A solar vapor generator includes an absorber to absorb sunlight and an emitter, in thermal communication with the absorber, to radiatively evaporate a liquid under less than 1 sun illumination and without pressurization. The emitter is physically separated from the liquid, substantially reducing fouling of the emitter. The absorber and the emitter may also be heated to temperatures higher than the boiling point of the liquid and may thus may be used to further superheat the vapor. Solar vapor generation can provide the basis for many sustainable desalination, sanitization, and process heating technologies.

A method for improving the efficiency of a solar heating system based on absorbing heat from solar radiation into the outer surface of a concrete wall. The heat transfer device makes use of a fluid in a tube system to transfer heat from the outside of the wall to the inside of the wall. The inside wall is then used to heat air that is passed over it, and that air is then used to heat up a heat storage system.

A high-temperature long-shaft molten salt pump detection testbed, comprising: three pressure sensors, three electric shut-off valves, two flow sensors, two electric adjustments, and two temperature sensors, and also comprising a molten salt storage tank, a motor, a high-temperature long-shaft molten salt pump, a plurality of groups of insertion electric heaters, a first multipoint thermocouple, a second multipoint thermocouple, a preheating hole, a molten salt injection port, the test device can install a variety of models of molten salt pump, pipeline can use reducer to connect different types of molten salt pump, molten salt tank height can also meet the depth of different molten salt pump, a variety of models of molten salt pumps are used for tests, which are versatile and easy to use.

A high-temperature long-shaft molten salt pump detection testbed, comprising: three pressure sensors, three electric shut-off valves, two flow sensors, two electric adjustments, and two temperature sensors, and also comprising a molten salt storage tank, a motor, a high-temperature long-shaft molten salt pump, a plurality of groups of insertion electric heaters, a first multipoint thermocouple, a second multipoint thermocouple, a preheating hole, a molten salt injection port, the test device can install a variety of models of molten salt pump, pipeline can use reducer to connect different types of molten salt pump, molten salt tank height can also meet the depth of different molten salt pump, a variety of models of molten salt pumps are used for tests, which are versatile and easy to use.

Provided is a solar collector that captures and utilizes solar energy and includes a plurality of vacuum tubes which are disposed by extending horizontally and are disposed parallel to each other with a predetermined distance; and a reflection plate having a substantially planar shape, which reflects solar light on an opposite side of the sun with respect to the plurality of vacuum tubes, in which the reflection plate includes a reflection surface having a serrated section at a corresponding position between vacuum tubes adjacent to each other, and in the reflection surface, one face of a serration forms a first reflection surface that reflects the solar light to the vacuum tube on a lower side among the vacuum tubes adjacent to each other.

A solar heat collection tube with improved optical transmittance and durability to the external environment includes an inner tube through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, an outer tube that covers an outer periphery of the inner tube such that an annular heat insulating space is formed between the outer tube and the inner tube, and thermal expansion difference absorbing means or absorbing a thermal expansion difference between the inner tube and the outer tube. The outer tube is a glass tube, a first anti-reflection film is formed on an inner surface of the glass tube, a second anti-reflection film is formed on an outer surface of the glass tube, the second anti-reflection film is more durable to the external environment than the first anti-reflection film, and the first anti-reflection film has a higher optical transmittance than the second anti-reflection film.

A solar heat collection tube with improved optical transmittance and durability to the external environment includes an inner tube through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, an outer tube that covers an outer periphery of the inner tube such that an annular heat insulating space is formed between the outer tube and the inner tube, and thermal expansion difference absorbing means or absorbing a thermal expansion difference between the inner tube and the outer tube. The outer tube is a glass tube, a first anti-reflection film is formed on an inner surface of the glass tube, a second anti-reflection film is formed on an outer surface of the glass tube, the second anti-reflection film is more durable to the external environment than the first anti-reflection film, and the first anti-reflection film has a higher optical transmittance than the second anti-reflection film.

A solar receiver for converting solar radiation into thermal energy. The solar receiver includes a heat-absorbing solid body, a fluid system to provide a flow of working fluid proximate to the heat-absorbing solid body, and a movement device to move the heat-absorbing solid body such that one or more surfaces of the heat-absorbing solid body are periodically exposed to incident solar radiation. The incident solar radiation heats a portion of the heat-absorbing solid body which in turn heats the working fluid. The at least a portion of the heat-absorbing solid body is configured to promote absorption of incident solar radiation, promote transfer of heat from the at least a portion of the heat-absorbing solid body to the working fluid, promote cooling of the at least a portion of the heat-absorbing solid body, or promote any combination thereof

A solar collector, in particular a solar thermal collector, is formed of at least one circuit transporting a heat transfer fluid, and includes at least one insulator, in particular in the form of at least one layer, formed of flakes and/or nodules of mineral wool(s) or mineral fibers. A process is provided for insulating or manufacturing a solar collector into which flakes and/or nodules of mineral wool(s) and/or mineral fibers are blown, as insulator, in particular without adding binder or water.

A heat shield bladder includes first and second sheets of insulating material that form a bladder between the first and second sheets. At least one reflective foil is disposed within the bladder and a plurality of spacers are disposed within the bladder and positioned to space the at least one reflective foil from the first and second sheets of insulating material. Multiple reflective foils may be disposed within the bladder with spacers between each reflective foil. The heat shield bladder may be rolled into a tube shaped and used inside a pipe or formed into panels that may be used to line a vessel.