Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing Internet of Things (“IoT”)-based microwell solution for irrigation. In various embodiments, in response to receiving, from the plurality of sensors, first sensor data indicative of environmental conditions within an area, a computing system may analyze the first sensor data to determine parameters associated with water requirements within the area, may generate a water distribution plan based at least in part on the determined parameters, and may map the generated water distribution plan to a positional map of a plurality of microwells disposed at pre-installed locations within the area. The computing system may generate and send instructions to the microwells to pump water from an underground water source(s) (in some cases, surface water sources as well) and to irrigate plants or crops in the area using integrated irrigation systems, based on the mapping. The microwells and sensors may utilize IoT functionalities.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation system includes a solar panel array on a first side of a tower to absorb solar radiation and generate electrical energy and waste heat and a panel on a second side, opposite the first side, of the tower. A plurality of thermoelectric elements of the tower are interposed between the solar panel array and the panel. The plurality of thermoelectric elements converts conductive heat flow of the waste heat from the solar panel directed toward the panel to electrical energy. A conductive base supports the tower and to conduct heat away from the panel.

Abstract: A solar float device for use in a livestock watering facility to inhibit the freezing of water in a livestock watering facility. The solar float device having upper and lower shells that are connected to each other. The upper shell encloses an air space and the lower shell encloses a ballast space. A bulkhead is connected to the lower shell and separates the air and ballast spaces. A ballast material contained within the ballast space maintains the float device upright in the water and is thermally conductive for receiving and storing heat generated by the solar float device from solar radiation. An energy absorbing element contacts the lower shell and at least a portion is arranged either at or above the level of the water such that the energy absorbing element is exposed to the solar radiation for absorbing the solar radiation and converting the solar radiation into heat.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the efficiency of an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system is described. In some examples, the system collects thermal energy using a solar collector, warms ocean water located within the solar collector, and provides the warmed water to an OTEC system, such as to a vaporizer of a heat engine. In some examples, the OTEC system provides electricity and other energy to another system, creating a cycle of sustainable economic development of energy and resources.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for controlling floor heating or climate regulating systems with long time constants. According to the invention, a flow of a fluid is provided through the floor or through a similar medium with large thermal inertia. An induced heat is determined by adding up a plurality of differences between an inlet temperature of the fluid when it enters the medium and an outlet temperature of the fluid when it leaves the medium. The temperatures are sampled with a fixed sampling time and within a fixed period of time, and a corresponding change in temperature of the medium over the fixed period of time is determined. In the future, the temperature of that medium is controlled by use of a ratio between the induced heat and the change in temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for controlling floor heating or climate regulating systems with long time constants. According to the invention, a flow of a fluid is provided through the floor or through a similar medium with large thermal inertia. An induced heat is determined by adding up a plurality of differences between an inlet temperature of the fluid when it enters the medium and an outlet temperature of the fluid when it leaves the medium. The temperatures are sampled with a fixed sampling time and within a fixed period of time, and a corresponding change in temperature of the medium over the fixed period of time is determined. In the future, the temperature of that medium is controlled by use of a ratio between the induced heat and the change in temperature.

Abstract: A re-exchange energy-saving building system in which building power supply system allows to supply water from top floor pond to the capillary generator set; the electric energy generated by capillary generator set is supplied to the user load, and the electric energy generated by solar PV is supplied to the water pump to transfer water from the basement pond to the top floor pond; the valley load in the utility power grid is supplied to the water pump to transfer water from the basement pond to the top floor pond. A parallel connection of solar water heaters, the hot water supply system for the building can provide hot water to the building at any time. The air conditioners for the building enable heating and cooling via GSHP. The water-saving system permits a membrane filter tank to filter the bath water and domestic water and then supply to the flush toilet at lower floor.

Abstract: Salt-containing water is desalinated by first passing salt-containing water through a heat exchanger disposed in a basin containing solar-heated brine formed by several layers of water lying one above the other in the basin, each of the layers of water forming the brine having a higher salt content than the layer present there above. The heat exchanger is in the lowermost layer of water having a higher temperature than the temperature of the layers of water lying above the lowermost layer of water. The salt-containing water is heated in the basin by solar energy indirect heat exchange with the solar-heated brine to obtain heated salt-containing water. At least part of the heated salt-containing water is evaporated to obtain water vapor, and the water vapor is condensed to obtain desalinated water.

Abstract: Various embodiments of electric generator systems are disclosed. The systems may include an electric generator whose energy source is provided by the displacement of a first fluid. The first fluid may be in a liquid state contained in a reservoir hydraulically connected to a first chamber. The first chamber may be configured to receive thermal energy utilized to convert the first fluid into a vapor. The system may also include a second chamber hydraulically connected to the first chamber to receive the vaporized fluid from the first chamber. The second chamber may be configured to condense the vaporized first fluid, causing depressurization in the second chamber. The system may be configured such that the depressurization of the second chamber may drive a second fluid through an energy converter (e.g. Turbine Generator) able to convert the first fluid condensing energy into mechanical or electrical energy.

Abstract: In a device designed as a rotatably mounted platform (a) for recovering solar electricity, the focusing roof layer (3) further deflects the incident radiation so that the light beams (122, 123, 126) formed by the concentrating optical system are incident approximately perpendicularly on the radiation converter (112) arranged underneath.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic solar heating system for open-air swimming pools with a basin (2) for holding the bathing water, including a solar heating means with a walkable basin boundary (4, 22) incorporating a circulation path and having an inlet (6) for bathing water to be heated arranged beneath the level of the bathing water and an outlet (8) for heated bathing water, and a heat-insulated, evacuatable warm water tank (10) for the heated bathing water, the inlet (12) of the warm water tank (10) being arranged beneath the level of the outlet (8) of the basin boundary (4, 22) and connected with this outlet (8), and the outlet (14) of the warm water tank (10) being in communication via a pump-filter unit (16) with a basin inlet opening (18) for the heated and filtered bathing water.

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: A device (20) for reducing evaporation and energy transfer between fluids, the surface (12) of which is exposed to environmental elements. A plurality of buoyant, homogenous evaporation devices (20) are randomly deployed into a body of fluid (10) whereby the devices (20) aggregate to provide a substantially contiguous, gapless blanket barrier. Devices (20) have predetermined number of substantially planar, polygonal, vertical side walls (22) of substantial height dimension. During undulatory conditions of the fluid surface (12), surface-to-surface engagement around the periphery of device (20) with the adjacent vertical walls (22) of similarly formed devices (20) is slidably maintained along the substantial height dimension of side walls (22). The aggregate of devices (20) is kept intact, requiring only minimal lateral pressure, to maintain a substantial evaporation retardation barrier regardless of whether the fluid surface (12) is subject to undulatory conditions or is uniform.