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.

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.

Proposed is a hybrid energy generation device using sunlight and solar heat including a photovoltaic panel in which a plurality of photovoltaic cells are arranged on a front side thereof, a first heat storage pipe having an inlet through which heat transfer fluid is introduced, and having a first slit hole formed on a side thereof in a longitudinal direction, a second heat storage pipe disposed to face the first heat storage pipe, having an outlet through which the heat transfer fluid is discharged, and having a second slit hole formed on a side thereof in a longitudinal direction, two or more third heat storage pipes arranged to connect the first heat storage pipe and the second heat storage pipe, and each having a third slit hole formed on a side thereof in a longitudinal direction, and a heat dissipation panel laminated on a back side of the PV panel.

Heat transfer between a fluid-bearing flexible tube and a heat-conducting surface is improved by fixing a flexible heat-conducting sheath to the flexible tube and by compressive fixing that distorts the tube and deforms the sheath and/or the surface. The tube can be made of cross-linked polythene (PEX). The sheath can be spirally wound high-purity aluminum wire. The sheath enables efficient heat transfer between the outer surface of the tube and the heat-conducting surface. Applications include radiant heating and cooling. Tube layout can be customized and variable tube spacing is possible, for example by using a castellated layer to support the tube.

A solar collector device is provided. The solar collector device includes an evacuated tube and a mini-channel tube mounted within the evacuated tube, the mini-channel tube comprising a first plurality of ports for inflow of a heat-transfer fluid and a second plurality of ports for outflow of the heat-transfer fluid to a heat exchange system. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 3 millimeters to approximately 200 micrometers. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 200 micrometers to approximately 10 micrometers.

A solar collector device is provided. The solar collector device includes an evacuated tube and a mini-channel tube mounted within the evacuated tube, the mini-channel tube comprising a first plurality of ports for inflow of a heat-transfer fluid and a second plurality of ports for outflow of the heat-transfer fluid to a heat exchange system. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 3 millimeters to approximately 200 micrometers. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 200 micrometers to approximately 10 micrometers.

A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.