Abstract: A system for heating and ventilating a building which includes a generally peripheral foundation element which supports the external walls of the building. Room air is heated and circulated below the floor and up through floor openings at the external wall. A barrier is connected to the foundation wall so as to span the area enclosed by the foundation wall at a level beneath the floor. Exhaust air is conducted to a region beneath the barrier for surface-enlarged contact with the underside of the barrier. The foundation element and/or the base that supports the foundation element is permeable to air along essentially its full length beneath where the foundation element connects with the barrier and exhaust air flows out through the foundation element or its supporting material while effecting an exchange of heat therewith.

Abstract: The method for generating steam with concentrated solar radiation includes the step of heating an absorber by solar radiation and directing a stream of air through the absorber to produce a heated air. The heated air is guided through a heat storage device provided for compensating short-term temperature fluctuations. Steam is generated with the heated air and is thereby cooled. At least a portion of the cooled air is returned to the upstream side of the absorber. The device for preforming the method includes a tower having an air heating device with a solar radiation absorber connected to the top of the tower. An air inlet for introducing air into the air heating device is provided. A steam generator is connected to the tower downstream of the air heating device. A heated air channel is arranged at the tower for guiding the heated air from the air heating device to the steam generator.

Abstract: A compound solar water heating and dehumidifying device including an adsorption bed disposed at a lower rim of a plate type heat collector of a solar water heating element for causing a heat collector element to absorb heat in the day-time and the adsorption bed to regenerate and accumulate heat. At night, the heat of adsorption and heat of condensation are released to the heat collector element to retard the drop of temperature of water in water channels that are in contact with the heat collector element. Therefore, dissipation of heat from the hot water in a water tank may be retarded and water moisture may be removed.

Abstract: A building product having thermal energy storage properties in the form of a cementitious hollow core building block having a hollow core or cores and having within the hollow core(s) a composite containing a phase change material. The composite may be a cementitious plug sized to fit the hollow core(s) and having a phase change material imbibed into the pores and matrix thereof or having polyolefin pellets containing a phase change material or silica particles containing a phase change material incorporated at the wet mix stage of formation of the cementitious plug. The composite may also be a polyolefin plug sized to fit hollow core(s) and having a phase change material contained within the matrix thereof. Finally the composite may be polyolefin pellets containing a phase change material or silica particles containing a phase change material packed in a container sized to fit the hollow core(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to a latent store with a photosensitive storage medium and a regenerating agent. To this end, an organic storage substance with at least two stable stereoisomeric configurations is used, the first of which is photosensitive and can be converted into the second configuration by photoisomerisation with the release of energy, while the second configuration can be reconverted into the first by contact with a solar radiation absorbing, stereoselective regenerating agent with energy absorption.

Abstract: A modular panel system for constructing buildings. Panels are made from column structures which form fit so that they slide together to create the panel. Panels are specially constructed so that they serve as air conduits, through which air, both to and from the living space of the modular panel home passes. For use in cool weather, cool air is drawn from the living space into the wall panels of this invention, transferred to a solar panel air system where it is heated. The heated air is then transferred from the solar panel system into other wall panels of this invention and through these wall panels and into a specially designed heat collection floor panel. The heat collection floor panel receives the solar panel heated air which in turn heats a storage material in the floor panel and then is expelled into the living space for heating thereof. Once in the living space the air is cooled down and is drawn back into return wall panels.

Abstract: A vehicle heating system supplied with coolant from the engine and in the case of which there is a bypass connecting limbs of the heating circuit extending downstream from the engine and, respectively, upstream therefrom, is provided in the heating circuit with a heat storage means, which is arranged on the heating side separately from the bypass and preferably in series with the vehicle heating system.

Abstract: A solar collector for use in association with a building, the system having a concave mirror located on the exterior of the building and defining a focal point, a moveable mounting for moving the mirror to aim it directly at the sun at least over a predetermined period of the daylight hours, a secondary reflector located at the focal point of the concave mirror to receive the sun's rays reflected from the mirror means, an opening in the concave mirror to receive a concentrated beam of the sun's rays reflected from the secondary reflector, a third reflector located on the convex side of the concave mirror to receive the concentrated beam of the sun's rays from the secondary reflector reflected through the opening, and to redirect it along a heat storage path, a support connected to the concave mirror to receive the redirected beam, the support passing from the exterior to the interior of the building, an energy conversion system within the building interior to receive the redirected light beam from the mirror

Abstract: An elongate conduit directed from within a dwelling to position through a roof of the dwelling includes a mirrored interior surface, with its upper terminal end oriented orthogonally relative to the conduit, and a lower terminal end including a window portion directed through a forward wall of the conduit arranged substantially parallel to an axis of the conduit, with the mirror mounted to a lower terminal end of the conduit oriented at a relative forty-five degree relationship relative to the axis of the conduit to project light through the window. The conduit includes a mirrored surface therethrough. The invention further includes a transparent dome mounted over the upper terminal end of the conduit, and includes a rain trough positioned about a perimeter of the dome, with the rain trough including apertures directed therethrough.