A flat plate heating solar panel comprised of polymer materials that can withstand relatively high temperatures. The polymer materials utilized in the panel have similar thermal expansion characteristics so that different components can by connected to each other without excessive stresses and damage during temperature changes, and with major components capable of being fabricated by molding processes, including extrusion and injection molding. An expansion joint or slot is provided in the enclosure frame to allow relative movement between the header connector and the frame in order to minimize stresses when large temperature differences exist between the absorber/header and the frame, and the slot design also provides a vent to relieve excessive air pressures inside the panel at high temperatures. An electronic controller with wireless capability, powered by a small photovoltaic solar cell with energy storage by a supercapacitor or an ultracapacitor, is integrated with the panel to operate a pump to circulate a heat transfer fluid through the panel when heating capability exists and when heat is needed to increase the temperature of the substance to be heated by the panel.

A solar thermal collector for heating a fluid with absorbed solar thermal energy from solar radiations is provided. The solar thermal collector comprises an inlet configured to supply the fluid into the solar thermal collector, an outlet configured to evacuate the fluid from the solar thermal collector, and a solar absorber having an absorber plate and a base plate. The absorber plate has an absorber plate perimeter and an absorbing surface configured for absorbing the solar thermal energy from solar radiations. The base plate is connected to the absorber plate along the entire absorber plate perimeter so as to define a sealed cavity. The base plate and the absorber plate are connected at a plurality of contact points distributed so as to create an array of junctures across the sealed cavity, thereby allowing the fluid to circulate throughout the sealed cavity when flowing from the inlet to the outlet.

An air heating unit using solar energy has an inner core further comprised of at least one passageway within which air circulates while being interfered by baffles shaped, sized, and positioned so as to create turbulence in the air flow in order to homogeneously warm the air.

A heat exchanger is comprised of a plurality of chambers, wherein each of the plurality of chambers has a repeating pattern of shapes wherein each of the plurality of chambers consists of two opposite deflectors, wherein each deflector is a mirror image of its opposite deflector but shifted approximately half a the wall length. Each of the deflectors is defined by a specific sequence of components starting with a rounded wall from which extends a shear barrier and the wall is terminated by a diverter. The diverter, along with the shear barrier, forms a low pressure zone which creates a vortex. A coil for carrying a liquid wherein the coil consists of a long winding pipe forming tube bundles passing through all of the plurality of chambers.

A microfluidic panel including at least one substrate, one or more channels formed in the substrate, and fluid disposed within the one or more channels. The fluid is selected to store thermal energy and the microfluidic panel is adapted to convert the thermal energy into useable energy or condition the energy to adjust optical wavelength passband of the panel.

Our invention consists of two separate and discrete families of polymers, e.g. thermosetting Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP) and thermoplastics. Both are used as the materials of construction to fabricate solar thermal collectors. These families have the same general configuration and are based upon the same principles. Both families are used in a form that some of the walls of the collector are translucent. Both families incorporate a passage through which the thermal fluid flows. Both families make use of dyes to absorb energy from the sun in the fluid and the collector walls. Each of the families makes use of improved collector configurations and designs and special operating approaches. Each family can serve different markets for different solar thermal collectors. In particular, FRP stands alone as an emerging new category of materials for a broad range of applications including everything from novel solar thermal collectors to exotic airplanes.

A solar thermal collector and an accessory structure of a building are provided. The solar thermal collector includes at least one heat absorbing plate and at least one heat insulating plate. Each of the heat absorbing plate includes at least one first slab and first engaging parts connected with the first slab. Each of the heat insulating plate includes at least one second slab and second engaging parts connected with the second slab. The first engaging parts are respectively engaged with the second engaging parts, and a gap is maintained between the first slab and the second slab to define a heat collecting channel, through which a heat transfer medium flows between the heat absorbing plate and the heat insulating plate. A heat conductivity of the heat absorbing plate is at least 30 times greater than a heat conductivity of the heat insulating plate.

An invention proposes a solar radiation absorbing panel that serves preferably for air heating,

The solar radiation absorbing panel is constructed from two metal sheets.

The metal sheets are sealingly joined along their edges.

The metal sheets are provided with mechanical or magnetic means; the both metal sheets are interlocked by these means along some lines or at some spots.

This ensures diminishment of buckling these sheets under operating pressure and establishing of a certain distance between them with small deviations with respect to its average value.

The outer side of one metal sheet is coated with a black or selective paint absorbing solar radiation.

A solar module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a sandwich structure on which the plurality of photovoltaic cells is structurally supported. The sandwich structure includes top and bottom structural plates and an open-cell inner material located between the top and bottom structural plates.

A solar water heater absorber absorbs the sun's energy on the surface of a twin-walled polycarbonate panel and conducts the heat from the sun through the panel wall into fluid flow through channels of the panel. The panel is an extruded polycarbonate glazing material that consists of two panes connected by longitudinal ribs to form a plurality of water channels that may further include twisted strips providing a helical water flow pattern that increases turbulence within the water channels. The panel is connected to large pipes or headers on the top and bottom ends of the panel that receive the heated fluid from the water channels, allow the heated fluid to exit the panel, and for return water to re-enter the panel in a solar water heating system.