A glazing unit is provided for producing an aesthetically pleasing effect, comprising or consisting of at least one pane, said pane having a first structured surface to which a three-dimensional photonic structure is applied and the average refractive index of the photonic structure being higher than approximately 1.6 or higher than approximately 1.8 or higher than approximately 1.95. A method of producing such a glazing unit and the use thereof is also provided.

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 low profile flexible solar thermal panel has low-cost, thin sheet foil and film materials fabricated as an integrated airtight solar thermal panel and a dual-port bifurcated duct adapter and formed metal foil air passages. The bifurcated air duct and formed metal foil layer enables, the panel to require only a single duct orifice through a mounting surface (such as a roof or wall) to provide both ingress and egress for air flow. The formed metal foil layer supplies a rigid support for two laminar air passages that steer forced air from the ingress port through a lower laminar air passage and returns it through the upper laminar air passage to the egress port in the bifurcated duct. The air duct enables measurement of the inlet air temperature, outlet air temperature and circulated air volume, further enabling electronic measurement of total energy produced in standard units.

A solar collector can comprise: a polymeric housing; a polymeric cover attached to the housing defining an internal volume of the solar collector; a solar energy absorber attached to the housing and located within an area defined by the housing and the cover; wherein the housing comprises a flexible sealing member; and wherein the cover comprises a honeycomb structure.

An extremely low cost solar concentrator made of membranes or films is inflated into a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) a non-image concentrator. The portion of the inflatable concentrator, which is shaped into a CPC concentrator, is formed with reflective membranes or films, and the portions of the inflatable concentrator on the top of CPC and on the bottom of the concentrator are made of clear membranes or films. The incident light including parallel rays of light and diffuse light, as long as falling into the half acceptance angle of the CPC, will be concentrated to the bottom exit aperture of the CPC. Therefore, this type concentrator reduces the requirement to the accuracy of tracking for concentration. In addition, this type of concentrator demonstrates more tolerance to shape distortion for concentration than imaging system.

An extremely low cost solar concentrator made of membranes or films is inflated into a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) a non-image concentrator. The portion of the inflatable concentrator, which is shaped into a CPC concentrator, is formed with reflective membranes or films, and the portions of the inflatable concentrator on the top of CPC and on the bottom of the concentrator are made of clear membranes or films. The incident light including parallel rays of light and diffuse light, as long as falling into the half acceptance angle of the CPC, will be concentrated to the bottom exit aperture of the CPC. Therefore, this type concentrator reduces the requirement to the accuracy of tracking for concentration. In addition, this type of concentrator demonstrates more tolerance to shape distortion for concentration than imaging system.

A glazing unit is provided for producing an aesthetically pleasing effect. The glazing unit may include at least one polymer with a first structured surface to which a photonic structure is applied. The surface can reflect a first partial spectrum of incident electromagnetic radiation, and can transmit a second partial spectrum of incident electromagnetic radiation. A reflected proportion corresponds to a higher harmonic and is in a visible spectral range.

A thermophotovoltaic panel, including a first surface for receiving solar radiation, photovoltaic cells connected to said first receiving surface, a heat exchanger connected to said photovoltaic cells, and a second surface, opposite to the first, for supporting the panel, said heat exchanger being positioned between said first receiving surface and said second supporting surface, wherein said photovoltaic cells and said exchanger are embedded in at least one resin, preferably cold-polymerised epoxy resin, to constitute a body including said first receiving surface and said second supporting surface, wherein at least one layer of resin at said first receiving surface is constituted of substantially transparent resin.

A solar collector system comprising at least one heliostat and an inflatable cover configured to protectively conceal the at least one heliostat while it tracks the sun. The inflatable cover comprises a flexible membrane, which is transparent and colorless so that sunlight is transmitted through the cover. The cover may comprise an elastomeric material such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The solar collector system may further include a pump for inflating the inflatable cover, a pressure relief valve configured to prevent air pressure in the inflatable cover from exceeding a predetermined threshold, and a pressure sensor configured to automatically turn on the pump when the internal pressure falls below a predetermined threshold. The inflatable cover effectively removes wind loading from the heliostats, thus enabling the heliostats to use low-power, less-expensive actuators.

A solar collector system comprising at least one heliostat and an inflatable cover configured to protectively conceal the at least one heliostat while it tracks the sun. The inflatable cover comprises a flexible membrane, which is transparent and colorless so that sunlight is transmitted through the cover. The cover may comprise an elastomeric material such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The solar collector system may further include a pump for inflating the inflatable cover, a pressure relief valve configured to prevent air pressure in the inflatable cover from exceeding a predetermined threshold, and a pressure sensor configured to automatically turn on the pump when the internal pressure falls below a predetermined threshold. The inflatable cover effectively removes wind loading from the heliostats, thus enabling the heliostats to use low-power, less-expensive actuators.