Abstract: A method to convert carbonaceous materials, particularly biomass and those biomass resources which are remotely located, into a high performance solid fuel. This method, and the apparatus described as the means to accomplish this method, provides a continuous process which can be completely powered by the energy contained in the biomass. The heat, mechanical power and electrical power are provided from the energy in the biomass, through the methods described. In this way, the apparatus is free to operate in remote locations, where no power or auxiliary fuel sources are available.

Abstract: Provided is a process for the preparation of diaryl oxide compounds. The process uses a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing oxides of aluminum and magnesium to decarboxylate a diaryl carbonate compound to yield the diaryl oxide compound.

Abstract: The molten salt solar tower system 100 is provided for controlling molten salt temperature in a solar receiver 130 for effective operation of the system 100 while without degrading physical properties of molten salt. The system 100 includes two circuits, first 140 and second 150. The first circuit 140 is configured to supply relatively cold molten salt in the solar receiver 130 for heating, and the second circuit 150 is configured to supply a predetermined amount of the relatively cold molten salt in the first circuit 140, as and when the temperature of the relatively hot molten salt circulating through the solar receiver 130 exceeds a predetermined set temperature value thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for transferring heat using a variable composition organic heat transfer fluid that remains liquid over a wide operating temperature range useful for solar heating applications. Variable composition heat transfer fluids of the present invention comprise a miscible mixture, optionally a completely miscible mixture, of a high boiling point component selected for its beneficial high temperature physical properties, and a low freezing point component selected for its beneficial low temperature physical properties. In some embodiments, the low freezing point component is removed from the heat transfer fluid as the heat transfer fluid is heated, for example by being removed in the vapor phase, thereby selectively varying the composition and physical properties (e.g., vapor pressure, boiling point, etc.) of the heat transfer fluid as a function of temperature.

Abstract: A solar receiver includes a cavity that is operable to receive concentrated solar energy and a heat exchanger in thermal-receiving communication with the cavity. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of thermal capacitors. Each of the plurality of thermal capacitors has a regular geometry. The plurality of thermal capacitors defines open flow passages there between and at least two of the plurality of thermal capacitors have a different size. The plurality of thermal capacitors has a packing factor of greater than 74% with regard to the volume of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An overheat protection device (OPD) is implemented independently of the circulating system of a solar thermal collector and isolated from the environment. The system facilitates operation of a solar thermal collector at elevated internal temperatures (versus reducing or ceasing operation above a critical temperature). OPD includes a heat pipe filled with at least two fluids. In a non-heat conducting state, a temperature at an evaporator portion of the heat pipe is below a transition temperature and the dual-fluid includes at least one fluid in a liquid state and at least one fluid in a gaseous state. When the temperature at the evaporator is above the pre-defined transition temperature the OPD undergoes an abrupt transition to a heat conducting state, whereby the dual-fluid transfers heat from the evaporator area to the condenser area, thus transitioning from a state of thermal isolation from an environment to one of strong thermal coupling.

Abstract: Solar receivers which produce heat at very high temperatures (in excess of 1000° C.) are described herein. The receiver produces the high temperature heat and radiates the heat to a containment element (e.g., pipe) that contains a heat transfer fluid which absorbs the heat. The fluid is preferably a material which is thermally and chemically stable at the temperatures involved. The heat transfer fluid absorbs the heat and can deliver it to a reactor system to drive an endothermic reaction, such as thermochemical water splitting, CO2 capture, and/or syngas production. Alternatively, the heat can be used to directly generate electricity through a high temperature heat engine such as a Brayton or combined Brayton+Rankine cycle.

Abstract: Molten salt solar receiver and procedure to reduce the temperature gradient in said receiver. The receiver consists of at least one panel of semi cylindrical geometry, formed by a combination of vertical pipes. The receiver (10) is supplied with a heat transfer fluid made up of molten salts which originate from a recirculation system which is composed of a mixture deposit (6), a hot salt storage tank (9) and a cold salt storage tank (8); the mixture tank (6) which is supplied by a part of the hot heat transfer fluid (4) which exits the receiver (10) and the cold heat transfer fluid (5) which exits the cold salt storage tank (8); the hot salt storage tank is connected to the exit of the receiver (10) so that a part of the heat transfer fluid which does not recirculate is stored (3).

Abstract: A heat transfer medium is used in solar thermal power plants. The heat transfer medium can reversibly absorb and release water. The heat transfer medium releases water during heating and releases heat during re-absorption of the water.

Abstract: A thermal absorber including a light-transparent reservoir having an alkali metal received therein, a housing sealingly coupled to the reservoir to define an enclosed volume, the housing including a thermal barrier wall that divides the volume into a cold chamber and a hot chamber, the cold chamber including a sump having a drain hole in fluid communication with the hot chamber, and at least one AMTEC cell supported by the cell supporting surface, the AMTEC cell extending through the cold chamber and the hot chamber.

Abstract: A light receiving plate floating on the surface of tin, i.e., a low-melting-point heating medium and receiving solar beams is made of solid carbon material entirely coated with a silicon carbide film. Due to the silicon carbide film, the surface of the light receiving plate is black to realize a high absorption ratio of the solar beams. In addition, the light receiving plate is made of the silicon carbide film at least at the surface thereof, to demonstrate excellent heat resistance.

Abstract: Net zero energy building systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems include the following: roofing panels positioned on a roof of a building, the roofing panels being made of an array of horizontal elliptic glass vacuum tube solar collectors attached upon a reinforced light weight concrete panel; electricity generators; an insulated fluid storage tank; and a fluid circulation sub-system joined with the panels, generators, and tank.

Abstract: Mixture comprising elemental sulfur and an additive comprising anions.

Abstract: A solar heating cell includes a core substantially in the form of a parallelepiped having two open sides. O-rings are disposed within channels running about the edges of the two open sides and glass plates are clamped with compression clips to the two open sides forming air and watertight seals with the O-rings. The solar heating cell is filled with a liquid mixture, primarily water. A solar heating panel is made by mounting a number of the solar heating cells on a support apparatus in an opening through an external wall of a building.

Abstract: A thermal absorber including a light-transparent reservoir having an alkali metal received therein, a housing sealingly coupled to the reservoir to define an enclosed volume, the housing including a thermal barrier wall that divides the volume into a cold chamber and a hot chamber, the cold chamber including a sump having a drain hole in fluid communication with the hot chamber, and at least one AMTEC cell supported by the cell supporting surface, the AMTEC cell extending through the cold chamber and the hot chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to solar heating systems, storage tanks with heat exchanger that may be used in a solar heating system, methods of constructing solar collection panels, methods of installing solar collection panels, methods of manufacturing and selling solar heat exchange systems, and methods of distributing solar heat exchange system manufacturing facilities. The solar collection panels and heat exchangers may comprise envelope-type configurations wherein one or more dimples are formed in an exterior surface of the solar collection panels or the heat exchangers. The solar collection panels and heat exchangers may have a variety of different shapes and sizes, and may be colored, such as by painting the solar collection panels or heat exchangers.

Abstract: A photovoltaic panel has an external casing, which is delimited by at least one wall permeable to light and defines a liquid-tight chamber communicating with the outside world through an inlet passage and an outlet passage; the liquid-tight chamber houses a polydimethylsilicone liquid, which circulates in the liquid-tight chamber itself through the inlet and outlet passages and in which at least one photovoltaic cell is immersed at least partially, electrically connected with the outside of the photovoltaic panel.

Abstract: To provide a tracking-type solar module capable of high-performance sunlight-tracking with a simple configuration while simultaneously performing highly effective cooling of a solar cell, a solar cell is movably installed within a transparent cooling tube and is connected to a motor with a crank. A position detecting sensor is also installed inside the transparent cooling tube. Sunlight is refracted by a cooling medium filled inside the transparent cooling tube and is converged on the inner surface of the transparent cooling tube. The position detecting sensor detects the position at which sunlight is converged and the sunlight is tracked by the motor moving the solar cell to that position. Simultaneously, the cooling medium inside the transparent cooling tube directly cools the solar cell.

Abstract: Excitation of a triad artificial photosynthetic reaction center consisting of a porphyrin (P) convalently linked to a fullerene electron acceptor (C60) and a carotenoid secondary donor (C) leads to the formation of a long-lived C+-P-C60? charge-separated state via photoinduced electron transfer. This reaction occurs in a frozen organic glass down to at least 8 K. At 77 K, charge recombination of C*+-P-C60? occurs on the ?s time scale, and yields solely the carotenoid triplet state. In the presence of a small (20 mT) static magnetic field, the lifetime of the charge-separated state is increased by 50%. This is ascribed to the effect of the magnetic field on interconversion of the singlet and triplet biradicals. At zero field, the initially formed singlet biradical state is in equilibrium with the three triplet biradical sublevels, and all four states have comparable populations. Decay to the carotenoid triplet only occurs from the three triplet sublevels.