A localized heating structure includes a spectrally-selective solar absorber, that absorbs incident solar radiation and reflects at wavelengths longer than 2 m, with an underlying heat-spreading layer having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 50 W/(mK), a thermally insulating layer, adjacent to the spectrally-selective solar absorber, having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(mK), one or more evaporation openings through the spectrally-selective solar absorber and the thermally insulating layer, and an evaporation wick, disposed in one or more of the evaporation openings in the thermally insulating layer, that contacts liquid and allows the liquid to be transported from a location beneath the thermally insulating layer through to the spectrally-selective solar absorber in order to generate vapor from the liquid. The thermally insulating layer is configured to have a density less than the liquid so that the localized heating structure is able to float on the liquid.

A localized heating structure includes a spectrally-selective solar absorber, that absorbs incident solar radiation and reflects at wavelengths longer than 2 m, with an underlying heat-spreading layer having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 50 W/(mK), a thermally insulating layer, adjacent to the spectrally-selective solar absorber, having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(mK), one or more evaporation openings through the spectrally-selective solar absorber and the thermally insulating layer, and an evaporation wick, disposed in one or more of the evaporation openings in the thermally insulating layer, that contacts liquid and allows the liquid to be transported from a location beneath the thermally insulating layer through to the spectrally-selective solar absorber in order to generate vapor from the liquid. The thermally insulating layer is configured to have a density less than the liquid so that the localized heating structure is able to float on the liquid.

A solar thermal collector is provided. The collector comprises a housing defining an inlet, and an outlet for a heat transfer fluid, said housing comprising a window to allow sunlight to pass there through; a heat transfer core disposed within the interior of the housing said housing designed to be heated by exposure to said sunlight; and a heat absorbing component in proximity to the heat transfer core, said heat absorbing component designed to at least partially absorb heat losses from the heat transfer core; wherein a positioning the components within the housing defines at least one path for the heat transfer fluid for preheating of the heat transfer fluid prior to said heat transfer fluid passing through the heat transfer core.

A thermal engine includes a thermal battery with a thermal mass for storing regenerative wind and solar energy using a solar lens and mechanical friction generated by the rotation of a wind turbine. The thermal engine comprises a thermal battery; a thermal engine; means of charging the thermal battery using natural energy including a solar lens; a wind turbine; and charging by electrical means. The invention further comprises a means of converting stored thermal energy to mechanical power using non-combustible fluids to drive devices such as an electric generator, a water pump; a means of using said thermal energy to directly heat homes and industrial facilities; a means of using said thermal energy for cooling homes and industrial facilities.

The invention relates to a product for heating comprising at least one heating unit (2), which comprises a base material layer with an emission reducing structure on top of said an energy converting structure, combined together to form a selective absorber layer on at least one of the sides of the base material layer, at least one insulation layer (4, 5, 6, 7) of transparent flexible material located on the heating unit (2), which heating unit and the at least one insulation layer on the heating unit (2) of the product (1) are attached to each other air-tightly on the sides such that between at least some of the layers at least one closed air pocket (10, 11) is formed, characterized in that the content to be heated by the product is located below to the base material of the heating unit of the product (1), that temperature of the content of the product (1) will be 90 C.-160 C., as result of the placing the product (1) exposed to radiation of selected wavelengths, and that the energy converting structure in the selective absorber layer has an absorption factor (aS) of a minimum of 0.9 and the emission reducing structure has an emission factor (E) of a maximum of 0.1 and that ratio between the absorption factor (aS) and the emission factor (E) is equal or higher than 9 and that when the selective absorber is exposed to wavelengths ranging from 350 nm to 4000 nm, the energy converting structure converts the wavelengths to thermal energy ranging from 4000 nm to 40.000 nm and the emission of thermal energy is reduced by the emission reducing structure and the contained energy is being used for heating the content of the product (1).

The invention relates to a product for heating comprising at least one heating unit (2), which comprises a base material layer with an emission reducing structure on top of said an energy converting structure, combined together to form a selective absorber layer on at least one of the sides of the base material layer, at least one insulation layer (4, 5, 6, 7) of transparent flexible material located on the heating unit (2), which heating unit and the at least one insulation layer on the heating unit (2) of the product (1) are attached to each other air-tightly on the sides such that between at least some of the layers at least one closed air pocket (10, 11) is formed, characterized in that the content to be heated by the product is located below to the base material of the heating unit of the product (1), that temperature of the content of the product (1) will be 90 C.-160 C., as result of the placing the product (1) exposed to radiation of selected wavelengths, and that the energy converting structure in the selective absorber layer has an absorption factor (aS) of a minimum of 0.9 and the emission reducing structure has an emission factor (E) of a maximum of 0.1 and that ratio between the absorption factor (aS) and the emission factor (E) is equal or higher than 9 and that when the selective absorber is exposed to wavelengths ranging from 350 nm to 4000 nm, the energy converting structure converts the wavelengths to thermal energy ranging from 4000 nm to 40.000 nm and the emission of thermal energy is reduced by the emission reducing structure and the contained energy is being used for heating the content of the product (1).

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.

An inflatable light concentrating mirror (10) comprising a first transparent sheet (1) and a second reflective sheet (2), wherein the first sheet and second sheet are connected or sealed to each other, whereby a void is provided there-between, the void being adapted to receive a gas so as to inflate the light concentrating mirror, characterized in that the mirror further comprises tensioning means (14) adapted to produce a defined longitudinal tension (11) in at least the second sheet (2) such that wrinkles or creases therein are significantly reduced. The tensioning means comprises one or more tensioning devices (14) adapted to be attached to at least one mirror end or one free end of the second sheet, the tensioning device is configured to provide a pulling force (11) on the second sheet so as to provide the longitudinal tension.

A method for full spectrum solar thermal energy harvesting and collection includes storing a first heat in a phase change material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, harvesting a second heat from the phase change material in the presence of solar radiation, storing molecular energy in a molecular storage material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, transferring the second heat from the phase change material to the molecular storage material in the absence of solar radiation, and harvesting the molecular energy released by the molecular storage material.

A method for full spectrum solar thermal energy harvesting and collection includes storing a first heat in a phase change material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, harvesting a second heat from the phase change material in the presence of solar radiation, storing molecular energy in a molecular storage material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, transferring the second heat from the phase change material to the molecular storage material in the absence of solar radiation, and harvesting the molecular energy released by the molecular storage material.