Abstract: A thermally managed solar cell system includes a photovoltaic cell for generating electricity and heat. The system includes a housing, a base, and a heat removal device. The housing surrounds the solar cell system and has an open, rear portion. The base is positionable in the open portion of the housing and supports the photovoltaic cell. The base is also thermally conductive and spreads heat generated from the photovoltaic cell. The heat removal device and the base act as a single unit with the heat removal device being coupled to the base to remove the heat from the base.

Abstract: A method and control for determining an air filter condition in an HVAC system forces a change in a motor speed for a fan for driving air through the air filter and into an environment to be conditioned. When the motor speed is changed, an expected change in temperature in the environment is monitored. If the actual change is not as expected, a determination may be made that the air filter is clogged.

Abstract: In order to effectively extract the waste heat from a reciprocating engine, the normal heat exchanger components of an engine are replaced with one or more heat exchangers which have the motive fluid of an organic rankine cycle system flowing therethrough. With the heat transfer in the plurality of heat exchangers, the engine is maintained at a reasonable cool temperature and the extracted heat is supplied to an ORC turbine to generate power. The heat is derived from a plurality of sources within the reciprocating engine, and at least two of those sources have their fluids passing through the same heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the engine coolant and the engine lubricant pass through the heat exchanger in the same direction, and the ORC motive fluid passes therethrough in a counterflow relationship.