Pressure equalization between upper and lower surfaces of PV modules of an array of PV modules can be enhanced in several ways. Air gaps opening into the air volume, defined between the PV modules and the support surface, should be provided between adjacent PV modules and along the periphery of the array. The ratio of this air volume to the total area of the air gaps should be minimized. Peripheral wind deflectors should be used to minimize aerodynamic drag forces on the PV modules. The time to equalize pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the PV modules should be maintained below, for example, 10-20 milliseconds. The displacement created by wind gusts should be limited to, for example, 2-5 millimeters or less. For inclined PV modules, rear air deflectors are advised for each PV module and side air deflectors are advised for the periphery of the array.

A solar composite tube, including a solar vacuum tube having two open ends; a water path; an adsorbent; and an adsorbate. The solar vacuum tube includes an outer metal tube and an inner metal tube which are coaxially disposed inside the solar vacuum tube. The water path is formed between the outer metal tube and the solar vacuum tube; the adsorbent is disposed between the outer metal tube and the inner metal tube and is configured to exchange heat with water in the water path outside the outer metal tube; the inner metal tube includes a plurality of through holes; the adsorbate is disposed in the inner metal tube; and the adsorbate and the adsorbent form an adsorption-desorption working pair. The invention also provides a solar composite bed including a lower header, an upper header, and the solar composite tube.

A solar tracker assembly comprises a support column, a torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torsion beam, and a torsion limiter connected to an output of the drive system. When an external force causes a level of torsion on the drive system to exceed a pre-set limit the torsion limiter facilitates rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly in the direction of the torsion, thereby allowing the external force to rotate about a pivot axis extending through the torsion beam. Exemplary embodiments also include methods of aligning a plurality of rows of solar trackers.

The invention concerns a multilayer material comprising at least: a support having a reflectance R higher than 80% for radiations of wavelengths higher than 5 m, a selective layer comprising a combination of Vanadium oxides VO.sub.2 and VO.sub.2O.sub.2n+/1, with n>1, said selective layer having an absorbance higher than 75% for radiations of wavelengths comprised between 0.4 and 2.5 m, regardless of the temperature T, and having, for radiations of wavelengths comprised between 6 and 10 m, a transmittance Tr such that: Tr>85% for T<Tc, a critical temperature, 20%Tr50% for T>Tc. Application to the production of thermal solar panels having a low stagnation temperature and high performance.

A solar cooking appliance comprises a solar heat collector for collecting and storing solar heat. A first solid heat storage and conducting material for storing and conducting solar heat, the solid heat storage and conducting material is placed within the solar heat collector, the solar heat collector heats the solid heat storage and conducting material to a temperature higher than the water boiling temperature. A heat insulated solar cooking utensil is positioned outside of the solar heat collector, having a cooking utensil and a heat insulation. A second heat-transferring and conducting material connected thermally to the first solid heat storage and conducting material to the heat insulated solar cooking utensil for transferring solar heat.

In various representative aspects, a clamp assembly that secures a solar panel module to a rail support structure that utilizes a generally c-shaped clamp in combination with a t-bolt and a binding bolt such that the t-bolt and binding bolt fit through a pair of apertures in the c-shaped clamp. This enables the foot of the t-bolt to be inserted into a guide on the top of the rail support structure so that the clamp can subsequently secure the solar panel module to the rail support structure by rotating the binding bolt, which in turn locks the t-bolt within the guide and the top of the clamp is then tightened with continuous rotation of the binding bolt, which also enables raised portions on the foot of the t-bolt and top of the clamp to create an electrical bonding path between the solar panel module and the rail support structure.

The present invention relates to a rotating solar concentrating device wherein reflective sheets hung in a catenary trough shape capable of solar concentration may be protectively furled and balanced and rotated about a vertical axis. The reflective sheets may be furled to protect them from damage from wind, rain, and dust. In some embodiments, rotating parts of the device may be hung from supports above. In some embodiments, a furling mechanism may initiate protective furling in response to damaging environmental factors. Some embodiments may concentrate light on a photovoltaic cell wherein the photovoltaic cell is cooled by immersion in a heat pipe. In some embodiments, reflective surfaces may be supported by cables that are tensioned by a hanging, rotating ballast. In some embodiments, the device may be employed in a ganged array. In some embodiments, the invention may harvest wind energy as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).

A roof panel system including a plurality of roof panels, a plurality of side edge bracket systems and a plurality of end edge bracket systems. The plurality of roof panels are joined end to end and side to side by way of the side edge bracket systems and the end edge bracket systems.

An energy capturing device is positionable above a roof of a building, structure, or object. Each of a plurality of lifting components has a short leg with an inner end coupled to the building, structure, or object and has a long leg with an upper end positionable above the building, structure or object. An upper pivot member couples the upper ends of the long legs to the energy capturing device. A lower pivot member pivots the energy capturing device between a raised operative orientation above the building, structure, or object and a lowered inoperative orientation beneath the building, structure, or object. A control system allows positioning the energy capturing device with respect to the building, structure, or object.

A system comprises: at least one heat exchange panel (700) comprising: a main body (100) comprising a sealed cavity in which is provided a fluid in both liquid and gas phases and being configured to communicate heat energy by allowing evaporation of the liquid at one location and condensation of the liquid at a different location in the cavity; and at least a first heat exchanger part (130, 210a, 211a) including an inlet and an outlet for allowing the passing of fluid through the heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger part being thermally coupled to the heat spreading part so as to communicate heat energy between fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger part and the heat spreading part and thus the environment in which the heat spreading part is present. A controller is configured to cause control of pumps and valves to as to cause the system to operate in a number of different modes of operation, wherein the system is operable in an active heating mode of operation in which the controller controls the heat pump, the one or more fluid pumps and the valves to provide the system with: a first fluid circuit in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchange panel and a first side of the heat pump, a second fluid circuit in which fluid is pumped through the heat tank and the second side of the heat pump, and transfer by the heat pump of heat energy from the first fluid circuit to the second fluid circuit.