Concentrated solar power and heating systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described.

Inventive concentrated solar power systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described.

Inventive concentrated solar power systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described.

A modular solar air heater comprises an extruded metal frame having fingers operable to secure a glazing, an absorber, and an insulating back sheet to the frame. The heater may also operate as a cooler. The heater further comprises an active air circulation system, such as a fan, which may be coupled with an air inlet of the heater. The heater has an air outlet and may further include a bypass channel to direct the airflow alternatively through one or both the bypass channel and the air outlet. A heating element and a cooling element may be coupled with the air outlet to further heat and also cool the air through the air outlet, respectively. A photovoltaic panel may be included to provide electrical power to the heater.

The present invention relates to a solar evacuated heat collecting panel for collecting solar energy and more particularly, to a solar evacuated heat collecting panel having a heat absorbing plate and a heat medium circulating tube mounted therein so as to withstand external stress by means of a glass window structure and to minimize loss of solar energy collected therein. The present invention provides a solar evacuated heat collecting panel for collecting solar heat to obtain energy, the solar evacuated heat collecting panel comprising: a case made of glass or a metallic material; a glass window mounted on the upper portion of the case so as to form a space together with the case; a heat collecting portion comprising a heat collecting plate seated inside the case and the glass window and at least one heat medium circulating tube attached to the lower portion of the heat collecting plate by brazing welding and mounted so as to penetrate one side of the case; a side spacer made of a metallic material so as to connect a edge of the glass window and a edge of the case to each other; an inner spacer that penetrates the heat absorbing plate so as to support the case and the glass window at a predetermined interval; and an evacuating tube mounted on one side of the case so as to evacuate the interior of the panel.

A transparent sheet includes a texture in relief on a first of its main faces, such that, if n is the refractive index of the material including the texture, P.sub.m is the mean slope in degrees of the textured face and Y(q) is the percentage of the textured surface with a slope greater than q/(n1) in degrees, then the two cumulative conditions exist: Y(q)>3%+f(q) %*P.sub.m*(n1) and Y(q)>10%, with f(q)=24(3*q) and q=2 or 3.

A rigid solar thermal panel created from thin flexible materials, including a solar absorber layer of a metal sheet coated with a solar absorbent material having dimples, a tensioned optical film above an upper surface of the solar absorber layer, and an insulation layer. The insulation layer is spaced apart from a lower surface of the solar absorber layer to form a cavity. The dimples project into the cavity and at least one of the dimples is in contact with the insulation layer, thereby providing rigid support for the rigid solar thermal panel.

A modular solar air heater comprises an extruded metal frame having fingers operable to secure a glazing, an absorber, and an insulating back sheet to the frame. The heater may also operate as a cooler. The heater further comprises an active air circulation system, such as a fan, which may be coupled with an air inlet of the heater. The heater has an air outlet and may further include a bypass channel to direct the airflow alternatively through one or both the bypass channel and the air outlet. A heating element and a cooling element may be coupled with the air outlet to further heat and also cool the air through the air outlet, respectively. A photovoltaic panel may be included to provide electrical power to the heater.

A transparent sheet includes a texture in relief on a first of its main faces, such that, if n is the refractive index of the material including the texture, P.sub.m is the mean slope in degrees of the textured face and Y(q) is the percentage of the textured surface with a slope greater than q/(n1) in degrees, then the two cumulative conditions exist: Y(q)>3%+f(q)%.P.sub.m.(n1) and Y(q)>10%, with f(q)=24(3.q) and q=2 or 3.