A solar thermal collector comprises a solar heat collector tube and a Fresnel reflector film configured to focus incident solar light on the solar heat collector tube. A solar thermal collector assembly, a solar thermal collector module, a cooling apparatus, and a solar cooker comprising the solar thermal collector are also provided. Also provided is a use of a Fresnel reflector film for collecting solar thermal energy.

A sorption heat pump including a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid solvent; a diluted solution and a concentrated solution, wherein the diluted solution and the concentrated solution are single phase mixes of the solvent and the refrigerant; an absorber in which the diluted solution absorbs the refrigerant at a high-pressure level and emits a first heat; and a cooling device including plural cooling registers, each cooling register including an air cooler and an expansion valve in which the concentrated solution is expanded to a low-pressure level during normal operation of the cooling register so that the concentrated solution absorbs a second heat from ambient air in the air cooler and expels the refrigerant, wherein each air cooler is defrostable individually by supplying a third heat to the air cooler in a defrost operation of the air cooler that interrupts the normal operation of the air cooler.

A sorption heat pump including a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid solvent; a diluted solution and a concentrated solution, wherein the diluted solution and the concentrated solution are single phase mixes of the solvent and the refrigerant; an absorber in which the diluted solution absorbs the refrigerant at a high-pressure level and emits a first heat; and a cooling device including plural cooling registers, each cooling register including an air cooler and an expansion valve in which the concentrated solution is expanded to a low-pressure level during normal operation of the cooling register so that the concentrated solution absorbs a second heat from ambient air in the air cooler and expels the refrigerant, wherein each air cooler is defrostable individually by supplying a third heat to the air cooler in a defrost operation of the air cooler that interrupts the normal operation of the air cooler.

The present application provides passive energy storage systems and related methods. The systems include hot and cold sections. The hot section includes a thermally insulated hot compartment including thermal energy storage material. The hot section is configured to heat the thermal energy storage material via at least a first electrical power source and to selectively heat a first material. The cold section includes a thermally insulated cold compartment with at least one ice storage container. The cold section is configured to form ice within the at least one ice storage container via a cooling cycle and to selectively treat a second material. The systems and methods are configured to selectively heat cooling material of the cooling cycle to drive the cycle, at least in part, and form the ice via the first electrical power source exterior to the hot compartment and/or by the heat of the hot section.

The present application provides passive energy storage systems and related methods. The systems include hot and cold sections. The hot section includes a thermally insulated hot compartment including thermal energy storage material. The hot section is configured to heat the thermal energy storage material via at least a first electrical power source and to selectively heat a first material. The cold section includes a thermally insulated cold compartment with at least one ice storage container. The cold section is configured to form ice within the at least one ice storage container via a cooling cycle and to selectively treat a second material. The systems and methods are configured to selectively heat cooling material of the cooling cycle to drive the cycle, at least in part, and form the ice via the first electrical power source exterior to the hot compartment and/or by the heat of the hot section.

A refrigeration system for use with refrigerated LT and MT display cases in facilities such as supermarkets, has an absorption chiller that uses waste heat from a nearby source to provide cooling to the refrigeration system to take advantage of the synergy and improve overall efficiency of the refrigeration system. The cooling provided by the absorption chiller may be in the form of a coolant (e.g. water, glycol, water-glycol mixture, etc.) that circulates between the chiller and one or more of a pre-cooler, sub-cooler or condenser in the refrigeration system in a manner that uses waste heat from a nearby source to reduce the need for installed condensing capacity in the refrigeration system and improve thermal efficiency and obtain cost savings.

A refrigeration system for use with refrigerated LT and MT display cases in facilities such as supermarkets, has an absorption chiller that uses waste heat from a nearby source to provide cooling to the refrigeration system to take advantage of the synergy and improve overall efficiency of the refrigeration system. The cooling provided by the absorption chiller may be in the form of a coolant (e.g. water, glycol, water-glycol mixture, etc.) that circulates between the chiller and one or more of a pre-cooler, sub-cooler or condenser in the refrigeration system in a manner that uses waste heat from a nearby source to reduce the need for installed condensing capacity in the refrigeration system and improve thermal efficiency and obtain cost savings.

A refrigeration and/or heat transfer device includes a heating section and cooling section, a release member, and a one-way check valve affixed together in a continuous loop so working fluid may flow in one direction therein. The heating section absorbs heat and transfers such heat to the working fluid, thereby heating, expanding and increasing pressure upon the working fluid therein. The pressurized working fluid is released in a regulated manner from the heating section to the cooling section, thereby carrying the heat away. The released working fluid cools and transfers its heat to the surroundings within the cooling section. As released working fluid enters the cooling section, such fluid displaces already cooled working fluid, pushing such fluid through the one-way check valve back into the heating section to absorb heat. The working fluid may undergo a phase change or remain in a single phase throughout to enhance heat transfer.

A refrigeration and/or heat transfer device includes a heating section and cooling section, a release member, and a one-way check valve affixed together in a continuous loop so working fluid may flow in one direction therein. The heating section absorbs heat and transfers such heat to the working fluid, thereby heating, expanding and increasing pressure upon the working fluid therein. The pressurized working fluid is released in a regulated manner from the heating section to the cooling section, thereby carrying the heat away. The released working fluid cools and transfers its heat to the surroundings within the cooling section. As released working fluid enters the cooling section, such fluid displaces already cooled working fluid, pushing such fluid through the one-way check valve back into the heating section to absorb heat. The working fluid may undergo a phase change or remain in a single phase throughout to enhance heat transfer.

Working material for absorption machines using ammonia (NH.sub.3) or methylamine (CH.sub.3NH.sub.2) or dimethylamine ((CH.sub.3).sub.2NH) as the working agent and using water (H.sub.2O) as the solvent, to which a small amount of basic water glass is added, i.e., a certain mixture of water glass and bases, which does not contain any chromium salts as corrosion inhibitors.