A general method is provided for electronically reconfiguring the internal structure of a solid to allow precision control of the propagation of wave energy. The method allows digital or analog control of wave energy, such as but not limited to visible light, while maintaining low losses, a multi-octave bandwidth, polarization independence, large area and a large dynamic range in power handling. Embodiments of the technique are provided for large-angle beam steering, lenses and other devices to control wave energy.

Devices and methods for concentrated radiative cooling using radiative cooling coatings in combination with mid-infrared reflectors. Concentrated radiative cooling (CRC) devices include an object to be cooled that is coated with a radiative cooling material and a mid-infrared (mid-IR) reflector configured to reflect thermal energy radiated from a surface of the object to deep space. The object may be nested in a mid-IR reflective trough such that substantially an entirety of the object's surface area contributes to radiative cooling. The radiative cooling material may be a coating such as a paint or film that is applied directly to the object's exterior surfaces to reduce thermal resistances. The radiative cooling coating is configured to lose thermal energy from the object by means of exhibiting high emissivity for wavelengths of 8 to 13 micrometers, and in some arrangements of 5 to 30 micrometers.

A concentrating solar collector module includes improvements in performance and assemblability. In one configuration, the module includes a reflector having a reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming solar radiation onto a focal line, first and second rails, one rail attached to each edge of the reflector, and a set of truss connectors attached to the rails. The truss connectors and rails may form ways that enable constrained sliding engagement of the truss connectors along the rails before attachment of the truss connectors to the rails. The module may also include a plurality of framing members connected to the truss connectors and forming a structural lattice that cooperates with the reflector to lend rigidity to the solar collector module. At least some of the framing members may be disposed in front of the front reflective surface.

A film mirror having a metal reflective layer formed on a resin substrate may include, closer to a light incident side than the metal reflective layer, an interface reflective layer having at least one set of a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer that are adjacent to each other. At least one of the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer may include a water soluble polymer and metal oxide particles. A method for manufacturing the film mirror may include forming the interface reflective layer by simultaneous multilayer coating of materials of the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer.

A method for molding a revolution paraboloid condenser, belongs to the field of condenser molding. The problems in the existing revolution paraboloid condensers, of high cost, difficult processing, and difficult assembly and transportation due to a complex overall structure are solved. The method includes determining a revolution paraboloid function of the condenser designed, determining a number of laminated structures that make up the condenser, and determining width functions of the laminated structures; deducing variable-thickness functions of the laminated structures; connecting multiple basic thin plate units in sequence to form each of the laminated structures; the multiple laminated structures are formed into a circle; punching holes in uppermost layers of the laminated structures, passing a rope through the holes and fixing other end of the rope to the vertical rod positioned at the center of the circle.

A system includes a containment vessel configured to receive and retain equipment to be decontaminated. The system also includes a solar reflector configured to reflect solar energy towards the containment vessel in order to heat the containment vessel. The system further includes end supports configured to receive and retain the solar reflector and the containment vessel. The system also includes a base having or coupled to multiple side supports, where each side support is configured to contact and support a corresponding one of the end supports. In addition, the system includes one or more semi-transparent solar shades configured to reduce the solar energy reaching the solar reflector and the containment vessel.

The present invention comprises at least two independently maneuverable panels, either reflective of photovoltaic, arranged linearly, and physically interconnected to at least one common control capable of moving the panels simultaneously. Each panel is mounted on a separate support allowing it to be pivoted from side-to-side and/or up-and-down independently of the other panels. The preferred embodiment will permit every panel in series to be moved in unison using two main cables. This apparatus is further designed to track the sun along two-axes-both side-to-side and up-and-down-while maintaining constant tension on these cables throughout all degrees of freedom permitted by design. The apparatus also permits each mirror to be focused independently on a smaller target by means of mirror warping.

Exemplary embodiments described herein may include lightweight, low stow volume solar concentrator.

A solar collector comprising a wide-angle, nonimaging asymmetric optical reflector comprising a reflective film, an absorber assembly positioned within the optical reflector having a transparent tube evacuated to a vacuum or partial vacuum and at least two pipes with fluid flowing through the pipes, the pipes arranged in a flow-through configuration, wherein the solar acceptance angle of the collector is about 40 degrees, allowing for passive (stationary) solar tracking, and where the solar energy collected is transferred to the fluid in the form of heat. The fluid exiting the solar collector is in the range of 100° C. to 250° C., and the thermal energy of the fluid may be used to generate high-quality steam for solar industrial process heat applications.

Reflectors for concentrated solar power as well as systems and methods for additively manufacturing the reflectors is provided. The disclosed method can directly print metal films from an aqueous precursor solution onto a substrate with little to no post-fabrication treatment to achieve highly reflective surfaces with low surface roughness. The method provides precise control to form a metal film having an RMS surface roughness of about 2 to about 5 nm and a relative reflectivity of about 90% to about 96% at 550 nm on a substrate having an area of at least 1 square meter.