Abstract: A solar collector is made primarily of plastic materials. A wide variety of collector configurations may be made from similar parts, and thus the collector may be adapted to mount in locations where traditional flat panel collectors may not be feasible. The collector may conveniently be used with a nanofluid as the heat transfer fluid, to increase the heat transfer characteristics of the heat transfer fluid. A control system for stagnation remediation, freeze protection, or both may be utilized. For example, when the collector is in danger for stagnation or freezing, water may be circulated through a ground coupled heat exchange loop to cool or heat the collector. Preferably, the stagnation remediation mode does not sacrifice thermal energy previously collected and stored.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for automatically configuring a thermoelectric power generation system in accordance with the requirements of a load. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric generator that generates electric power when subjected to a temperature differential, at least one configurable component that affects at least one aspect of the power generated by the thermoelectric generator, a monitor that senses at least one aspect of the power generated by the thermoelectric generator and provides at least one signal characterizing the power generated by the thermoelectric generator, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the at least one signal and configure the at least one configurable component based on the at least one signal in accordance with the requirements of a load to which power is supplied by the thermoelectric generator. The configurable component may be a matrix switch that can reconfigure the interconnections between banks included in the thermoelectric generator.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a system generates electricity from a temperature differential using a thermoelectric module. At least one side of the temperature differential is supplied by a thermal element having a fluid flowing through it. The fluid contains suspended nanoparticles to enhance the transfer of heat between the fluid containing the nanoparticles and the thermal element, as compared with a similar fluid not containing the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may include metal ions, for example silver ions, copper ions, or both. The system may further include an ion generator for generating the ions within the fluid.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a mechanical building block system independent of mechanical tolerances of generator stack elements consisting of multiple parallel in plane elements that can be mass produced and mass assembled without sorting or lapping or machining in place. This implementation allows for simple maintenance of interchangeable unmatched parts.