An absorber tube, especially for solar collectors in solar thermal power plants with at least one collector mirror, is provided. The absorber tube includes a metal tube for supplying and heating a heat transfer medium, a sheath tube surrounding the metal tube to form an annular space that can be evacuated, a wall extending through the sheath tube and the metal tube to seal the annular space, and a getter material binding free hydrogen in the annular space. The absorber tube has a temperature variation device that changes the temperature of the getter material and the wall.

Disclosed is a method of applying a coating to a glass sleeve with an inner surface and an outer surface, the glass sleeve configured as a part of a solar-receiver tube. Thereby, the coating is solely applied to one of the surfaces of the glass sleeve. Also disclosed is a method of fixing such glass sleeve in an interior of a coating tank, such coating tank and a fixing arrangement for fixing such glass sleeve in an interior of a coating tank.

An improvised Solar Concentrator and Absorber/Receiver Subsystem using a Dual-Stage Parabolic Concentrator for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) (Thermal) system comprises of two parabolic mirrored reflectors wherein their apertures face each other with their focal point/line and axes coincides with each other, a plurality of absorber tubes/cavities placed on the non-reflecting side of the primary and/or secondary reflectors to carry heat transfer fluid, combined with relevant mechanisms to prevent/minimize thermal loss, mounted on a Sun tracking mechanism. For Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) and Concentrating Hybrid Thermo-Photovoltaic (CHTPV) Systems, all or a portion of the reflectors' reflecting and/or exterior surfaces would be covered or substituted with suitable photovoltaic panels.

A solar heat collection tube includes a center metal tube that allows a heat medium to flow therethrough, a glass tube that covers the outer circumference of the center metal tube to form an annular void between the glass tube and the center metal tube, and an absorber configured to absorb a difference in the thermal expansion between the center metal tube and the glass tube. The absorber has a connection cylinder and metal bellows. The metallic bellows are connected in series by the connection cylinder. The bellows are arranged to overlap in the radial direction with the connection cylinder located therebetween.

A solar automatic heat collecting and equalizing tube, including: a glass tube, an absorption tube, and a baffle. The glass tube is sleeved on the absorption tube. The absorption tube is coated with a heat absorption layer. The space between the glass tube and the absorption tube is vacuum. The baffle is disposed in the inner cavity of the absorption tube and is configured to drive a fluid in the absorption tube to tumble up and down alternately. The baffle is spiral in shape and fixed in the absorption tube.

The present invention generally relates to solar water heaters, in particular to solar water heaters using glass vacuum tubes as both solar energy collector and thermal energy storage device, without a hot water storage tank. To improve the efficiency of thermal energy storage, a novel medium for thermal energy storage is disclosed, which utilizes the heat of solution of aluminum sulphate, comprising water and 40% to 47% of Al.sub.2(SO.sub.4).sub.3. The working temperature range of such energy storage medium is between 50 C. and 100 C. The energy storage medium is contained in plastic capsules, submerged in water and placed in glass vacuum tubes.

A modular liquid heating assembly includes a plurality of liquid delivery modules in series. The liquid delivery modules each include a module body having an inlet fitting, an outlet fitting, and a plurality of vessel coupling ports. The vessel coupling ports each include inflow and outflow orifices. The inlet and outlet fittings and the plurality of vessel coupling ports are in serial communication with each other through respective inflow and outflow orifices of the plurality of vessel coupling ports. At least one of the liquid delivery modules are configured for coupling with an inflow liquid line coupled with a liquid reservoir. Similarly at least one of the liquid delivery modules are configured for coupling with an outflow liquid line coupled with the liquid reservoir.

Technical challenges of efficiently and cost-effectively deriving energy from the sun are addressed using a manifold and an array of evacuated tubes in fluid connection, in a butterfly or other planar arrangement. Tube and manifold fluid guides are plumbed for coaxial flow and/or parallel flow, and thermally protected by sleeves, stainless steel piping, and/or vacuum. Tubes are provided with a selective low emissivity coating and/or internal mirror to reduce thermal loss. The solar absorption surface of evacuated tubes may be five square meters or more, with only low-quality concentration optics, or no concentration optics used. The tubes array tracks the sun with a two-axis motion platform. Fluid operating temperatures range from 150 to 300 degrees centigrade, depending on the sunlight exposure, working fluid, and supplemental heat source if any. Fluid may circulate heat between the manifold and heat engine, cogeneration facility, and/or other module.

A heat transfer device having a working fluid capable of circulating around a fluid flow path, the circulation around the fluid flow path bringing the working fluid in and out of thermal contact with a heat source, the heat transfer device comprising: a fluid containing portion internally defining a working fluid flow path; a heat source at least partially in thermal contact with the fluid containing portion; a gas substance generator at least partially within the fluid containing portion, and arranged to generate bubbles of vapor capable of driving the working fluid along a portion of the working fluid flow path in thermal contact with the heat source; wherein, in use, the driven working fluid absorbs heat from the heat source and transports the heat away from the heat source; and the driven working fluid returns to the gas substance generator to be recycled about the fluid flow path.

An evacuated tube boiler comprised of one or more evacuated tubes and a header, operatively connected to form a common internal volume. The internal volume further containing a first heating fluid. A conduit system conducting a second heating fluid through the header and first heating fluid. One or more artificial light sources in proximity to the evacuated tubes. In operation, the artificial light sources radiate light and/or thermal energy to the evacuated tubes whereby the first heating fluid is efficiently heated. The conduit system conducts the second heating fluid through the header and first heating fluid, whereby heat from the first heating fluid is transferred to the second heating fluid. The conduit system conducts the second heating fluid to the point of use. The apparatus may be used in a hydronic boiler heating system for heating a dwelling.