A system for producing electricity from solar energy is provided. The system includes a window pan for installing on building such that solar radiation impinges thereon, a heat receiving element coupled to the window pan and being configured to receive heat from the solar radiation. The system further includes a gas line thermally coupled to the heat receiving element with a heat transferring member the gas line having a liquid gas being configured to evaporate by the heat generated by the heat receiving element and to increase thereby pressure in the gas line. The system further includes a turbine having a rotor configured to convert rotating motion to electricity, the turbine being configured to receive evaporated gas from the gas line and the evaporated gas is configured to rotate the motor.

This invention provides a solar heat-collecting pipe that includes, in the stated order from the inner side on the outer surface of a ferrous material pipe through the interior of which a heat transfer medium is allowed to flow, at least a first diffusion-preventing layer, a second diffusion-preventing layer, an infrared radiation-reflecting layer, a sunlight-to-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer. The first diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide. The second diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of tantalum nitride, tantalum oxynitride, titanium nitride, titanium oxynitride, niobium nitride, and niobium oxynitride.

This invention provides a solar heat-collecting pipe that includes, in the stated order from the inner side on the outer surface of a ferrous material pipe through the interior of which a heat transfer medium is allowed to flow, at least a first diffusion-preventing layer, a second diffusion-preventing layer, an infrared radiation-reflecting layer, a sunlight-to-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer. The first diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide. The second diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of tantalum nitride, tantalum oxynitride, titanium nitride, titanium oxynitride, niobium nitride, and niobium oxynitride.

A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube has a multilayer structure in which an Ag layer, having dispersed therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb and Al, is sandwiched between two metal protective layers.

A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube has a multilayer structure in which an Ag layer, having dispersed therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb and Al, is sandwiched between two metal protective layers.

A selective emitter exhibiting heat resistance up to 1000° C., comprising a metal body, a first dielectric layer provided on one surface of the metal body, a composite layer provided on another surface of the first dielectric layer at an opposite side to the metal body side, and a second dielectric layer provided on another surface of the composite layer at an opposite side to the first dielectric layer, the composite layer being a layer provided with a metal or semiconductor dispersed in an oxide of the metal or the semiconductor.

A method for coating by thermal spraying a substrate for solar applications with a temperature-resistant and high-absorbance ceramic micro-structured coating includes the following steps: preparing a powder mixture including ceramic microparticles powder and polyester microballs powder, a percentage of the polyester microballs in the powder mixture being between 10 and 30% w/w; spraying the powder mixture onto the substrate by a thermal spray process in order to apply a coating layer on the substrate; and heating the substrate having the coating layer to a temperature of at least 400 C. so as to evaporate the microballs of polyester from the coating layer, leaving porosities at a place of the polyester microballs. Parameters of the spraying step and particle size are chosen so that the coating layer is applied in a thickness of between 50 and 150 microns.

A method for coating by thermal spraying a substrate for solar applications with a temperature-resistant and high-absorbance ceramic micro-structured coating includes the following steps: preparing a powder mixture including ceramic microparticles powder and polyester microballs powder, a percentage of the polyester microballs in the powder mixture being between 10 and 30% w/w; spraying the powder mixture onto the substrate by a thermal spray process in order to apply a coating layer on the substrate; and heating the substrate having the coating layer to a temperature of at least 400 C. so as to evaporate the microballs of polyester from the coating layer, leaving porosities at a place of the polyester microballs. Parameters of the spraying step and particle size are chosen so that the coating layer is applied in a thickness of between 50 and 150 microns.

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 inlet and outlet fluid lines in fluid communication via manifolds with a cold fluid supply line and a warm fluid return line, respectively. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell matrix affixed thereto to face the sun. The plates have dividers or partitions that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.

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 inlet and outlet fluid lines in fluid communication via manifolds with a cold fluid supply line and a warm fluid return line, respectively. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell matrix affixed thereto to face the sun. The plates have dividers or partitions that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.