A novel method is described for room heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored heat can then be extracted by air circulation for room heating. The temperature of the room air is controlled by a thermostat. When the room temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating air pump turns on and extract the solar heat until the room temperature air reaches the desired set temperature. Once room temperature reaches the set point in the thermostat, the air circulation pump turns off.

A novel method is described for room heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored heat can then be extracted by air circulation for room heating. The temperature of the room air is controlled by a thermostat. When the room temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating air pump turns on and extract the solar heat until the room temperature air reaches the desired set temperature. Once room temperature reaches the set point in the thermostat, the air circulation pump turns off.

In one embodiment a solar collector is provided. The collector has a modular heat transfer component, which includes a heat transfer core to heat up a heat transfer fluid in the form of an aerogel. The heat transfer core positioned comprises a light absorption element, and a fluid transfer element in the form of an aerogel. The aero gel comprises voids shaped and dimensioned to support passive pumping of the heat transfer fluid therethrough.

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.

The disclosure discloses a flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module and a production process thereof. The flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module includes a frame, wherein the lower surface of the frame is provided with a heat preservation back plate, the upper surface of the frame is sequentially laminated with a glass cover plate, a first photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a photovoltaic cell slice, a second photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a transparent back plate, a third photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive and a heat absorbing component from top to bottom, and a heat preservation cavity is formed between the heat preservation back plate and the heat absorption part.

The disclosure discloses a flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module and a production process thereof. The flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module includes a frame, wherein the lower surface of the frame is provided with a heat preservation back plate, the upper surface of the frame is sequentially laminated with a glass cover plate, a first photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a photovoltaic cell slice, a second photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a transparent back plate, a third photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive and a heat absorbing component from top to bottom, and a heat preservation cavity is formed between the heat preservation back plate and the heat absorption part.

A passive thermal regulation system includes a substrate and a coating. The coating is positioned to encapsulate at least a portion of the substrate. The coating includes a first hydrogel layer and a second hydrogel layer. The first hydrogel layer has a plurality of carbon materials configured to absorb a solar radiation. The second hydrogel layer includes a hydrogel that is different from the first hydrogel layer. The coating, at a first temperature, causes the passive thermal regulation system to passively switch from a solar reflective state to solar absorber state to permit the plurality of carbon materials to absorb the solar radiation. At a second temperature, the coating causes the system to passively switch from the solar absorber state to the solar reflective state where the hydrogel of the second hydrogel layer inhibits the solar radiation from absorption. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

A passive thermal regulation system includes a substrate and a coating. The coating is positioned to encapsulate at least a portion of the substrate. The coating includes a first hydrogel layer and a second hydrogel layer. The first hydrogel layer has a plurality of carbon materials configured to absorb a solar radiation. The second hydrogel layer includes a hydrogel that is different from the first hydrogel layer. The coating, at a first temperature, causes the passive thermal regulation system to passively switch from a solar reflective state to solar absorber state to permit the plurality of carbon materials to absorb the solar radiation. At a second temperature, the coating causes the system to passively switch from the solar absorber state to the solar reflective state where the hydrogel of the second hydrogel layer inhibits the solar radiation from absorption. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

Laminated (and, in some cases, additionally etched) glazing units for cooperation with solar-energy systems during architectural integration thereof include an optically-transparent substrate in contact with an incident medium, on one side, and with a non-quarter-wave thin-film-stack based interference filter on another side, followed by an exit medium. Embodiments are practically applicable to conceal physical structures disposed behind them and characterized by IR-light transmittance that is enhanced (as compared with conventional glazing units based on quarter-wave thin-film-stacks and similarly utilized) to improve efficiency of a solar-energy system carrying at least a portion of such glazing unit on its front surface. Colour of reflected light perceived as a function of angle is sufficiently stabilized for practical applications. In specific cases, a solar-energy system is integrated inside or with such a glazing unit.