Abstract: A device for attaching a junction box to a photovoltaic. The photovoltaic panel has a photovoltaic side and a non-photovoltaic side. The device includes a bracket with a first side attachable to the junction box and a second side attachable to the non-photovoltaic surface of the photovoltaic panel. A central fastener is attachable at one end to the bracket and a plate is adapted for connecting to the other end of the central fastener and for mounting on the photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more rotatable spacers, connectable to the central fastener, may be located on the non-photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more fixed spacers may be located on the non-photovoltaic side connectable to the bracket.

Abstract: A device for attaching a junction box to a photovoltaic. The photovoltaic panel has a photovoltaic side and a non-photovoltaic side. The device includes a bracket with a first side attachable to the junction box and a second side attachable to the non-photovoltaic surface of the photovoltaic panel. A central fastener is attachable at one end to the bracket and a plate is adapted for connecting to the other end of the central fastener and for mounting on the photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more rotatable spacers, connectible to the central fastener, may be located on the non-photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more fixed spacers may be located on the non-photovoltaic side connectible to the bracket.

Abstract: A device for attaching a junction box to a photovoltaic. The photovoltaic panel has a photovoltaic side and a non-photovoltaic side. The device includes a bracket with a first side attachable to the junction box and a second side attachable to the non-photovoltaic surface of the photovoltaic panel. A central fastener is attachable at one end to the bracket and a plate is adapted for connecting to the other end of the central fastener and for mounting on the photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more rotatable spacers, connectible to the central fastener, may be located on the non-photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more fixed spacers may be located on the non-photovoltaic side connectible to the bracket.

Abstract: A device for attaching a junction box to a photovoltaic. The photovoltaic panel has a photovoltaic side and a non-photovoltaic side. The device includes a bracket with a first side attachable to the junction box and a second side attachable to the non-photovoltaic surface of the photovoltaic panel. A central fastener is attachable at one end to the bracket and a plate is adapted for connecting to the other end of the central fastener and for mounting on the photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more rotatable spacers, connectible to the central fastener, may be located on the non-photovoltaic side of the photovoltaic panel. One or more fixed spacers may be located on the non-photovoltaic side connectible to the bracket.

Abstract: Solar thermal collector comprising a plurality of parallel vertical tubes, connected to each other by one upper horizontal tube and one lower horizontal tube through which a heat carrying fluid flows, a glass surface that covers the parallel vertical tubes, the upper horizontal tube and the lower horizontal tube, and a dissipating device installed in an upper part of the solar thermal collector, the heat dissipating device comprising a thermostatic valve, a heat exchanger and a return pipe, wherein the thermostatic valve is housed in the upper horizontal tube, the thermostatic valve and the heat exchanger being connected to a pipe by way of an inverted U-shaped tube provided at a greater height than the inlet to the heat exchanger, such that, under normal working conditions, energy losses by heat transfer by convection from the thermostatic valve to the heat exchanger are interrupted.

Abstract: A solar energy system. The system includes a thermal solar system comprising a plurality of thermal modules spatially configured as an N by M array. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of thermal modules are configured to form an aperture region and a backside region. The system has an air moving device comprising a drive device coupled to a blower device. In a specific embodiment, the drive device is spatially disposed within a fluid drive region. The system has a controller operably coupled to the air moving device.

Abstract: A method for operating a thermal solar system, e.g., solar system, photovoltaic system, thermal system, includes providing a thermal array including a plenum. The thermal array may be subjected to a freezing condition, which can include, for example, one or more ice particles and/or crystals, e.g., ice crystal, frost, snow, sleet. The method includes operating a fan device coupled to a drive device in a first direction to cause fluid flow from a second region to a first region that includes at least the plenum for the thermal array. The fan is coupled to the drive device disposed in a fluid flow region between the first region and second regions. The method also includes transferring thermal energy to the thermal array using at least the flow of fluid from the second region to the first region to cause the one or more ice particles and/or crystals to thaw for removal of the one or more ice particles and/or crystals.

Abstract: A hybrid heating apparatus heats potable water with waste heat from heat recovery units and insolation from solar collectors. A single circulation pump circulates fluid between at least one heat exchanger and each of the heat recovery units and preferably the solar collector. A single controller receives sensor readings from the heat recovery units and the solar collector units and receives a demand to heat the potable water. To satisfy the demand, the controller determines the extent to which the demand may be satisfied from heat available from the heat recovery units and the solar collector units and sends command signals both to the circulating pump to circulate the fluid and to appropriate ones of valves at connections to those heat recovery units and solar collector units to allow fluid to circulate to be heated to flow to the heat exchanger for effecting heat exchange to heat the potable water.

Abstract: A device for absorbing heat energy, in particular a solar panel, includes a housing in the form of a frame-shaped rack. The housing has a cover which allows the radiant energy to enter. Several collector tubes are disposed below the cover and between a distributor tube and a gathering tube. The collector tubes are provided with wing-shaped collector elements. The collector tubes are rotatably mounted such that the collector elements can follow the position of the radiation source, such as the sun. The collector elements are thereby disposed at a mutual spacing such that a shading from the adjacent collector element is prevented, even at the lowermost position of the sun. The collector elements are further provided with a heat absorbing coating on both sides, and reflectors are provided below the collector elements as seen in the direction of the incoming heat radiation.

Abstract: A flat plate solar collector (10) of the header/riser type housed in a glazed collector enclosure (14) and having liquid conduits comprising risers (24) intercommunicating with headers (22, 26) at both ends of the risers. The risers are tapered and the headers are surrounded by full heat insulation (28, 30) as defined. The tapering of the risers is effective to prevent bursting of any riser occasioned by freezing of a working liquid especially for example potable water contained therein, by promotion of initial freezing in a localized region of the riser around its minimum cross-sectional area (32) followed by progressive travel of the freezing of the working liquid in the riser in a direction away from the localized region. The full heat insulation is effective to substantially delay total freezing of all the liquid in the headers.