A building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic and radiant cooling device integrated into a building structure, including a chiller, a cooling device for cooling fluid supplied to a radiant cooling panel, a return pipe conveying the fluid from the radiant cooling panel to cool a photovoltaic device, and at least one supply pipe transporting the fluid from the photovoltaic device to the chiller, the cooling device reducing a surface temperature of the radiant cooling panel only to the extent necessary to also avoid condensation being formed on the radiant cooling panel, i.e. to just above the dew point.

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.

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.

A solar window system for a building includes multiple heat generation encasements each including thermoelectric sheets, where the thermoelectric sheets are positioned inside a housing having an interior metal layer. Air inside each heat generation encasement is heated by solar energy. Inside each heat generation encasement, there are pipes filled with Phase-Change Material (PCM) materials that help provide heating to the building. The solar window system further includes a storage tank on top of the system filled with PCM materials for storing heat from the heated air, the storage tank being connected to the pipes of each heat generation encasement. The solar window system includes a set of connection pipes, wherein the set of connection pipes draw cold air from an indoor space inside the building into the plurality of heat generation encasements, connect each of the heat generation encasements to at least two other heat generation encasements, and transfer the heated air from the set of heat generation encasements to the storage tank. The solar window system also includes circular movable rings that can be open and closed as needed. These rings are located around each heat generation encasement and have two movable flexible solar panels capable of generating electricity.

A solar window system for a building includes multiple heat generation encasements each including thermoelectric sheets, where the thermoelectric sheets are positioned inside a housing having an interior metal layer. Air inside each heat generation encasement is heated by solar energy. Inside each heat generation encasement, there are pipes filled with Phase-Change Material (PCM) materials that help provide heating to the building. The solar window system further includes a storage tank on top of the system filled with PCM materials for storing heat from the heated air, the storage tank being connected to the pipes of each heat generation encasement. The solar window system includes a set of connection pipes, wherein the set of connection pipes draw cold air from an indoor space inside the building into the plurality of heat generation encasements, connect each of the heat generation encasements to at least two other heat generation encasements, and transfer the heated air from the set of heat generation encasements to the storage tank. The solar window system also includes circular movable rings that can be open and closed as needed. These rings are located around each heat generation encasement and have two movable flexible solar panels capable of generating electricity.

A window covering solution equipped with solar panels is described. The solution amounts to linear slats, namely blinds, on which solar panels are disposed. The panels are configured to capture PV power and store it within at least one power cell composed of rechargeable batteries. The power is stored for later use to charge devices via one or more USB ports disposed at a bottom of the apparatus. LED lights are disposed within the apparatus, which are powered via solar power supplied from the solar panels disposed on the blinds. A smoke detector and security alarm, also indirectly powered via the solar panels, are preferably disposed within the apparatus.

A window covering solution equipped with solar panels is described. The solution amounts to linear slats, namely blinds, on which solar panels are disposed. The panels are configured to capture PV power and store it within at least one power cell composed of rechargeable batteries. The power is stored for later use to charge devices via one or more USB ports disposed at a bottom of the apparatus. LED lights are disposed within the apparatus, which are powered via solar power supplied from the solar panels disposed on the blinds. A smoke detector and security alarm, also indirectly powered via the solar panels, are preferably disposed within the apparatus.

A design for a micro-lens (i.e., a lens on the scale of micrometers) incorporates existing nanofabrication techniques and can be incorporated into High Concentrating Photovoltaic (HCPV), solar thermal collectors, and traditional flat PV systems. Using the theory of wave optics, the design is able to achieve a high numerical aperture, i.e., it can receive light over a wider range of angles. The design also reduces the distance the focal point shifts as the light source shifts; this eliminates the need for a tracking system in CPV and PV applications. Reducing the lens size also facilitates smaller, lightweight CPV systems, which makes CPV attractive for additional applications. Finally, these concentrators reduce the exchanging area of a typical flat solar thermal system where heat is received, which improves the overall system's efficiency and allows its use also during rigid winter time.

A curtain wall or roof element, with built in solar panel or heat absorbing layer, and at least one blower for air circulation inside the enclosed device, one or more temperature sensors monitoring the temperature inside and outside the device and a microcontroller activating the blower according to predetermined program to heat or cool the room enclosed by the device. If solar cells or panels are used they will generate electrical power and heat. It is the purpose of this invention to increase the energy harvesting coefficient from the sun's radiation by utilizing the absorbed heat for increasing the temperature in a space enclosed by said device, moreover the smart configuration of the curtain wall will enable to change the system's isolation characteristics by changing its U values. U value of a curtain wall describes the heat isolation characteristics of the device in a numerical form.

A curtain wall or roof element, with built in solar panel or heat absorbing layer, and at least one blower for air circulation inside the enclosed device, one or more temperature sensors monitoring the temperature inside and outside the device and a microcontroller activating the blower according to predetermined program to heat or cool the room enclosed by the device. If solar cells or panels are used they will generate electrical power and heat. It is the purpose of this invention to increase the energy harvesting coefficient from the sun's radiation by utilizing the absorbed heat for increasing the temperature in a space enclosed by said device, moreover the smart configuration of the curtain wall will enable to change the system's isolation characteristics by changing its U values. U value of a curtain wall describes the heat isolation characteristics of the device in a numerical form.