A system for rapidly assembling solar receiving tubes and solar energy systems comprises a welding station is described. The welding station provides for rapidly assembling solar receiver tubes by welding together two or more solar receiving tubes and comprises means for receiving and restraining solar receiver tubes and a welding station comprising an orbital or a rotational weld head.

A system includes a first torque tube with a weld seam. A mounting rail includes a cutout portion with a weld seam alignment slot. The first torque tube is configured for placement in the cutout portion. The weld seam of the first torque tube is configured for placement within the weld seam alignment slot.

A flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module and a production process thereof are disclosed. The flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module includes a frame. The lower surface of the frame is provided with a heat preservation back plate. The upper surface of the frame is sequentially laminated with a glass cover plate, a first photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a photovoltaic cell slice, a second photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a transparent back plate, a third photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive and a heat absorbing component from top to bottom. A heat preservation cavity is formed between the heat preservation back plate and the heat absorption part.

A modular, solar energy system comprising one or more modular solar panels. The solar panels include a pair of general planar, plates that are secured together to form a narrow channel therebetween for the circulation of a liquid. The solar panels have header assemblies affixed to opposite edges thereof and which control the entry of liquid into the channel and the exit therefrom. The inlet header assembly has a plurality of nozzles that are adjustable in size to control flow therethrough while the outlet header assembly has elongated nozzles to receive flow or liquid from the channel. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell affixed thereto to face the sun and the other plate has a plurality of indentations that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.

Structures and methods for supporting solar panels are provided. The structure includes a plurality of tee extrusions, a plurality of legs, a plurality of trusses, a plurality of ridge rails, and a plurality of clips. The tee extrusions form two parallel tracks upon which the legs are secured. The legs project upward from the extrusions and are coupled to the trusses, which are above and perpendicular to the trusses. At least four legs support each truss. The ridge rails sit on the truss and a parallel to the extrusions. The solar panels sit on the ridge rails and are secured to the ridge rails by the clips.

Structures and methods for supporting solar panels are provided. The structure includes a plurality of tee extrusions, a plurality of legs, a plurality of trusses, a plurality of ridge rails, and a plurality of clips. The tee extrusions form two parallel tracks upon which the legs are secured. The legs project upward from the extrusions and are coupled to the trusses, which are above and perpendicular to the trusses. At least four legs support each truss. The ridge rails sit on the truss and a parallel to the extrusions. The solar panels sit on the ridge rails and are secured to the ridge rails by the clips.

A method comprises selecting a mounting bracket having opposite horizontal, parallel wings, and a raised portion between the wings, applying a coating of an uncured first sealant material to a first area of a roof surface above decking of the roof, the first area having an outer perimeter greater than overall area of the bracket, urging undersurfaces of wings of the bracket into the uncured sealant material, securing the mounting bracket to the roof by screws applied into the roof decking through holes provided in the wings of the bracket, and applying a second sealant material over heads of the screws on upper surfaces of the wings of the bracket.

A modular anchor has a metal plate having a pattern of holes around a periphery, the forming a boundary of a central inner area, a metal bracket having a raised central portion and parallel wings having upper and lower surfaces in parallel horizontal planes, with the bracket joined to the metal plate at a central location within the hole pattern, the wings and the metal plate coated with a material to facilitate heat welding to membrane; and a transition membrane positioned on the metal plate with the raised portion of the bracket extending upward through an opening in the transition membrane, and with the transition membrane heat welded to the upper surfaces of the wings of the bracket and to the metal plate everywhere within the central inner area, leaving the pattern of holes exposed.

A solar heat collection apparatus heats a heating medium flowing through a heat collecting tube by collecting sunlight in the heat collecting tube using a curved surface mirror. The heat collecting tube includes an inner tube through which the heating medium flows, an outer tube provided on an outer side of the inner tube, and a bellows, a flange, and a cylinder member connecting the inner tube to the outer tube. An insulating space is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, and an exhaust hole that communicates with the insulating space is formed in the flange. The exhaust hole is sealed by a sealing member welded to the flange. As a result, damage to the outer tube can be prevented, and heat collecting tubes can be more easily connected to each other in the lengthwise direction.

A method for mounting an appliance to a membrane-covered roof involves (a) mounting two or more rails or appendages to the appliance, the rails or appendages placed to lie flat on the membrane-covered roof, supporting the appliance, and to extend away from the appliance, (b) installing two reinforced attachments, each incorporating a metal plate fastened into decking below the membrane of the membrane-covered roof, and covered by transition membrane heat welded to the membrane of the membrane-covered roof, one attachment installed on each side of each rail to be secured to the roof; and (c) fastening a bridge between the two attachments and over the rail at each rail point to be secured to the roof.