Solar energy is collected and used for various industrial processes, such as oilfield applications, e.g. generating steam that is injected downhole, enabling enhanced oil recovery. Solar energy is indirectly collected using a heat transfer fluid in a solar collector, delivering heat to a heat exchanger that in turn delivers heat into oilfield feedwater, producing hotter water or steam. Solar energy is directly collected by directly generating steam with solar collectors, and then injecting the steam downhole. Solar energy is collected to preheat water that is then fed into fuel-fired steam generators that in turn produce steam for downhole injection. Solar energy is collected to produce electricity via a Rankine cycle turbine generator, and rejected heat warms feedwater for fuel-fired steam generators. Solar energy is collected (directly or indirectly) to deliver heat to a heater-treater, with optional fuel-fired additional heat generation.

To overcome shortcomings of the conventional thermal receiver, embodiments of the technology disclosed herein are directed towards an improved thermal receiver. More particularly, the various embodiments of the technology disclosed herein relate to thermal receivers without a vacuum insulation, otherwise known as an approximation of a blackbody. Various embodiments of the technology disclosed herein enable greater absorption of sunlight collected by a parabolic solar trough concentrator compared with conventional thermal receivers.

A solar thermal collector using one-piece parabolic frame having a one-piece reflector or thin mirror film provided on the top portion of the one-piece parabolic frame, a heat collection element tube where heat transfer fluid is to be provided and a solar tracking system that provides precise focus of the parabola to the sun optimizing the heat transfer from the heat collection element tube (HCE) to the heat transfer fluid (HTF).

The present application relates to a solar array field (100) having an improved configuration, comprising a plurality of vacuum solar thermal panel (1) and a hydraulic circuit (10) for circulating a heat transfer fluid, said hydraulic circuit (10) comprising at least one circulation path (13, 14, 15, 16) connecting a low-temperature inlet (11) to a high-temperature outlet (12), said circulation path (13, 14, 15, 16) comprising a forward portion (15) successively traversing a plurality of vacuum solar thermal panels (1); said circulation path (13, 14, 15, 16) further comprising a return portion (16) connected downstream to said forward portion (15), said return portion (16) traversing the same vacuum solar thermal panels (1) in reverse order.

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.

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.

An external solar receiver for a tower solar concentration thermodynamic plant and a field of heliostats includes a plurality of panels wherein each panel with heat exchanger tubes is connected to an interior support element, with an axis substantially perpendicular to the panel, the interior support element being furthermore connected in a rotary manner to a support element belonging to the internal structure by means of at least two parallel, substantially horizontal connecting rods. The connecting rods are each articulated at a first end on the interior support element and at a second end on the support element, respectively, so that under the effect of thermal expansion or contraction of the panels with heat exchangers, each of the panels moves substantially parallel to itself and without deformation of the surface thereof, and in such a way that the polygonal or circular cross-section of the receiver undergoes a homothetic transformation.

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.

A solar boiler 300 includes first and second primary receiver panels 500, 600 spaced apart by a gap 700. Each panel 500, 600 include a plurality of primary boiler tubes 510, 610 for receiving solar flux. The boiler 300 includes at least one secondary receiver arrangement 800 disposed across the gap 700 for receiving solar flux incident thereacross. The arrangement 800 includes at least one secondary boiler tube 810, and at least one support member 820 supported thereto. The arrangement 800 is configured relative to the primary panels 500, 600 such that endmost primary boiler tubes 510a, 610a are supported over the support member 820 in spaced relation S to the secondary boiler tube 810 for enabling transverse and lateral thermal expansion of the tubes 510, 610, 810 without bending out. Further, a panel joining attachment 900 is provided for attaching the panels 500, 600 and the arrangement 800.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an fluid circulating installation adapted with a temperature equalization system and fluid transmission duct disposed in a heat carrier existing in solid or liquid state in the nature where presents comparatively larger and more reliable heat carrying capacity. The fluid passes through the solid or gas state semiconductor application installation to regulate the semiconductor application installation for temperature equalization, and flows back to the heat equalization installation disposed in the natural heat carrier of heat for the heat equalization installation providing good heat conduction in the natural heat carrier to provide the operation of temperature equalization regulating function on the backflow of the fluid.