Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

A system includes an algae bioreactor that contains an algae slurry, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the algae bioreactor to receive the algae slurry from the algae bioreactor and heat and increase a pressure of the algae slurry, and one or more valves and a flash vessel in fluid communication with a discharge of the heat exchanger to flash the algae slurry and create steam and algae biomass. A separator receives the algae biomass from the flash vessel and separates oils from the algae biomass to generate a biofuel.

This invention relates to concentrating solar power systems with application of parabolic dish-shaped reflectors.

A proposed CSP module applies a two-phase thermosiphon intended to transport heat generated by concentrated sunlight on a sunlight receiver onto the external surface of a heat exchanging pipe. The outer end butt of a distal plug, which seals the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon, is provided with a sunlight absorbing coating.

A tracking manipulator is installed below a dish-shaped mirror and joined with its supporting structure; it provides orientation of the axis of the dish-shaped mirror towards the sun.

The walls of the two-phase thermosiphon are provided with a metal vacuum insulated jacket, which has a flexible middle sub-section of its lower section.

Design of the middle and distal sub-sections of the lower section of the two-phase thermosiphon allows accompanied orientation of the distal sub-section axis of the two-phase thermosiphon towards the sun.

A system for enhancing overall energy production of CSPs through amplification of solar heat collection. In one embodiment, the system comprises a linear solar-thermal concentrator for concentrating solar light comprising a curved surface, two side walls, and an opening; a fluid conduit disposed within the linear solar-thermal concentrator that carries a working fluid through the linear solar-thermal concentrator; and a convection cover disposed over the opening of the linear thermal concentrator that traps heat convection energy within the linear solar-thermal concentrator.

A system for enhancing overall energy production of CSPs through amplification of solar heat collection. In one embodiment, the system comprises a linear solar-thermal concentrator for concentrating solar light comprising a curved surface, two side walls, and an opening; a fluid conduit disposed within the linear solar-thermal concentrator that carries a working fluid through the linear solar-thermal concentrator; and a convection cover disposed over the opening of the linear thermal concentrator that traps heat convection energy within the linear solar-thermal concentrator.

This invention relates to a photovoltaic module intended to convert solar radiation energy in electricity, and, more specifically, to a concentrating photovoltaic module provided with a parabolic dish-shaped mirror and a small-size photovoltaic receiver positioned in the focal plane of this parabolic dish-shaped mirror and the focal spot is overlapped mostly by the photovoltaic receiver.

The photovoltaic module is based on usage of combination of two-phase thermosiphon, which includes a flexible sub-section designed as a bellows, with the parabolic dish-shaped mirror installed on the distal sub-section of the two-phase thermosiphon by the truss struts.

A tracking manipulator is installed below the parabolic dish-shaped mirror and joined with a certain spot of a supporting structure of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror; it provides orientation of the axis of the parabolic dish-shaped mirror towards the sun.

A silica aerogel having a mean pore size less than 5 nm with a standard deviation of 3 nm. The silica aerogel may have greater than 95% solar-weighted transmittance at a thickness of 8 mm for wavelengths in the range of 250 nm to 2500 nm, and a 400 C. black-body weighted specific extinction coefficient of greater than 8 m.sup.2/kg for wavelengths of 1.5 m to 15 m. Silica aerogel synthesis methods are described. A solar thermal aerogel receiver (STAR) may include an opaque frame defining an opening, an aerogel layer disposed in the opaque frame, with at least a portion of the aerogel layer being proximate the opening, and a heat transfer fluid pipe in thermal contact with and proximate the aerogel layer. A concentrating solar energy system may include a STAR and at least one reflector to direct sunlight to an opening in the STAR.

A silica aerogel having a mean pore size less than 5 nm with a standard deviation of 3 nm. The silica aerogel may have greater than 95% solar-weighted transmittance at a thickness of 8 mm for wavelengths in the range of 250 nm to 2500 nm, and a 400 C. black-body weighted specific extinction coefficient of greater than 8 m.sup.2/kg for wavelengths of 1.5 m to 15 m. Silica aerogel synthesis methods are described. A solar thermal aerogel receiver (STAR) may include an opaque frame defining an opening, an aerogel layer disposed in the opaque frame, with at least a portion of the aerogel layer being proximate the opening, and a heat transfer fluid pipe in thermal contact with and proximate the aerogel layer. A concentrating solar energy system may include a STAR and at least one reflector to direct sunlight to an opening in the STAR.

A heat pipe with micro tubes includes of a solid heat conductor provided therein with two or more parallel micro tubes. The micro tubes are filled with a working medium which exchanges heat through phase change. Two ends of the heat conductor are sealed and at least one of the ends is provided with a sealing strip of gradually shrinking shape that is formed from cold welding.

A heat pipe with micro tubes includes of a solid heat conductor provided therein with two or more parallel micro tubes. The micro tubes are filled with a working medium which exchanges heat through phase change. Two ends of the heat conductor are sealed and at least one of the ends is provided with a sealing strip of gradually shrinking shape that is formed from cold welding.