Abstract: The solar thermal collector system of this invention consists of an evacuated glass solar collector, a heat storage system, and a tubular heat pipe system to transfer heat from the evacuated glass solar collector directly to the heat source system. The evacuated glass solar collector has substantially parallel linear concentrating troughs with mirror surface in vacuum which concentrate, approximately ideally, solar radiation onto internal glass tubes coated with selective absorber. The selective absorber converts the concentrated solar radiation into heat. The tubular heat pipe system consists of a plurality heat pipes. The evaporating end of each tubular heat pipe receives heat from solar radiatiion and transfers it directly to the condensing end of the heat pipes. The condensing end of each metal heat pipe is in good thermal contact with the heat storage tank of the heat storage system.

Abstract: A selective absorber consisting of a number of thin layers on a supporting substrate, including (1) a carbonaceous layer, (2) a catalyst layer, and (3) a metallic infrared reflecting layer. The catalyst layer serving to catalyze the pyrolysis of a carbon containing gaseous compound or compounds to form the carbonaceous layer. Methods of production are described.

Abstract: A glass, evacuated, solar collector panel, formed by a mirrored bottom sheet, structured in a series of parallel linear troughs, each approximately an ideal concentrating surface and terminating at opposite ends in approximately perpendicular linear concentrating troughs, and a top window sheet. The top and bottom sheets being joined to provide a vacuum envelope. A solar selective absorbing tube network having an input and output passing through the vacuum envelope, fixed intermediate the top and bottom sheet in the vacuum. The tube network including a plurality of parallel longitudinal tube members terminating at opposite ends in respective manifold tubes. Each tube member and manifold tubes positioned at the approximate concentration point of such series of parallel troughs and opposite troughs, respectively. Such solar collector panel also serving as an energy shield by having low transmittance of heat and radiant energy of visible and infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: An improved selective absorber on a glass substrate having high solar absorption and low infrared emission. The Selective Absorber on a glass substrate includes an electrically conducting layer of silver metal having a thickness on the order of 0.1 microns, and an absorbing layer of either black nickel or, alternatively, a layer of oxidized iron over a layer of nickel or bright nickel. The method of this invention defines the process of producing the Selective Absorber on a glass substrate by thoroughly cleaning the glass, chemically depositing a thin layer of silver metal over the clean glass surface, then electroplating an absorbing layer over the silver layer. The absorbing layer may be electroplated black nickel or, alternatively, an electroplated layer of nickel or bright nickel, such as cobalt-nickel, and an electroplated cover layer of iron. The glass substate and composite layers are heat treated to thermally cured to improve its optical and properties.