The present disclosure is directed to materials, devices, and methods for resonant ambient thermal energy harvesting. Thermal energy can be harvested using thermoelectric resonators that capture and store ambient thermal fluctuations and convert the fluctuations to energy. The resonators can include non-linear heat transfer elements, such as thermal diodes, to enhance their performance. Incorporation of thermal diodes can allow for a dynamic rectification of temperature fluctuations into a single polarity temperature difference across a heat engine for power extraction, as compared to the dual polarity nature of the output voltage of linear thermal resonators, which typically necessitates electrical rectification to be routed to an entity for energy storage. In some embodiments, the thermal diode can be applied to transient energy harvesting to construct thermal diode bridges. Methods for constructing such devices, and using such devices, are also provided.

The present disclosure is directed to materials, devices, and methods for resonant ambient thermal energy harvesting. Thermal energy can be harvested using thermoelectric resonators that capture and store ambient thermal fluctuations and convert the fluctuations to energy. The resonators can include non-linear heat transfer elements, such as thermal diodes, to enhance their performance. Incorporation of thermal diodes can allow for a dynamic rectification of temperature fluctuations into a single polarity temperature difference across a heat engine for power extraction, as compared to the dual polarity nature of the output voltage of linear thermal resonators, which typically necessitates electrical rectification to be routed to an entity for energy storage. In some embodiments, the thermal diode can be applied to transient energy harvesting to construct thermal diode bridges. Methods for constructing such devices, and using such devices, are also provided.

A solar power generator has: a frame securable to an underwater ground surface; a shaft supported by the frame; a casing floatable on a body of water and movably mounted to the frame via the shaft, the casing rotatable relative to the frame about a first axis defined by the shaft; a photovoltaic cell array secured to the casing; and a motor operatively connected to the casing for rotating the casing about the first axis to orient the photovoltaic cell array towards a sun in function of an azimuth of the sun.

A solar power generator has: a frame securable to an underwater ground surface; a shaft supported by the frame; a casing floatable on a body of water and movably mounted to the frame via the shaft, the casing rotatable relative to the frame about a first axis defined by the shaft; a photovoltaic cell array secured to the casing; and a motor operatively connected to the casing for rotating the casing about the first axis to orient the photovoltaic cell array towards a sun in function of an azimuth of the sun.

A solar cell structure is disclosed that includes a first metal layer, formed over predefined portions of a sun-exposed major surface of a semiconductor structure, that form electrical gridlines of the solar cell; a network of carbon nanotubes formed over the first metal layer; and a second metal layer formed onto the network of carbon nanotubes, wherein the second metal layer infiltrates the network of carbon nanotubes to connect with the first metal layer to form a first metal matrix composite comprising a metal matrix and a carbon nanotube reinforcement, wherein the second metal layer is an electrically conductive layer in which the carbon nanotube reinforcement is embedded in and bonded to the metal matrix, and the first metal matrix composite provides enhanced mechanical support as well as enhanced or equal electrical conductivity for the electrical contacts against applied mechanical stressors to the electrical contacts.

A controller of a power generation system provides, in response to a request or a determination to initiate a heating mode for a photovoltaic (PV) array, a first instruction to an inverter coupled between the PV array and a power grid to apply an initial backfeed voltage on PV modules of the PV array. The PV array comprises a plurality of strings of PV modules coupled in parallel, and a first subset of the strings of PV modules are online and a second subset of the strings of PV modules are offline. The controller monitors current data from a set of current sensors that each measure current provided from a corresponding set of strings of PV modules of the plurality of strings of PV modules of the PV array. The controller also provides a second command to the inverter to adjust the backfeed voltage.

A controller of a power generation system provides, in response to a request or a determination to initiate a heating mode for a photovoltaic (PV) array, a first instruction to an inverter coupled between the PV array and a power grid to apply an initial backfeed voltage on PV modules of the PV array. The PV array comprises a plurality of strings of PV modules coupled in parallel, and a first subset of the strings of PV modules are online and a second subset of the strings of PV modules are offline. The controller monitors current data from a set of current sensors that each measure current provided from a corresponding set of strings of PV modules of the plurality of strings of PV modules of the PV array. The controller also provides a second command to the inverter to adjust the backfeed voltage.

Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, an apparatus for collecting solar energy and simultaneously protecting against damage from a resulting energy beam includes a solar energy collection system including at least one concentrator and a target configured to use, store, or convert the solar energy, the collection system configured to cause solar energy to focus on the target, at least one sensor configured to detect misalignment of the concentrator by determining that some or all of the collected solar energy is offset from the target, and a safety system configured to redirect the energy or interpose a safety structure for shielding other non-target systems from receiving too much solar energy from the collection system.

An mobile solar powered EV charging station consists of an inflatable solar concentrator based hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic subsystem with thermoelectric activated thermal storage to store thermal storage and regenerate electric power; a battery bank subsystem to store the cogenerated electric energy from the hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic subsystem; an electric driving subsystem to make the entire system mobile; and a control subsystem to coordinate all of the subsystem to work. The mobile EV charging station is not only able to generate electric power locally to charge EVs, but also able to transport power from solar powered EV changing station network and power grid to the sites where EVs are located.

A new system of solar construction, technology and methods for making off structure constructed panel blocks are disclosed.