Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, an apparatus for collecting solar energy and simultaneously protecting against damage from a resulting energy beam includes a solar energy collection system including at least one concentrator and a target configured to use, store, or convert the solar energy, the collection system configured to cause solar energy to focus on the target, at least one sensor configured to detect misalignment of the concentrator by determining that some or all of the collected solar energy is offset from the target, and a safety system configured to redirect the energy or interpose a safety structure for shielding other non-target systems from receiving too much solar energy from the collection system.

A hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system that is adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity. The STEC system comprises a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface having a diffractive optical structure and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes and supporting trays, and a secured underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes. The housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below.

This invention relates to flat plate solar collectors and, particularly, to solar panels applied in these flat plate solar collectors.

The proposed solar panel is designed as a shallow box, with rear and front walls, which are conditionally vertically positioned a most part of the external surface of the front wall is provided with a coating absorbing solar radiation.

In addition, the internal side of the rear wall is joined with an auxiliary perforated sheet.

There is a rectangular pipe, which is installed vertically or horizontally on the exterior side of the front wall and serves for passage of a liquid to be heated.

The solar panel is functioning as a flat heat pipe with zones of evaporation and condensation on the front wall.

Elastic deformations of the front and rear walls under difference between atmospheric and internal pressure allows to prevent overheating of liquid in the vertical rectangular pipe.

Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, a rocket propulsion system is configured to produce thrust for a spacecraft and includes: one or more optical elements configured to receive solar energy. The optical elements include: a first window configured to allow energy to enter the rocket propulsion system and form a concentrated energy beam, and a second window positioned to allow the concentrated energy beam to pass to the heat exchanger. The second window is spaced away from the first window to form a pressurized plenum chamber therebetween. The system further includes: a heat exchanger configured to receive the energy and use it to heat and pressurize a propulsion gas, and a rocket nozzle configured to expel the pressurized propulsion gas.

Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, an apparatus for collecting solar energy and simultaneously protecting against damage from a resulting energy beam includes a solar energy collection system including at least one concentrator and a target configured to use, store, or convert the solar energy, the collection system configured to cause solar energy to focus on the target, at least one sensor configured to detect misalignment of the concentrator by determining that some or all of the collected solar energy is offset from the target, and a safety system configured to redirect the energy or interpose a safety structure for shielding other non-target systems from receiving too much solar energy from the collection system.

A hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system that is adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity. The STEC system comprises a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface having a diffractive optical structure and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes and supporting trays, and a secured underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes. The housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below.

Solar collectors can provide power for electricity, thermal propulsion, and material processing (e.g., mining asteroids). In one aspect, a rocket propulsion system is configured to produce thrust for a spacecraft and includes: one or more optical elements configured to receive solar energy. The optical elements include: a first window configured to allow energy to enter the rocket propulsion system and form a concentrated energy beam, and a second window positioned to allow the concentrated energy beam to pass to the heat exchanger. The second window is spaced away from the first window to form a pressurized plenum chamber therebetween. The system further includes: a heat exchanger configured to receive the energy and use it to heat and pressurize a propulsion gas, and a rocket nozzle configured to expel the pressurized propulsion gas.

A pump (2) system includes a pump, a sensor (22; 28) arranged in or at a flow path (14), and a concentration measurement device measuring a concentration in liquid inside the flow path (14). The concentration measurement device includes the sensor (22; 28), as a concentration sensor, connected to an evaluation device (26) for evaluating readings of the sensor (22; 28). The evaluation device (26) is connected to a further signal source (20; 24), providing at least one further parameter, and is configured to carry out an evaluation of the reading of the sensor (22; 28), taking into account the further parameter provided by the further signal source (20, 24) to output the concentration in the liquid. A solar heating system includes the pump system.

A freeze prevention valve comprising a body having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16) for fluid to exit the valve in an open condition, a valve seat (18) provided adjacent an opening (22) of the valve, a piston member (20) that is movable in the body, the piston member comprising a piston shaft and a piston head (24), the piston head (24) arranged to seat against the valve seat (18) in a closed condition of the valve, a temperature sensing device (26) comprising a temperature sensitive element (28), operatively associated with the piston head (24), wherein the temperature sensitive element contracts and expands when the temperature of the fluid sensed by the temperature sensing device decreases or increases, wherein contraction of the temperature sensitive element allows the return spring (30) to move the piston member to unseat the piston head from the valve seat and thereby open the valve.

A freeze prevention valve comprising a body having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16) for fluid to exit the valve in an open condition, a valve seat (18) provided adjacent an opening (22) of the valve, a piston member (20) that is movable in the body, the piston member comprising a piston shaft and a piston head (24), the piston head (24) arranged to seat against the valve seat (18) in a closed condition of the valve, a temperature sensing device (26) comprising a temperature sensitive element (28), operatively associated with the piston head (24), wherein the temperature sensitive element contracts and expands when the temperature of the fluid sensed by the temperature sensing device decreases or increases, wherein contraction of the temperature sensitive element allows the return spring (30) to move the piston member to unseat the piston head from the valve seat and thereby open the valve.