An integrated solar thermal system for a building roof is provided. The system utilizes a plurality of fin pipes to collect solar energy as heat, and to transfer this heat to a working fluid conveyed in a parallel flow through the fin pipes. The heated working fluid is then used for productive energy conversion.

An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system having a turbine with an upstream side and a downstream side. Warm water under a partial vacuum is converted into a vapor, the vapor being supplied to the upstream side of the turbine at a pressure controlled by the temperature of the warm water. A condenser is situated on the downstream side of the turbine to cause the vapor, after passing through the turbine, to undergo a phase change back to a liquid, which can be used as potable water. The condenser is coupled to a source of a cooling liquid, and the pressure of the vapor on the downstream side of the turbine is determined by the temperature of the cooling liquid. A flexible floating solar collector supplies the warm liquid to the upstream side at a temperature higher than normal ambient temperature.

Heat storage devices and circuits suitable for storing solar energy, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. Representative systems can include a solar energy collection system having a first solar field coupled between a first working fluid source and a target heat user via first fluid network, at least one heat storage device, and a second solar field coupled to the at least one heat storage device via a second fluid network. The second fluid network carries a second working fluid and is isolated from fluid communication with the first fluid network. At least one heat exchanger is coupled to the first and second fluid networks to provide thermal communication between the first and second fluid networks.

An solar energy harvester and method for controlling the solar energy harvester, in which an insolation collector is formed of one or more elements each having two opposite major sides, a first side and a second side, and being configured to collect energy from insolation incident on any of the first and second sides. A cradle enables installation of the insolation collector on a roof with the first side generally towards the sun independently of the form of the roof. One or more heliostats reflect insolation to the second side of the insolation collector. A controller controls the one or more heliostats to maintain reflected insolation incident on the collector and to decrease the reflected insolation incident on the collector when necessary to inhibit the insolation collector receiving insolation exceeding given threshold through its first and second sides.

Disclosed is a solar collector panel (1) configured for collecting thermal energy by heating of air. The solar collector panel (1) comprises an air conduit (2) for guiding air through the panel (1) between an air inlet (3) and an air outlet (4) and the panel (1) comprises air flow means (5) arranged to generate an air flow through the air conduit (2) from the air inlet (3) to the air outlet (4). The panel (1) further comprises light absorbing means (6) arranged in or at the air conduit (2) to heat passing air and air drying means (7) arranged between the air inlet (3) and the light absorbing means (6), wherein the air drying means (7) is arranged to reduce the absolute humidity of passing air. A method for operating a solar collector panel (1) is also disclosed.

A method for manufacture of a fire-proof and insulating prefabricated building wall comprising a wall core of an expanded, foamed plastic material, such as EPS (expanded polystyrene), with an integrated reinforcement structure and a coating of a cementitious material.

A roof comprises a solar radiation heat recovery device that is invisible from the outside. The roof is made up of supports receiving a heat transfer network which has a longitudinal groove designed to receive the male profile of the protrusion of the heat recovery modules. The supports comprise arms which exert a lateral pressure on the flexible network. The resilient deformation of the network permits the sliding thereof between the arms to the clamped position. The groove of the network closes around the protrusion, immobilizing the module and holding the assembly in the support fixed to the roof frame. The roof is particularly intended to recover solar radiation heat in a way that is aesthetically pleasing, economical, simple and easy to install.

A panel (50) having a visible side and a rear side opposite to the visible side (3), wherein the rear side has at least one fastening portion (15, 16), wherein the panel (50) has a concrete covered area, wherein there is provided a capillary tube mat (5), which is incorporated into the concrete area such that the capillary tube mat (50) is completely concealed by the concrete covered area at least on the visible side (3).

A solar receiver (100), for capturing solar radiation, comprising a radiation capturing element (3) and a channel (8) around that element, through which channel (8) a pressurized working fluid is passed to absorb thermal energy from the radiation capturing element.

A low profile flexible solar thermal panel has low-cost, thin sheet foil and film materials fabricated as an integrated airtight solar thermal panel and a dual-port bifurcated duct adapter and formed metal foil air passages. The bifurcated air duct and formed metal foil layer enables, the panel to require only a single duct orifice through a mounting surface (such as a roof or wall) to provide both ingress and egress for air flow. The formed metal foil layer supplies a rigid support for two laminar air passages that steer forced air from the ingress port through a lower laminar air passage and returns it through the upper laminar air passage to the egress port in the bifurcated duct. The air duct enables measurement of the inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature and circulated air volume, further enabling electronic measurement of total energy produced in standard units.