat pump. A second heat exchanger is provided for absorbing heat by the heat exchanging fluid and a control means for controlling a flow of the heat exchanging fluid through the first heat exchanger and/or the second heat exchanger. The heat pump is arranged to cool the heat exchanging fluid. The system has the following operating modes: a first mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the first heat exchanger; and a second mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the second heat exchanger and then fed to the first heat exchanger.

The present invention provides an apparatus for heating a fluid using solar energy. The apparatus comprises: a fluid source, a first chamber comprising a fluid inlet to allow one-way movement of a fluid from the fluid source to the first chamber, a second chamber comprising a fluid outlet to allow the controlled movement of a fluid internal the second chamber to a further chamber or external the apparatus, and a fluid connection between the first and second chambers to allow substantially one-way movement of a fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber. Each of the chambers is fluid tight and configured as a solar collector to heat a fluid therein. The apparatus as a whole operates such that under even incident solar radiation a fluid is heated in each of the chambers and upon thermal expansion of the fluid, the fluid is moved in a controlled manner substantially one-way from the first chamber to the second chamber, and from the second chamber to a further chamber or to the outside the apparatus. By the movement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, the first chamber donates a portion of the heat energy held by the fluid therein to the second chamber, the second chamber becomes enriched in heat energy by the gain of fluid and the first chamber becomes deprived in energy by the loss of fluid such that the second chamber contains fluid that is hotter than the first chamber.

The present invention provides an apparatus for heating a fluid using solar energy. The apparatus comprises: a fluid source, a first chamber comprising a fluid inlet to allow one-way movement of a fluid from the fluid source to the first chamber, a second chamber comprising a fluid outlet to allow the controlled movement of a fluid internal the second chamber to a further chamber or external the apparatus, and a fluid connection between the first and second chambers to allow substantially one-way movement of a fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber. Each of the chambers is fluid tight and configured as a solar collector to heat a fluid therein. The apparatus as a whole operates such that under even incident solar radiation a fluid is heated in each of the chambers and upon thermal expansion of the fluid, the fluid is moved in a controlled manner substantially one-way from the first chamber to the second chamber, and from the second chamber to a further chamber or to the outside the apparatus. By the movement of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, the first chamber donates a portion of the heat energy held by the fluid therein to the second chamber, the second chamber becomes enriched in heat energy by the gain of fluid and the first chamber becomes deprived in energy by the loss of fluid such that the second chamber contains fluid that is hotter than the first chamber.

The invention provides in some aspects a thermal energy collection system comprising a first solar collector through which a first heat transfer fluid flows to absorb energy from sunlight as it passes through the first solar collector, and a second solar collector that collects energy from sunlight that has passed through the first solar collector. The first heat transfer fluid of the thermal energy collection system according to these aspects of the invention is in thermal coupling with the first solar collector, but not with the second solar collector. In other aspects, the invention provides a radiator system, comprising a multi-wall panel, an interior of which is in fluid coupling with, and that forms part of, a fluid circuit through which a first heat transfer fluid flows. A reflective surface is disposed in a vicinity of a second face of the multi-wall panel. Still other aspects of the invention provide a reflective film solar energy collector and a solar energy absorber.

A hybrid supplemental solar energy collection and dissipation system with one or more heat pumps is featured. The system includes one or more commercially available photovoltaic panels configured to convert incident radiation to electricity. One or more supplemental solar energy collectors having a flow of fluid therein are selectively coupled to the one or more photovoltaic panels. The one or more supplemental solar energy collectors are configured to collect thermal energy from the one or more photovoltaic panels, radiate thermal energy to space, collect thermal energy from the environment and/or dissipate thermal energy to the environment to heat or cool one or more loads. One or more heat pumps are coupled to the one or more supplemental solar energy collectors and the one or more loads and are configured to amplify heating and/or cooling of the one or more loads.