A heat concentrator device for a solar power system includes an evacuated hollow body with a bottom, side walls, a top and an airtight cap. Portions of the side walls have inwardly reflective surfaces for concentrating solar radiation into the chamber toward a heat sink, which is positioned in the bottom of the chamber. The heat sink also is hollow and has an inlet port formed in one of its opposite side walls and an outlet port formed in the other for heat transfer fluid to flow into and out of the heat sink. Circuitous passageways form a maze that connects the inlet and outlet ports thus maximizing heat transfer to/from system fluid(s) within the heat sink. The sidewalls of the chamber of the device extend below the heat sink to form a partial vacuum chamber between its bottom and the heat sink. The device is mounted to a reflective dish of a solar power system in a unique way adding additional solar energy collection efficiencies.

A heat concentrator device for a solar power system includes an evacuated hollow body with a bottom, side walls, a top and an airtight cap. Portions of the side walls have inwardly reflective surfaces for concentrating solar radiation into the chamber toward a heat sink, which is positioned in the bottom of the chamber. The heat sink also is hollow and has an inlet port formed in one of its opposite side walls and an outlet port formed in the other for heat transfer fluid to flow into and out of the heat sink. Circuitous passageways form a maze that connects the inlet and outlet ports thus maximizing heat transfer to/from system fluid(s) within the heat sink. The sidewalls of the chamber of the device extend below the heat sink to form a partial vacuum chamber between its bottom and the heat sink. The device is mounted to a reflective dish of a solar power system in a unique way adding additional solar energy collection efficiencies.

It is provided a solar energy module for converting solar radiation to thermal energy. The module includes a thermally insulating element transmissive to solar radiation and having low transmissivity to thermal infra-red radiation, an absorbing element, a sealed enclosure, and a variable portion in the envelope of the sealed enclosure. This portion is adapted for varying the volume available to gas enclosed in the enclosure in accordance with changing temperature of the enclosed gas. Also, it is provided a solar energy module which includes a thermally insulating element, an absorbing surface and liquid pipes for absorbing the solar radiation, and an air duct thermally coupled thereof. The heated liquid and the heated air are usable for a variety of thermal applications. A heat storage may be thermally coupled to the absorbing surface and to the liquid pipes. The air duct has several air valves, and is associated with a controller for regulating air flow through the air duct. The controller may regulate heat flow in accordance with an optimization program, receiving inputs from several sources, like a sensor monitoring a building, a sensor monitoring the solar energy module, and an environment sensor.

A solar thermal collecting system, including at least one solar thermal collector and a pressure-adjusting module, is provided. The solar thermal collector includes a container, a light-transmissive cover that seals the container, and a plurality of solar thermal collecting pipes. The solar thermal collecting pipes are installed in the container, so as to allow a heat transfer material to flow therein. The outer surfaces of the solar thermal collecting pipes are correspondingly deposited with solar selective coatings for absorbing solar radiation energy, transforming the radiation energy into thermal energy, and transmitting thermal energy to the heat transfer material flowing in the solar thermal collecting pipes. The pressure-adjusting module controls the heat loss rate of the solar thermal collector by adjusting the air pressure inside the solar thermal collector and controlling the direction of air circulation to flow in or out of the solar thermal collector.

Disclosed is a method of applying a coating to a glass sleeve with an inner surface and an outer surface, the glass sleeve configured as a part of a solar-receiver tube. Thereby, the coating is solely applied to one of the surfaces of the glass sleeve. Also disclosed is a method of fixing such glass sleeve in an interior of a coating tank, such coating tank and a fixing arrangement for fixing such glass sleeve in an interior of a coating tank.

The glass panel unit includes a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate, a sealing member, an inside space, and a plurality of spacers. The inside space is hermetically enclosed by the first glass substrate, the second glass substrate, and the sealing member, and has reduced pressure. The plurality of spacers are placed in the inside space. At least one of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate is a wire-embedded glass panel with a wire structure embedded therein. The plurality of spacers are arranged so as to overlap with part of the wire structure in a plan view.

A solar collector that comprises a conduit for a working fluid, and a parabolic trough reflector arranged to focus reflected sunlight onto the conduit. The parabolic trough reflector is arranged to pivot around the conduit.

A solar collector that comprises a conduit for a working fluid, and a parabolic trough reflector arranged to focus reflected sunlight onto the conduit. The parabolic trough reflector is arranged to pivot around the conduit.

A method for introducing a protective gas into an annular space of a receiver tube, in particular for solar collectors, is provided where the annular space is formed at least by one outer cladding tube and an inner absorber tube of the receiver tube and the outer cladding tube is connected to the absorber tube by a wall. The method includes producing an opening that penetrates the cladding tube or the wall, introducing protective gas through the opening into the annular space, and subsequently closing the opening.

The present invention relates to a building module, in particular a facade module, roof module or window module, for utilizing solar energy and/or for thermal insulation. The building module comprises an inner pane and an outer pane, wherein an intermediate space is formed between the inner pane and the outer pane. A heat transfer element is arranged in the intermediate space and has at least one functional surface for absorbing thermal radiation and/or for controlling the temperature of the intermediate space. A fluid line is provided in which a heat transport medium is conducted, wherein a thermal contact is formed between the heat transfer element and the heat transport medium in order to exchange heat between the heat transfer element and the heat transport medium. The functional surface and the fluid line, to which the thermal contact is assigned, are arranged juxtaposed to one another when the functional surface is viewed in a perpendicular direction.