Abstract: A solar collector with reflecting surfaces according to the present invention prevents overheating of the solar collector by reflecting the radiation in a way that the light beams, by means of a first transparent surface, are corrected to the preferred angle and further directed towards channels. On a second transparent surface the beams are directed again and on a third transparent surface the light beams are reflected if in the channels is air. If the working fluid flows through the channels, on the third surface there is no reflection, so the light beams pass through the opaque part of an absorber where the solar radiation is converted into the thermal energy that is then removed by the working fluid.

Abstract: Heat exchanger having a housing, having a fluid inlet and having a fluid outlet, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication via the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet with a fluid circuit, having a flow-guiding element in the interior of the housing, wherein the housing is formed from a substantially planar housing upper part and a substantially trough-like housing lower part, wherein the housing lower part has a base region and an encircling side wall, wherein the housing lower part is formed by a supporting structure and an encasement and the supporting structure is at least partially surrounded by the encasement, wherein the supporting structure is formed from a metallic material, and the encasement is formed substantially from a plastic, wherein the housing upper part is formed from a plastic and the housing lower part is connected to the housing upper part substantially by means of plastic-on-plastic contact.

Abstract: A non electric, temperature controlled system for passing or bypassing a solar water heating apparatus includes a temperature controlled water distribution valve directing water to flow from a main supply of water toward a user depending on the setting and configuration of the temperature controlled water distribution valve within the system.

Abstract: A hot beverage making device includes a boiler for heating water; a housing for accommodating the boiler and connecting element for connecting the boiler to the housing. During operation of the boiler, water is heated and water vapor bubbles are created inside the boiler. Formation of the bubbles causes varying moments about the center of mass of the boiler. The connecting element is adapted to prevent transmittal to the housing of at least a portion of the moment variations. This keeps the noise produced as a result of vibrations of the housing at an acceptable level. In particular, the connecting element is adapted to let the boiler have at least one rotational degree of freedom.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a solar collector assembly includes a sealed and inflated cylindrical-tube shaped housing, the tube housing including a bottom cylindrically-trough shaped reflector portion having a reflection surface extending along a longitudinal length. The reflection surface is made of a relatively thin and flexible metalized polymer film. A top cylindrically-shaped transparent polymer film sheet portion is made of a relatively thin and flexible polymer film, the top and bottom sheet portions forming a pressure sealed cylindrical tube housing when the respective ends of the top and bottom films are sealed together and the tube housing is inflated with a gas so that the top transparent film portion passes solar energy to the reflection surface.

Abstract: A solar collector has a polygonal top panel forming a top face and having at least three edges, a similarly polygonal bottom panel forming a bottom face directed away from the top face and fitted congruently to the top panel to form a flow passage extending between the faces, and at least four connectors projecting from at least three of the edges.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided solar water pasteurizers that are portable, efficient, inexpensive and easy to use. In its simplest form, the solar pasteurizer includes a transparent container such as a bag or envelope that contains at least one energy converting structure and has sufficient insulation to enable heating water to a temperature of at least 65° C. (and preferably to a temperature of at least 70° C.) for a time sufficient to achieve pasteurization (at 65-70° C., a period of only about 6 minutes is required for pasteurization). Invention solar pasteurizers are particularly useful for pasteurizing water. In additional embodiments, invention solar pasteurizers include additional features, such as, for example, a water pasteurization indicator, and a receptacle for retaining same within the invention container.

Abstract: An integrated spa water heating assembly comprising a solar water heater panel, having a water inlet and outlet, an electrical motor/pump unit attached to the panel and having ducting for drawing water from the spa interior for passage to the panel inlet, the panel operating to discharge heated water flowing from the panel back into the spa water, and a solar power panel operatively attached to the heater panel, and electrically connected with the motor to power motor operation.

Abstract: A solar panel system, which includes a plurality of solar panels; a support structure comprised of a track system adapted to receive a plurality of solar panels; and a system for extending and retracting the plurality of solar panels.

Abstract: A combined solar reflector and desalination assembly is provided for generating energy and fresh water from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A combined solar reflector and desalination assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. At least one catchment device and collection assembly are coupled to the tube. The elongated tube may have an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided solar water pasteurizers that are portable, efficient, inexpensive and easy to use. In its simplest form, the solar pasteurizer includes a transparent container such as a bag or envelope that contains at least one energy converting structure and has sufficient insulation to enable heating water to a temperature of at least 60° C. for a time sufficient to achieve pasteurization (typically a period of about one hour at this temperature), and preferably to a temperature of at least 70° C. (at which temperature, a period of only about 6 minutes is required for pasteurization). Invention solar pasteurizers are particularly useful for pasteurizing water. In additional embodiments, invention solar pasteurizers include additional features, such as, for example, a water pasteurization indicator.

Abstract: A floating solar chimney includes several parts, e.g., the Main Chimney, the Heavy Base, and the Folding Lower Part. The main chimney includes cylindrical balloon rings full of non flammable light gas. The cylindrical balloon rings are tied with the help of supporting rings so that together they form one or more compact units of the main chimney. The compact parts of the main chimney are fastened on the heavy base. The successive compact parts are separated by separating rings filled with environmental air that can go in and out of the separating rings, so that the dynamic independence of the successive compact parts is ensured. The main chimney, which can float, is configured to sit on a chimney seat, and is connected to the heavy base. The lower part of the heavy base is fastened to the folding lower part. The air can enter and come out freely from the rings of folding lower part in order to enable the floating solar chimney to achieve any suitable decline as dictated by the exterior winds.

Abstract: A solar panel system, which includes a plurality of solar panels; a support structure comprised of a track system adapted to receive a plurality of solar panels; and a system for extending and retracting the plurality of solar panels.

Abstract: A coilable solar water heater includes a heat collecting plate and a soft pipe. The heat collecting plate includes two heat collecting layers, capillary tissues, two protecting layers and a soft support body. The heat collecting layers are stacked with each other and form a plurality of passages at intervals between the heat collecting layers. Each passage is provided for passing the capillary tissues. Each protecting layer is stacked on an external surface of each heat collecting layer. The soft support body is attached onto an external surface of a protecting layer. Each soft pipe has a plurality of through holes, each being connected to a passage of the corresponding heat collecting layer. The solar water heater can be coiled and folded to reduce its volume significantly and facilitate its transportation or moving.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heating system using renewable energy, comprising a portable heat collector using renewable energy to heat water. The present invention further includes a portable power source using renewable energy to generate electricity, and a portable pump coupled with the portable power source and powered to move water from a source into and through the portable heat collector for increasing water temperature, and return water back to the source as heated water.

Abstract: A hybrid roof covering element, which suitable for simultaneously heating a medium and generating electricity, and which comprises a single or multiple transparent layer, a flexible thin film solar cell sheet with a heat capacity of less than 3.5 kJ/m2K and a thermally insulating material, and a medium to be heated. The flexible thin film solar cell sheet comprises a carrier, a back electrode, a photovoltaic layer, and a transparent conductive front electrode and has a heat capacity of less than 3.5 kJ/m2K. This hybrid roof covering element has a response speed of more than 5.7·10−4 K/J if the medium to be heated is air and a response speed of more than 1·10−4 K/J if the medium to be heated is water.

Abstract: Pressurized portable solar heated shower having a flexible shower bag with first and second closed chambers on opposite sides of a flexible membrane enclosed within a flexible outer bag. Water is introduced into the first chamber, and a foot operated pump is connected to the second chamber for pressurizing the second chamber with air to expel the water from the first chamber through a flexible hose and shower head. When not in use, the shower bag is emptied, and the entire device can be folded into a relatively small package which is easily carried by campers, backpackers, boaters, and the like.

Abstract: A flexible solar power assembly includes a flexible photovoltaic device attached to a flexible thermal solar collector. The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners.

Abstract: A solar energy power system is provided that is effective to use an underlying supporting medium as a heat storage medium. A plurality of lengths of solar energy collector panels are arranged in abutting relationship on the ground and in thermal transfer contact with the supporting medium. Each one of the solar energy collector panels includes a length of flexible uninsulated base layer for unrolling along the supporting medium to form the plurality of abutting solar collectors. Heat within a flowing liquid in the panels is transmitted through the uninsulated base layer to and from the supporting medium. A power plant is connected to receive the heated liquid and convert the energy in the heated liquid to output electrical energy.

Abstract: A container for holding a liquid having transparent walls and an opening near its upper end, utilizes a heat absorbing insert element within the container comprised of a sheet of flexible black material that can be situated therein so as to expose a relatively large surface area to the sun's rays which pass through the container's transparent walls, thereby increasing the rate of solar heat absorption and rate of heating water within the container.

Abstract: A solar energy collection system harvests solar energy from large open areas. A length of flexible solar collector is provided for unrolling along a supporting surface. A first layer of the solar collector is an uninsulated base panel for directly contacting the ground or other supporting structure. A plurality of parallel conduits are sealed along the length of the flexible base panel and have a high light absorption and a low infrared emission for containing a flowing liquid to be heated by solar energy from the sun. A length of a covering material is placed parallel to the base panel and between the parallel conduits and the sun and sealed to the base panel for containing a low pressure fluid to reduce heat loss from the flowing liquid and to inflate the structure formed by the ground cover and covering material. Heated fluid from the parallel conduits is collected in a header for delivery to a power generating system.

Abstract: A flow controllable unit includes a pair of spaced upper and lower sheets. A plurality of elongated partitions are sandwiched between the upper and lower sheets to define a plurality of fluid passages. The partitions have an intermediate region and opposite lateral sides. The partitions are secured to the upper and lower sheets so that the intermediate region is movable relative to the upper and lower sheets. When a pressure increase occurs within the passages, the intermediate region of the partitions is bent or deformed to allow the upper and lower sheets to be moved away from each other. This movement increases the effective cross sectional area of the passages to accommodate such a pressure increase. The partitions thus provide a pressure relief function.

Abstract: A flexible tie-down device is provided for attaching a swimming pool-type solar water panel to a roof or other structure. The device is adapted for use with a solar panel having at least one elongate solar panel array formed of a number of side-by-side connected, small diameter, flexible elastomeric, heat transfer tubes, which are attached in fluid flow relationship at one end to a rigid, larger diameter tubular, unheated water inlet manifold and at the other end to a rigid, larger diameter tubular heated water outlet manifold. The tie-down device comprises a plurality of flexible elastromeric tubes connected in a side-by-side relationship to form a device array, the tubes having a length enabling the device array to bend around the outside of either of the inlet and outlet manifolds with the end regions of the device extending outwardly in a parallel, overlapping relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for assisting in the curing of concrete includes a heater and pump for providing a supply of heated fluid to a network of tubing arranged on the back or non-working side of a concrete form. The heated fluid is used to maintain a desired temperature of the curing concrete to reduce the cure time and/or accelerate the strength gain of the curing concrete. In an alternative embodiment, a heated concrete blanket includes a flexible sheet material on the back side of which is arranged a network of tubing through which heated fluid is distributed. The flexible blanket is used to cover curing concrete and regulate the temperature adjacent to the curing concrete. In both embodiments, insulating material may be used to cover the network of tubing on the back side of the apparatus to prevent undesired heat loss.

Abstract: A solar heater for a swimming pool or the like is formed by heat sealing two rectangular sheets of a flexible thermoplastic material, such as black vinyl, around the peripheral edges thereof. A plurality of spaced apart heat sealed seams are formed between the two sheets. The seams have end portions alternately spaced from and joined to the sealed peripheral edge to define a plurality of passageways forming a serpentine water pathway through the collector. Inlet and outlet fittings communicate with the passageways to permit pool water to circulate in the collector to be heated therein.

Abstract: An absorber body with flow paths for water or a flowable heat carrier for the direct or indirect heating of fluid or fluids or the like flow agents by solar energy in which the flow paths are produced by the deformation of plastic material, is improved in respect of its production and use in that a panel (12) is provided with slot-like openings, the width of which approximately corresponds to the width of the flow path, and welded on the panel is a foil (14) which is deformed through the openings to form respective shaped foil portions (15) of approximately channel-like cross-section as partial delimitation of the flow path and is sealingly covered on the side remote from the channel-like cross-section. In that arrangement, a carrier plate, a cover foil (50) or an insulating body (54) may be provided on the side of the panel (12) which is remote from the channel-like cross-section of the foil portion (15).

Abstract: A solar collector converts solar radiation to heat energy over a specified surface area and collects the heat energy by trickle feeding a heat transfer fluid over a trickle feed absorber surface having improved absorber surface area to volume ratio. The elements of the solar collector include a glazing first layer for receiving and passing incident solar radiation over the specified surface area and an impervious backing layer spaced from the glazing first layer. The absorber layer is sandwiched between the glazing first layer and backing layer with the glazing first layer and backing layer contacting the absorber layer on opposite sides. The absorber layer is a layer of fiber material defining capillary channels and spaces in the absorber layer between the glazing first layer and backing layer.