Abstract: A container for a waste heat utilization circuit may include a housing that defines a housing interior such that the housing interior can be flowed through by a working medium. A sheath may be arranged in the housing interior for accommodating an auxiliary medium. The sheath may be fluid-tight and heat-conductive at least in certain areas. The sheath may define a sheath interior of variable volume.

Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor for a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, comprising: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material, creating an elongated V-shaped channel adapted to receive the sunlight and to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid, the sun-tracking light distributor has a center of buoyancy, a vertical passing through the center of buoyancy defines an axis of flotation, and a pivot axis of the sun-tracking light distributor is offset relative to the axis of flotation. Owing to the offset pivot axis, the orientation of the light distributor is changed by varying the level of aqueous liquid, thus allowing a tracking of the sun's altitude.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power generation system, wherein electrical power generated by multiple photovoltaic power generator units is gathered in a single unit group power collection control section and, in addition, supplied (transferred) to a single power converter corresponding to a single unit group power collection control section. The photovoltaic power generation system comprises generator unit groups formed by arrangement of multiple photovoltaic power generator units and unit group power collection control sections, which are connected with the photovoltaic power generator units through unit cables, and collect and control the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generator units.

Abstract: An insulating cover for floating on liquid, such as in a spa, has an area for covering an area of the surface of the liquid. The cover generally comprises a first rectangle for covering a first area and a plurality of successive rectangular tubes connected to either the first rectangle or to a larger rectangle formed by the addition of a prior successive tube so as to form another rectangle for covering additional area. The amount of coverage area can be adjusted by selectively detaching tubes, such as by cutting them off, and by changing the amount of inflation of tubes such that the cover is adaptable to spas of different sizes. In an exemplary embodiment, tubes adjust both the width and length of the cover, and the cover is adapted for folding substantially in half when inflated.

Abstract: A man-made island adaptable for land-based operation holds solar energy collection facilities and is rotatable to optimize the angular orientation thereof relative to the position of the sun. A platform includes a large outer ring that floats on a fluid and a flexible cover is attached to the ring to define an airtight volume below the cover. A plurality of rows of solar radiation collector modules are located above the cover and carry steam generating heat pipes. The rows of modules are supported laterally above the cover by an upper support structure, either a space frame, a plurality of cables, or a honeycomb. A compressor creates an over-pressure within the enclosed volume to vertically support the cover and the other components mounted thereabove.

Abstract: A solar cell floats over a body of saline water. A submerged fresh water collection system underlies the cell. A partial vacuum is created in the solar cell for drawing water vapor from the cell to the collection system. Water vapor is condensed in a condenser disposed between the cell and the collection system. Heat generated by the condensation of water vapor is utilized to heat the salt water, which rises upwardly to replace the salt water vaporized in the cell. The fresh water from the fresh water collection system is routed under the cell such that it becomes thermally enriched. The thermally enriched fresh water is provided to a power generator to improve efficiency.

Abstract: A solar pool heater system for efficiently heating a pool with solar energy. The solar pool heater system includes a buoyant support member, a distribution unit attached to the support member, a manifold fluidly connected to the distribution unit, a pump unit fluidly connected to the manifold, and a solar unit electrically connected to the pump unit. The pump unit draws colder water from the pool and provides the same to the manifold which distributes the water through distribution channels within the distribution unit. The water is heated via solar energy while passing through the distribution unit. The heated water is then returned to the body of pool water through an exhaust conduit.

Abstract: Solar swimming pool heater panels which are rectangular or circular, black, plastic, floatable, corrugated, connectable, and rollable in bundles for placing on outdoor swimming pools for warming up and covering the water when not in use.

Abstract: Radiant energy collecting apparatus (11) which includes a platform assembly (13) floating on a body of liquid, the top side of which supports reflectors (16) of a solar concentrator and the underside of which is provided with a series of compartments (31) which are open on their lowermost sides and which contain air to provide buoyant lift to maintain the reflectors (16) above the level of liquid. Air may be supplied to the compartments (31) through an air duct (33) beneath the platform assembly (13), the duct (33) having a number of openings (35) through which the air passes.

Abstract: A floating solar pool heater unit including a solar energy collector plate on the top, a float foam in the middle, and one directional or two directional heat conducting elements. The float foam maintains the flotation of the heater unit. The two directional heat conducting elements including energy conducting rivets, energy dispersing plates, or energy dispersing chains conduct hat from the solar energy collector plate to the pool water, or vice versa. The uni-directional heat conducting variation includes uni-direction heat conductors, energy dispersing plates, energy dispersing members such as chains, and conducts heat from solar energy collector plate or plates to pool water but prevents heat from escaping from pool water by reverse flow. The units can be used individually, or jointly to form a pool cover.

Abstract: A cover for withstanding stormy weather and increasing solar heating of a body of water is disposed over the surface of the water. The cover is more transparent to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation, and is anchored and sealed around its periphery over the surface of the body of water. Means are provided for reducing the pressure between the bottom of the cover and the top of the water to subatmospheric, and for flooding the top surface of the cover with a layer of water, and draining the layer of water from the top of the cover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a platform of the utilization of solar power which makes use of linear concentrators to beam the solar radiation for use in thermal, chemical or photovoltaic solar power converters, in which the azimuthal movement of the sun is followed by rotation about the main axis. The aim of the invention is to ensure an approximately uniform conversion rate of the solar radiation largely independently of the height of the sun while avoiding the use of a twin-axis follower system. The area available for utilizing the solar power is to be used as fully as possible as the aperture area to capture the radiation. According to the invention, a floating pipe (2, 2', 112) forming a torus is fitted as a frame for a horizontally extending planar bearer (3-4) held, by substantially evenly distributed buoyant bodies (13, 36, 46, 64a, 64b, 80b) borne by a liquid, at a vertical distance from solar power converting devices (33, 53, 73, 73', 93, 94b).

Abstract: An inexpensive, easy to use and to store, solar pool heater which comprises a flexible corrugated plastic sheet having one side thereof matte black and the other side thereof white in color and tubular plastic floats removeably secured to two edges of said sheet and suspending said sheet a short distance below the surface of the water of a pool when said sheet and floats are placed therein. During daylight hours, the sheet is positioned with the black, heat absorbing surface upwards and then, at night, the sheet may be reversed with the white surface uppermost to minimize heat loss from the water. The sheet is relatively small, e.g. 1 meter square, and in use, multiple sheets and floats are interconnected to give the desired coverage to the pool surface. Being small in area, the sheets may be removed from the pool and stored in a small space as by hanging from the wall of the pool enclosure.

Abstract: A radiant energy collecting apparatus including a fluid reservoir, a platform floating on said fluid reservoir, a drive structure for moving the platform on the reservoir, radiant energy collectors supported on the platform, reflectors for concentrating radiant energy on the radiant energy collectors, and means for selectively submerging the concentrating means beneath fluid from the reservoir for protection against inclement weather conditions. Fluid feed impellers are supported beneath the platform within the reservoir and communicate with ports through the platform for pumping fluid onto the platform and reflectors. Opposing fluid impellers are associated with each fluid feed impeller, the opposing impellers being operable with the feed impellers to force fluid in an opposing direction to the feed impellers, with deflectors being disposed between the feed impellers and the opposing impellers.

Abstract: Solar power plant consisting of elongated modules whose longitudinal axes lie in a plane parallel to the direction of the sun rays to be converted. These modules are covered by lenses which refract sun rays impinging under an oblique angle downwards and which comprise two groups of refracting portions mirror-symmetrically arranged along the zenithal line which portions converge the refracted, downwardly directed sun beams into wedges of rays. These wedges of rays run twice per day in a vertical plane and during the remaining sunshine hours move within a narrow angular interval either towards the sun or away from the sun. This angular motion results in a vertical movement of the focal line so that the focal line coincides only twice per day with the height of the strip type photovoltaic cells. To force all wedges of rays to impinge evenly distributed onto the photovoltaic cell, a secondary lens is arranged above the photovoltaic cells.