The present disclosure describes a hybrid photovoltaic (PV) panel that includes: a first photovoltaic (PV) layer comprising photovoltaic cells capable of converting energy from incident solar power into electricity; a second transparent layer arranged underneath the first PV layer such that a portion of the incident solar power passes through; and a third thermal collection layer arranged underneath the second transparent layer and comprising absorbing material capable of absorbing energy from the portion of the incident solar power that has passed through the second transparent layer, wherein the second transparent layer includes a thermally insulating material to provide a thermal barrier between the first PV layer and the third thermal collection layer such that when the PV panel is operated, the first PV layer operates at a temperature lower than a temperature of the thermal collection layer.

The present invention discloses a solar heating system for cyclic heating of a swimming pool, relating to the swimming pool heating technology. The solar heating system structurally comprises a swimming pool, solar heaters and a water pump. Compared with the prior art, a solar panel is mainly added, and the water pump is installed on a solar heater in an integrated way that the water pump is connected with not only the solar heater as a waterway, but also the solar panel as a power supply circuit. After the above-mentioned improvements, the whole solar heating system has the advantages such as a compact structure, convenient disassembly and assembly, and miniaturization. Since the solar panel independently supplies power to the water pump, the solar heating system can be used normally in an outdoor place far away from a mains socket. The application place is not restricted with wide application scope.

A solar rack for supporting a solar panel, said solar rack including a pair of support frames, each support frame including a front member, a bottom member, and a rear member, wherein the front member, the bottom member, and the rear member cooperate to form a triangularly shaped structure; and a trough including two ends and a base, each end of the trough is configured to be attached to a portion of each of the support frames to form a support upon which the solar panel is disposed, the support having bottom surfaces, wherein the base of the trough is configured to be offset with respect to the bottom surfaces of the support.

A complex energy generation device includes: a heat storage tube having an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit; a heat-exchange plate having a plurality of insertion holes formed on a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a plurality of solar modules each including a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface of the solar panel, and a heat-exchange panel laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel; and a plurality of heat collection modules each including a heat-exchange block and a heat collection tube.

A portable solar collection apparatus and system describes an apparatus and system having a solar collector apparatus having a glaze and photovoltaic panel operatively coupled to a rectifier operatively coupled to a 12-volt battery and a circulation pump, the battery is operatively coupled to an inverter. The system and apparatus includes an insulator having a cold water compartment, a luke warm water compartment, and a hot water compartment. A circulation pump moves water through the rectifier and into the hot water compartment. A mixed temperature outlet receives some of the hot water mixed with cold for discharge. The outlet may be coupled to a shower head and/or stand for discharging water.

A hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panel based cogeneration system and heat pump and non-tracking non-imaging solar concentrator based CSP stabilized power generation system comprises a hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic panel based cogeneration subsystem to cogenerate electricity and heat, a heat pump subsystem to raise the temperature of the cogenerated heat, a non-tracking non-imaging solar concentrator based CSP subsystem to further upgrade the cogenerated thermal energy, a thermal storage to store the cogenerated heat, and a thermal power regeneration system to take the stored cogenerated heat to regenerate power. The power output of the cogeneration subsystem supplemented with the power output from the thermal power regeneration system realizes stabilized power output.

An apparatus, system, and method of collecting solar energy having a variable position for optimizing sunlight collection and for use in a heating and/or cooling system. The system includes a solar collector apparatus, a collector support frame assembly, a sun position tracking apparatus, a fluid transfer pump, a fluid storage tank, an insulated pipe for connecting the fluid pump to the storage tank and the solar collector, a differential temperature controller, and a safety override relay controller. The system includes a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing having an aluminum welded tube as reinforcement and method of making PEX tubing having an inner PEX layer and an outer polyethylene layer with an intermediate aluminum tube enveloped by adhesive layers for joining the inner and outer polyethylene layers with the aluminum tube. Carbon black particles are included in the outer layer of polyethylene material.

A geared continuously variable transmission (GCVT) is provided. The GCVT includes a first set of solar gears having a first solar gear and first plurality of connection components. Power enters the GCVT through the first set of solar gears. The GCVT includes a second set of solar gears having a second solar gear and second plurality of connection components. Power exits the GCVT through the second set of solar gears. Power is transmitted from the first set of solar gears to the second set of solar gears via the first plurality of connection components and the second plurality of connection components. The GCVT includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor connecting first component from the first plurality of connection components to second component from the second plurality of connection components and providing constant rotation ratio between the first component and the second component.

Solar thermal units and methods of operating solar thermal units for the conversion of solar insolation to thermal energy are provided. In some examples, solar thermal units have an inlet, and a split flow of heat absorbing fluid to either side of the solar thermal unit, along a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Optionally, one or more photovoltaic panels can be provided as part of the solar thermal unit, which may convert solar insolation to electric power that may be used by a system connected to the solar thermal unit.

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.