A joint for systems for transporting a high temperature heat-transfer fluid is provided. The joint includes a fixed conduit, a first sealing ring joined to the fixed conduit, a rotatable conduit in abutment with the sealing ring, and an outer casing delimiting a chamber. A contact region between the rotatable conduit and the first sealing ring is arranged in the chamber. The outer casing is sealingly engaged with the rotatable conduit by a second sealing ring and with the fixed conduit.

A complex energy generation device includes: a heat storage tube having an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit; a heat-exchange plate having a plurality of insertion holes formed on a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a plurality of solar modules each including a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface of the solar panel, and a heat-exchange panel laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel; and a plurality of heat collection modules each including a heat-exchange block and a heat collection tube.

A complex energy generation device includes: a heat storage tube having an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit; a heat-exchange plate having a plurality of insertion holes formed on a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a plurality of solar modules each including a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface of the solar panel, and a heat-exchange panel laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel; and a plurality of heat collection modules each including a heat-exchange block and a heat collection tube.

A complex energy generation device using sunlight and solar heat includes: a heat storage tube having, at a first side portion thereof, an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and having, at a second side portion thereof, an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit at a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface thereof; and a heat radiation panel having an upper portion inserted into the heat storage tube through the slit of the heat storage tube while sealing the slit, and a lower portion laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel.

A complex energy generation device using sunlight and solar heat includes: a heat storage tube having, at a first side portion thereof, an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and having, at a second side portion thereof, an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit at a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface thereof; and a heat radiation panel having an upper portion inserted into the heat storage tube through the slit of the heat storage tube while sealing the slit, and a lower portion laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel.

A hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system that is adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity. The STEC system comprises a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface having a diffractive optical structure and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes and supporting trays, and a secured underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes. The housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below.

Disclosed are methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces. In particular, the invention enables the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems since under certain conditions less energy for heating or cooling is required to maintain, within certain boundaries, desirable temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other enclosed spaces.

In some instances the invention is in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods and algorithms to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal).

In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all, whereas in other instances the expenditure of external energy for conventional heating or cooling is reduced. In some instances the invention enables the reduction of the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

Disclosed are methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces. In particular, the invention enables the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems since under certain conditions less energy for heating or cooling is required to maintain, within certain boundaries, desirable temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other enclosed spaces.

In some instances the invention is in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods and algorithms to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal).

In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all, whereas in other instances the expenditure of external energy for conventional heating or cooling is reduced. In some instances the invention enables the reduction of the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

The thermal hybrid tank is a multifunctional tank with a shape that makes for easy construction and assembly while maximizing the ability of thermal syphoning. This invention can store an inlet liquid and thermal energy from a heat exchanger, for outlet usage in multiple applications. The tank typically has a pitch coupling front surface and a downward angled front surface which together allows for coupling with the heat exchanger and a roof decking or a solar panel, of which could be a liquid cooled PV solar panel, or a solar focusing panel, or a roof structure.

The thermal hybrid tank is a multifunctional tank with a shape that makes for easy construction and assembly while maximizing the ability of thermal syphoning. This invention can store an inlet liquid and thermal energy from a heat exchanger, for outlet usage in multiple applications. The tank typically has a pitch coupling front surface and a downward angled front surface which together allows for coupling with the heat exchanger and a roof decking or a solar panel, of which could be a liquid cooled PV solar panel, or a solar focusing panel, or a roof structure.