Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a photovoltaic system. The system comprises photovoltaic cells, arranged side-by-side to form an array of photovoltaic cells. It further involves a cooling device, which comprises one or more layers, wherein the layers extend opposite to the array of photovoltaic cells and in thermal communication therewith, for cooling the cells, in operation. The one or more layers are structured such that a thermal resistance of the photovoltaic system varies across the array of photovoltaic cells, so as to remove heat from photovoltaic cells of the array with different heat removal rates, in operation. One or more embodiments of the present invention are further directed to related systems and methods for cooling such photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between a working fluid and a heat transfer fluid by means of adsorption. The heat exchange unit comprises a tube hosting the heat transfer fluid and being surrounded by mass channel coils comprising a metallic spacer strip in physical contact with the tube for permitting heat conduction and a metal foil strip supported by the spacer strip, a width of the foil strip exceeding a width of the spacer strip in an axial direction of the tube. Additionally, a heat exchange system comprising a plurality of the heat exchange units is provided.

Abstract: A unit for exchanging heat between a working fluid and a heat transfer fluid by means of adsorption. The heat exchange unit comprises a tube hosting the heat transfer fluid and being surrounded by mass channel coils comprising a metallic spacer strip in physical contact with the tube for permitting heat conduction and a metal foil strip supported by the spacer strip, a width of the foil strip exceeding a width of the spacer strip in an axial direction of the tube. Additionally, a heat exchange system comprising a plurality of the heat exchange units is provided, and a method for manufacturing a heat exchange unit is provided.

Abstract: An air moisture control system for a computer system includes a housing with an air passage and an air moisture control element with an adsorption material, which is exposed in the air passage so as to enable fluid communication towards and from the air moisture control element. The element is designed such that the adsorption material is adapted, in operation, to adsorb moisture from a first air flow flowing into the air passage, having a first temperature and a first relative humidity, and desorb moisture to a second air flow, said air flow having a second temperature at least 5° C. higher than the first temperature and a second humidity at least 3% lower than the first relative humidity.

Abstract: Adsorption heat exchanger devices (11, 25) are provided for use in solid sorption refrigeration systems (1) together with methods for making such devices and adsorbent structures therefor. The methods include applying a curable binder, in solution in a solvent, to granular adsorbent material, and then evaporating the solvent and curing the binder. The curable binder solution is sufficiently dilute that, during evaporation of the solvent, the binder becomes concentrated around contact points between granules (18) of the adsorbent material whereby localized bonds (19) are formed around the contact points on curing of the binder.

Abstract: A chemical reactor and method for operation. The reactor enables N pairwise fluid contacts among k chemical fluids, with k?2 and N?4 and comprises: a reaction layer extending in a plane subtended by two directions; N chemical cells, each including two circuit portions, designed for enabling circulation of two of the k chemical fluids, respectively, the two circuit portions intersecting each other, thereby enabling one pairwise fluid contact for the two of the k chemical fluids; and a fluid distribution circuit comprising: k sets of inlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to one of the two directions, for respectively dispensing k chemical fluids to the reaction layer; and k sets of outlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to the inlet orifices, for respectively collecting k chemical fluids from the reaction layer, and wherein, each circuit portion connects an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice.

Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a photovoltaic module, or PV module, comprising an array of photovoltaic cells, or PV cells, and electrical interconnects. The array of PV cells comprises N portions, N?2, where the portions comprise, each, disjoint sets of PV cells of the array. The electrical interconnects connect the PV cells and the N portions of the array so as for PV cells within each of said portions to be electrically connected in parallel and the N portions to be connected in series. The PV cells and the portions are connected, via said interconnects, so to output an electrical current, in operation. The electrical interconnects are otherwise configured to provide electrical signals from each of the N portions. The invention is further directed to related systems and methods of fabrication and operation.

Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a photovoltaic module, or PV module, comprising an array of photovoltaic cells, or PV cells, and electrical interconnects. The array of PV cells comprises N portions, N?2, where the portions comprise, each, disjoint sets of PV cells of the array. The electrical interconnects connect the PV cells and the N portions of the array so as for PV cells within each of said portions to be electrically connected in parallel and the N portions to be connected in series. The PV cells and the portions are connected, via said interconnects, so to output an electrical current, in operation. The electrical interconnects are otherwise configured to provide electrical signals from each of the N portions. The invention is further directed to related systems and methods of fabrication and operation.

Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a flow cell device. The device comprises: an exchange membrane, extending essentially in a plane; an adhesive, at a periphery of the membrane; and two half-cells, each on a respective side of said plane, the half-cells sandwiching the membrane. The membrane spans a smaller area than each of the areas of the half-cells, whereby a peripheral space is defined at the periphery of the membrane between two opposing faces of the half-cells. This space is at least partly filled with an adhesive, so as to secure the two half-cells to each other with the membrane encapsulated therein. The present invention is further directed to a method of fabrication of such a flow cell device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of fabricating a flow cell device. The device comprises: an exchange membrane, extending essentially in a plane; an adhesive, at a periphery of the membrane; and two half-cells, each on a respective side of said plane, the half-cells sandwiching the membrane. The membrane spans a smaller area than each of the areas of the half-cells, whereby a peripheral space is defined at the periphery of the membrane between two opposing faces of the half-cells. This space is at least partly filled with an adhesive, so as to secure the two half-cells to each other with the membrane encapsulated therein.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a photovoltaic system. The system comprises photovoltaic cells, arranged side-by-side to form an array of photovoltaic cells. It further involves a cooling device, which comprises one or more layers, wherein the layers extend opposite to the array of photovoltaic cells and in thermal communication therewith, for cooling the cells, in operation. The one or more layers are structured such that a thermal resistance of the photovoltaic system varies across the array of photovoltaic cells, so as to remove heat from photovoltaic cells of the array with different heat removal rates, in operation. One or more embodiments of the present invention are further directed to related systems and methods for cooling such photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: Adsorption heat exchanger devices (11, 25) are provided for use in solid sorption refrigeration systems (1) together with methods for making such devices and adsorbent structures therefor. The methods include applying a curable binder, in solution in a solvent, to granular adsorbent material, and then evaporating the solvent and curing the binder. The curable binder solution is sufficiently dilute that, during evaporation of the solvent, the binder becomes concentrated around contact points between granules (18) of the adsorbent material whereby localized bonds (19) are formed around the contact points on curing of the binder.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for heat exchange. The heat exchange apparatus may include an adsorber device. The adsorber device is configured to draw heat from a first heat reservoir and transfer heat to a first heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the adsorber device by the working fluid. The heat exchanger transfers heat to a second heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include an expansion device fluidly connected to the heat exchanger by the working fluid. The expansion device expands the working fluid, and exchanges heat with a second heat reservoir. The expansion device includes a turbine device for converting at least a part of an exergy of the working fluid during expansion into mechanical work. The heat exchange apparatus may include the adsorber device being fluidly connected to the expansion device by the working fluid.

Abstract: An air moisture control system for a computer system includes a housing with an air passage and an air moisture control element with an adsorption material, which is exposed in the air passage so as to enable fluid communication towards and from the air moisture control element. The element is designed such that the adsorption material is adapted, in operation, to adsorb moisture from a first air flow flowing into the air passage, having a first temperature and a first relative humidity, and desorb moisture to a second air flow, said air flow having a second temperature at least 5° C. higher than the first temperature and a second humidity at least 3% lower than the first relative humidity.

Abstract: Integrated adsorption and heat exchanger devices are provided for solid sorption refrigeration systems (1), together with methods for making such devices. An integrated adsorption and heat exchanger device (20, 30, 45, 52) comprises a solid material having formed therein both a porous adsorption structure (21, 31, 44, 53), which is pervious to an adsorbate of said system (1), and a heat exchanger structure (22, 32), which is impervious to said adsorbate, for heat exchange with the porous adsorption structure in operation of the system (1).

Abstract: Adsorption heat exchanger devices (11, 25) are provided for use in solid sorption refrigeration systems (1) together with methods for making such devices and adsorbent structures therefor. The methods include applying a curable binder, in solution in a solvent, to granular adsorbent material, and then evaporating the solvent and curing the binder. The curable binder solution is sufficiently dilute that, during evaporation of the solvent, the binder becomes concentrated around contact points between granules (18) of the adsorbent material whereby localized bonds (19) are formed around the contact points on curing of the binder.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a photovoltaic system. The system comprises photovoltaic cells, arranged side-by-side to form an array of photovoltaic cells. It further involves a cooling device, which comprises one or more layers, wherein the layers extend opposite to the array of photovoltaic cells and in thermal communication therewith, for cooling the cells, in operation. The one or more layers are structured such that a thermal resistance of the photovoltaic system varies across the array of photovoltaic cells, so as to remove heat from photovoltaic cells of the array with different heat removal rates, in operation. One or more embodiments of the present invention are further directed to related systems and methods for cooling such photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: Adsorption heat exchanger devices (11, 25) are provided for use in solid sorption refrigeration systems (1) together with methods for making such devices and adsorbent structures therefor. The methods include applying a curable binder, in solution in a solvent, to granular adsorbent material, and then evaporating the solvent and curing the binder. The curable binder solution is sufficiently dilute that, during evaporation of the solvent, the binder becomes concentrated around contact points between granules (18) of the adsorbent material whereby localized bonds (19) are formed around the contact points on curing of the binder.

Abstract: A porous substrate susceptible to one or both of hydroxylation and alkoxylation by a first protic solvent is exposed to a first relative pressure of the first protic solvent. The porous substrate includes a first plurality of pores having a first average pore diameter and a second plurality of pores having a second average pore diameter that is greater than the first average pore diameter. The first relative pressure is effective to one or both of hydroxylate or alkoxylate substantially only pores of the first average pore diameter to form a first modified porous substrate. The first modified porous substrate is reacted with a first functionalizing reagent that is effective to functionalize one or both of hydroxylated or alkoxylated surfaces, thereby functionalizing substantially only the first plurality of the pores, to form a first functionalized porous substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for heat exchange. The heat exchange apparatus may include an adsorber device. The adsorber device is configured to draw heat from a first heat reservoir and transfer heat to a first heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the adsorber device by the working fluid. The heat exchanger transfers heat to a second heat sink. The heat exchange apparatus may include an expansion device fluidly connected to the heat exchanger by the working fluid. The expansion device expands the working fluid, and exchanges heat with a second heat reservoir. The expansion device includes a turbine device for converting at least a part of an exergy of the working fluid during expansion into mechanical work. The heat exchange apparatus may include the adsorber device being fluidly connected to the expansion device by the working fluid.