A solar water heater absorber absorbs the sun's energy on the surface of a twin-walled polycarbonate panel and conducts the heat from the sun through the panel wall into fluid flow through channels of the panel. The panel is an extruded polycarbonate glazing material that consists of two panes connected by longitudinal ribs to form a plurality of water channels that may further include twisted strips providing a helical water flow pattern that increases turbulence within the water channels. The panel is connected to large pipes or headers on the top and bottom ends of the panel that receive the heated fluid from the water channels, allow the heated fluid to exit the panel, and for return water to re-enter the panel in a solar water heating system.

A method for controlling stagnation in a solar collector, comprises: providing an solar energy absorbing substrate and a first layer; providing a second layer disposed between the first layer and the solar energy absorbing substrate; coupling an actuator to the solar energy absorbing substrate; and expanding the actuator when the solar collector is exposed to a stagnation temperature to form a gap between the first layer and the second layer.

A cladding panel that collects and/or emits thermal energy, which includes: a first panel; a second panel with an extrados adhered to an intrados of the first panel, forming a leaktight seal, with a low-relief channel, the channel being attached to the intrados of the first panel to form a conduit; an inlet connector for heat-conducting fluid, connected to a first end of the channel; and an outlet connector for heat-conducting fluid, connected to a second end of the channel, wherein the first panel is made of calibrated laminated ceramic with a flat, smooth intrados and a flat, smooth extrados and has a uniform thickness of 3-6 mm, and the second panel is made of waterproof heat-insulating plastic that is stable up to 120 C.

There is provided a cladding member (13) formed of a supporting body portion (67) having mounts (54) and a head portion (12), and an absorber surface portion (70) having a peripheral boundary wall (71) defining a recess into which a solar cell array (removed in this view for clarity) is bonded. The supporting (67) and absorber surface (70) body portions are pressure moulded from polyvinyl ester/glassfibre (30%)/fire retardant (40%)/pigment sheet moulding compound. Complementary bonding portions (72) form a glue line in assembly and have complementary water passages (73) defined therebetween. The bonding portions (72) contrive a generally sinusoidal glue space (74) that is longer that the transverse sectional dimension of the boding portions (72), cooperating with the adhesive system to resist water pressure in the passages (73).

A hybrid solar panel, comprising a photovoltaic panel coupled with transparent liquid thermal collector filled with coolant. Role of heat adsorber is coolant selectively transparent in the range of 400-1100 nm. Such panel is coupled with thermal collector by lamination.

The invention, in some embodiments, relates to solar energy collectors, and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to liquid-air transpired solar energy collectors, and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to thermal energy transfer systems that comprise solar energy collectors, and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments of the invention, methods of constructing solar energy collectors are provided.

There is provided a cladding member (13) formed of a supporting body portion (67) having mounts (54) and a head portion (12), and an absorber surface portion (70) having a peripheral boundary wall (71) defining a recess into which a solar cell array (removed in this view for clarity) is bonded. The supporting (67) and absorber surface (70) body portions are pressure moulded from polyvinyl ester/glassfibre (30%)/fire retardant (40%)/pigment sheet moulding compound. Complementary bonding portions (72) form a glue line in assembly and have complementary water passages (73) defined therebetween. The bonding portions (72) contrive a generally sinusoidal glue space (74) that is longer that the transverse sectional dimension of the boding portions (72), cooperating with the adhesive system to resist water pressure in the passages (73).

A flat plate heating solar panel comprised of polymer materials that can withstand relatively high temperatures. The polymer materials utilized in the panel have similar thermal expansion characteristics so that different components can by connected to each other without excessive stresses and damage during temperature changes, and with major components capable of being fabricated by molding processes, including extrusion and injection molding. An expansion joint or slot is provided in the enclosure frame to allow relative movement between the header connector and the frame in order to minimize stresses when large temperature differences exist between the absorber/header and the frame, and the slot design also provides a vent to relieve excessive air pressures inside the panel at high temperatures. An electronic controller with wireless capability, powered by a small photovoltaic solar cell with energy storage by a supercapacitor or an ultracapacitor, is integrated with the panel to operate a pump to circulate a heat transfer fluid through the panel when heating capability exists and when heat is needed to increase the temperature of the substance to be heated by the panel.

A solar thermal collector for heating a fluid with absorbed solar thermal energy from solar radiations is provided. The solar thermal collector comprises an inlet configured to supply the fluid into the solar thermal collector, an outlet configured to evacuate the fluid from the solar thermal collector, and a solar absorber having an absorber plate and a base plate. The absorber plate has an absorber plate perimeter and an absorbing surface configured for absorbing the solar thermal energy from solar radiations. The base plate is connected to the absorber plate along the entire absorber plate perimeter so as to define a sealed cavity. The base plate and the absorber plate are connected at a plurality of contact points distributed so as to create an array of junctures across the sealed cavity, thereby allowing the fluid to circulate throughout the sealed cavity when flowing from the inlet to the outlet.

Disclosed herein is a solar thermal collector system that is particularly configured for dual use as a radiant cooling system. In accordance with aspects of a particular embodiment of the invention, the solar thermal collector system includes a solar thermal module having a glazing sheet at a top, exterior surface, and an absorber sheet within the module positioned below and spaced apart from the glazing sheet. The absorber sheet and the glazing sheet are fluidly connected to a fluid handling system, and are configured to carry a working fluid that may be heated in the absorber sheet by the sun to transfer such heat to equipment within the facility in which the system is installed, and to carry the working fluid through the glazing sheet to transfer heat collected from the facility to space. The solar thermal collector module is preferably provided a thermally actuated valve that allows the working fluid to also flow through the glazing sheet, which results in self-regulation of the temperature of the module below a critical design temperature.