The present invention relates to a solar surface receptor module that operates at a high temperature and comprises a channel (101) extending therethrough and along which a heat transfer occurs between a fluid (liquid or gas) moving in said channel (101) and at least one wall (104) of the receptor exposed to concentrated solar radiation, characterized in that the inner surface (105) of at least said wall includes turbulence-generating actuators (110) at the fluid inlet (102). The present invention also relates to a solar receptor therefor.

A solar collector has an opaque cover heated by solar energy. Heat flows from the opaque cover by conduction, convection, and infrared emittance across a gap within an at least substantially airtight enclosure to an absorber containing a working fluid. The exterior surface of the opaque cover has high solar energy absorptance and the interior surface has high infrared emittance. The exterior surface preferably has low infrared emittance. In one embodiment, fully wetted surface geometry permits direct and reflected infrared absorption by the absorber. The opaque cover eliminates the weight, cost and other shortcomings of glass. A hollow continuous side wall with rounded corners provides an embodiment that is robust yet economical, that is easy to manufacture and seal, that permits a reduced thickness of the opaque cover and mitigates the destructive potential of severe winds, and that can withstand the compressive forces experienced by an evacuated solar collector.

A spectrally selective solar absorber is described and comprises a substrate, double cermet layers comprising multi-metal nanoparticles embedded in a dielectrics matrix, and double antireflection layers deposited on cermet layers. The tungsten or titanium or tantalum infrared reflector layer suppressing the diffusion of substrate elements and multi-metal nanoparticles in the cermet are disclosed.

The present invention describes an improved multilayer solar selective coating useful for solar thermal power generation. Solar selective coating of present invention essentially consists of Ti/Chrome interlayer, two absorber layers (AlTiN and AlTiON) an anti-reflection layer (AlTiO). Coating deposition process uses Ti and Al as the source materials, which are abundantly available and easy to manufacture as sputtering targets for industrial applications. The present invention allows deposition of all the layers in a single sputtering chamber on flat and tubular substrates with high absorptance and low emittance, thus making the process simpler and cost effective. The process of the present invention can be up-scaled easily for deposition on longer tubes with good uniformity and reproducibility. The coating of the present invention also displays improved adhesion, UV stability, corrosion resistance and stability under extreme environments.

A solar collector housing that is opened and closed without tools includes structure for accommodating temperature-related expansion and contraction of a polymer absorber housed within the collector. The housing includes a transparent cover, a frame for holding the transparent cover, and a base. The cover, frame and base collectively define a hollow interior within which the polymer absorber is positioned. A plurality of latches is secured to an exterior of the frame. The frame and base are pivotally connected to one another when the latches are open so that the collector housing can be opened. The housing cannot be opened when the latches are closed. A pair of variable gate closure components are positioned in slots formed in a second end of the collector and enable the polymer absorber to expand and contract without placing stress on the absorber tubes.

A process for the production of an optically selective coating of a receiver substrate of a suitable material for solar receiver devices particularly suitable for operating at high temperatures, more specifically for receiver tubes of linear parabolic trough, which comprises: deposition of a layer reflecting infrared radiation consisting of a high-melting metal on a heated receiver substrate of a suitable material; annealing under the same temperature and pressure conditions as the deposition of the reflecting layer; deposition on the high-melting metal of one or more layers of metal-ceramic composite materials (CERMET), wherein the metal is W and the ceramic matrix is YPSZ (“Yttria-Partially Stabilized Zirconia”); deposition on the cermet of an antireflection layer; annealing under the same temperature and pressure conditions as the depositions of the cermet and antireflection layers.

The invention relates to a composition for producing a solar absorber coating, comprising a silicone resin formulated with: (i) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of black ruthenium oxides and black spinel; and (ii) a glass powder. A method of applying the composition and coatings formed are also provided.

Provided are a heat-absorbing material having high heat resistance and high wavelength selectivity, and a process for producing the same. The heat-absorbing material includes: a heat-resistant metal having the substantially same periodic structure in the light incidence plane as the wavelength of sunlight having a specific wavelength in the wavelength regions of visible light and near-infrared rays; and a cermet formed on the light incidence plane of the heat-resistant metal. Thus, there can be achieved desirable absorption and radiation characteristics being such that absorption is performed in the visible light region meanwhile reflection is performed in the infrared region. Furthermore, the cermet does not need complicated film-formation control, and therefore, the high heat resistance can be maintained.

A hybrid solar thermal collector is provided. The hybrid solar collector comprises a photovoltaic element to convert sunlight into electricity; and a solar thermal collector device comprising an absorber element to convert sunlight into heat; wherein the absorber element is immersed in a heat transfer fluid in use.

A heat receiver tube having first, second, and further partial heat receiver tube surfaces for absorbing and transferring solar energy to heat transfer fluid is presented. The first and further partial heat receiver tube surfaces are formed by solar absorptive coatings deposited on partial surfaces of core tube. The second partial heat receiver tube surface is formed by emission radiation inhibiting coating deposited on second core tube surface for inhibiting emissivity for infrared radiation. The further partial heat receiver tube surface is arranged in radiation window of second partial heat receiver tube surface such that direct sunlight impinges further partial heat receiver tube surface. The heat receiver tube is arranged in focal line of parabolic mirror of parabolic trough collector. The first partial heat receiver tube surface and sunlight reflecting surface is arranged face to face, second and further partial heat receiver tube surfaces are averted to reflecting surface.