The present invention is an apparatus and method using solar insolation to heat fluid moving through panels, resulting in relatively hot fluid. A set of such panels might be installed in a window. Heat is removed from the hot fluid in a heat reservoir or heat sink, resulting in relatively cool fluid. In some embodiments, the hot fluid and the cool fluid are placed in thermal contact with opposite sides of a thermoelectric generator, thereby generating electricity. In some embodiments, photovoltaic cell modules are embedded in the panels, the fluid system improving the effectiveness of the cells. A given system might use either approach to generate electricity, or both. Heat from the heat reservoir might be used to heat a building. A thermoelectric system might be run in reverse at night.

The invention relates to an integral solar collection cover designed for a carrier structure (2) which is anchored to the slab (3), a waterproofing layer for waterproofing channelled plates (4) and solar covering plates (5), and optionally, conventional plates (6), all of the solar covering plates (5) being hybrid, integrating the installation and photovoltaic solar collection devices for generating electrical energy, and thermal solar collection devices for generating domestic hot water and heat. Said solar plates (5) are sandwich-type panels made of polyester, transparent resins and polyurethane, comprising an upper layer (5a) which is flat or undulating with different finishes, below which there are installed photovoltaic cells (12) with wiring (13), electrical connectors and components, and a thermal water pipe circuit (14), which is inserted in cavities (15) that have been filled with a non-evaporable, low-boiling liquid, and provided with inflow connections (14a) and outflow connections (14b).

A solar collector adapted to absorb thermal heating from the sun, wherein said solar collector comprises hollow sections adapted to house a medium. The solar collector is a self-supporting composite solar collector produced from a composite material constituted of at least a first and second material, wherein said first and second materials have equal or substantially equal coefficients of elasticity.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a receiver for receiving radiation from a heliostat array that includes at least one external panel configured to form an internal cavity and an open face. The open face is positioned substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and forms an entrance to the internal cavity. The receiver also includes at least one internal panel positioned within the cavity and aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the at least one internal panel includes at least one channel configured to distribute a heat transfer medium.

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 system comprises: at least one heat exchange panel (700) comprising: a main body (100) comprising a sealed cavity in which is provided a fluid in both liquid and gas phases and being configured to communicate heat energy by allowing evaporation of the liquid at one location and condensation of the liquid at a different location in the cavity; and at least a first heat exchanger part (130, 210a, 211a) including an inlet and an outlet for allowing the passing of fluid through the heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger part being thermally coupled to the heat spreading part so as to communicate heat energy between fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger part and the heat spreading part and thus the environment in which the heat spreading part is present. A controller is configured to cause control of pumps and valves to as to cause the system to operate in a number of different modes of operation, wherein the system is operable in an active heating mode of operation in which the controller controls the heat pump, the one or more fluid pumps and the valves to provide the system with: a first fluid circuit in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchange panel and a first side of the heat pump, a second fluid circuit in which fluid is pumped through the heat tank and the second side of the heat pump, and transfer by the heat pump of heat energy from the first fluid circuit to the second fluid circuit.

A solar energy collection system comprising: a plurality of tracked Fresnel lens arrays; a corresponding plurality of thermal cells positioned to receive solar energy focused by the respective plurality of tracked Fresnel lens arrays; and a working fluid circulation system that circulates a working fluid through the plurality of thermal cells to a discharge point. The discharge point comprises a power conversion unit such as a thermal engine and generator.

A mobile solar charging facility. The present invention relates to power supply and charging techniques for a mobile electric apparatus during movement, and in particular to such a facility having a combined technique of a solar photovoltaic battery and solar thermal power generation, and matching techniques and extended applications related to light compensation, energy storage, etc. The present invention is aimed at solving the problem of charging an electric vehicle when traveling. A highly cost-effective solar power source is used for power supply. The technical solutions of a contact rail and a collector shoe are used for mobile power supply and charging. An arc extinction circuit and an energy storage super-capacitor are provided in a line, and a safety protection measure is provided. A condenser lens and a compensation lens which can increase a power generation amount and do not need to be tracked as provided for solar power generation.

The present invention relates to a dual-passage open-type solar heat absorber having a porous plate array, and more particularly, to a dual-passage open-type solar heat absorber which is formed in a form of a rectangular-shaped container in order to increase a contact area with collected sunlight and easily extend in a lateral direction or in a form of a circular-shaped container which is advantageous when a pressure is applied thereto, and which includes a main body formed in a formed of a rectangular or circular-shaped container by using a three-layered tube to form a dual passage therein so that heat is prevented from being lost through an outer wall.

A solar panel comprising a plurality of elongated and flat pipe elements having a first end, a second end and at least one longitudinal and through pipe channel for a heat carrying liquid, wherein the pipe channels are arranged with a height (H) up to 10 mm. the pipe elements are connected to opposite and elongated edge elements. The edge elements are arranged with a longitudinal channel for the heat carrying liquid, wherein the channels in the edge elements are connected to the pipe channels and extend in a direction perpendicular to the pipe channels. The pipe elements are formed with an aperture on opposite sides of at least one pipe channel, and stop devices are connected to the edge elements at selected apertures and extend into the channels of the edge elements to block the channels and guide the heat carrying liquid between the pipe channels.