Abstract: The present invention provides a panel equipped with a photovoltaic device including an even number of columns of photovoltaic modules, the columns being aligned essentially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the panel. Each column includes an electrical pole on each of extremity. The polarity of an electrical pole of one extremity being the inverse of that of the electrical pole of the other extremity, the poles of two adjacent columns being of inverse polarity, the electrical pole being in the form of a male connector when it is of one polarity and in the form of a female connector when it is of the inverse polarity. The male connectors and female connectors arranged so that they interlock with one another when the lower transverse edge of an upper panel overlaps the upper transverse edge of a lower panel.

Abstract: This disclosure includes systems and methods for extracting water vapor from atmospheric air and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, systems and methods for optimizing liquid water production from air, in some instances, taking into account diurnal variations. The systems comprise an adsorption zone an a desorption zone, an actuator to move a desiccant between the adsorption zone and the desorption zone. The liquid water production is optimized based, at least in part, on measurements of one or more of: an ambient air temperature, ambient air relative humidity, and a level of solar insolation.

Abstract: A support frame is for a photovoltaic power generation system. The support frame includes a frame member including a first portion positioned at one surface of a solar cell panel and a second portion positioned at the other surface of the solar cell panel, wherein the second portion is openably coupled to the first portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for collecting infrared solar radiation by heating a circulating blade of air circulating between two transparent glazed walls. The first glazed wall polarises light in a circular manner. The second glazed wall reflects infrared radiation towards the first glazed wall. The infrared radiation which has been reflected has changed polarisation direction and is then absorbed by the first glazed wall which heats up, and in turn heats the circulating blade of air in contact with same.

Abstract: The present invention offers improved absorber plates for solar energy collectors, improved cover glazings for solar energy collectors, improved concentrating solar energy collectors, and solar energy collection methods that use one or more of the improved solar energy collectors for useful residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The improved absorber plate solar energy collectors utilize a porous metal to improve solar radiant absorption collection and utilization, the improved concentrating solar energy collectors are Fresnel lens faced ducts of various geometries that enable efficient axial length solar energy collection, and the improved cover glazings utilize transparent front and back faces with other improvements to enable increased solar radiant energy collection per unit front face cover area of solar collector.

Abstract: A solar heater for space heating is formed by a frame that provides structural support for a plate that absorbs sunlight. In one aspect, the plate is directly molded into the frame. In another aspect, the plate is incorporated into an assembly which is then sealed to the frame. The solar heater is configured such that multiple similarly configured solar heaters may be coupled together in a series and/or parallel arrangement.

Abstract: A method for the production of an absorber plate for solar collectors from a strip of metal, in particular of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, includes coating the strip using a coil coating process with a highly selective coating, which has very good absorptive properties for sunlight and ensures very little heat emission.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting solar energy includes a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy; an insert located within the receptacle, the insert being a heat pipe adapted to transfer heat; and an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert. The insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle, and further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption fin.

Abstract: A method for the production of an absorber plate for solar collectors from a strip of metal, in particular of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, includes coating the strip using a coil coating process with a highly selective coating, which has very good absorptive properties for sunlight and ensures very little heat emission.

Abstract: Heat transfer between an absorber and heat carrier tubes is simplified by using heat conducting elements which are made of compressed graphite expandate in vacuum tubes for solar collectors. The heat conducting element which is made of compressed graphite expandate can, for example, be embodied in a form-locking fit as an intermediate layer between an absorber internal wall and the carrier construction which can receive the heat carrier tubes or as a heat transfer component which is fitted into the absorber tube and which receives the heat carrier tubes in a form-locking fit.

Abstract: A solar heat collecting apparatus comprises a casing body, a lid for the casing body, a plurality of pillars, and a shield member. The lid for the casing body allows sunlight to pass through the lid and forms a vacuum space in collaboration with the casing body. A plurality of the pillars support the lid. The heat collecting panel is disposed so as to be apart from a side wall of the casing body in the vacuum space, and penetrated by a plurality of the pillars. The shield member blocks at least a part of clearance gaps from the heat collecting panel to the side wall and a plurality of the pillars.

Abstract: A solar energy collector system for reducing heating, air conditioning and power consumption of a building structure. The solar energy collector system includes a housing structure, a collector plate, an insulating sheet positioned between the collector plate and a floor of the housing structure, a thermopile unit within the housing structure, and a fluid positioned below the collector plate. The fluid adjacent the collector plate is heated thereby rising to an upper portion of the housing structure and thermally conducting the thermopile unit for generating electricity. The cooled fluid then passes downwardly below the insulating sheet to a lower portion of the housing structure. A heat exchanger is utilized upon the opposite side of the thermopile unit for transferring the heat to a desired location within or outside of the building structure.

Abstract: This nontracking solar concentrator can be larger than a football field and produce a 20 sun focus. A tank holds panels to collect light and water to guide light to the focus. The tank has a wide field of view that eliminates the need for a sun-tracking mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhanced heat and moisture exchange between make-up and exhaust air streams includes a housing having an exterior wall defining an interior channel through which air streams may pass and a water vapor permeable barrier disposed within the interior channel so as to partition the interior channel into a plurality of subchannels. At least a portion of exterior wall of the housing comprises a light-transmitting material. The exchange apparatus may be implemented as a modular panel which can be integrated into the exterior walls or facade of a structure. Also disclosed is a preheating apparatus in fluid communication with one of the subchannels of the exchanger apparatus. The preheating apparatus also includes an exterior wall defining an interior channel and having at least a portion of the wall formed of a light transmitting material. One or more energy absorbing heating elements are disposed within the interior channel of the preheating apparatus.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for capturing solar energy and transferring it onto a receiving medium to be heated. The device comprises a multiplicity of blades (16), mutually spaced and tiered up to form a screen (10) with an external surface (18) for exposure to the sun radiation and an internal surface (20) for being arranged on the side of the receiving medium (12), the blades defining between them a multiplicity of air channels (22) extending from the external surface (18) to the internal surface (20), closing means being provided for immobilizing the air contained in the channels, the blades being transparent or translucent, with low capacity for absorbing the sun radiation and low thermal conductivity, being made from a lap of thin material, and having an outline with an end part bordering the internal surface of the screen.

Abstract: A solar receiver (10; 110) for a solar thermal power plant comprises an elongated supply chamber (16; 118) for a heat carrier medium flowing in the supply chamber (16; 118) at a small loss of pressure, an elongated absorber (13; 113), the inlet areas (21; 119) thereof extending in a longitudinal direction and limiting the supply chamber (16; 118), and a drain chamber (18; 125) extending in a longitudinal direction and being contained in the supply chamber (16; 118) for the heated heat carrier medium and being limited by at least one outlet area (22; 124) extending in a longitudinal direction, the inlet area (21; 119) and the outlet area (22; 124) being offset against each other in a transverse direction. This is why the heat carrier medium flows in a transverse direction to the absorber (13; 113) so that the flow causing a loss of pressure is limited on a relatively short path and the heat carrier medium being heated flows towards the increasing intensity of incident radiation.

Abstract: A combined thermal-insulation/thermal-collector assembly for the outside walls or roofs of buildings has a heat-insulating layer which is transparent to solar radiation and is designed with a transparent structure. The heat-insulating material including a multiplicity of adjacent channels is disposed in essentially the same direction as the flow of heat. The heat-insulating layer is made up of elements which are thin relative to the thickness of the layer. The channels running across the heat-insulating layer are open, have an essentially uniform diameter, and thus form a transparent structure.

Abstract: In an electronic blood pressure measurement device which is arranged to extract pulse waves from the measured cuff pressure, a pulse wave pattern is generated from the pulse wave amplitude and pulse wave interval data and this pulse wave pattern is compared with reference patterns to classify the pattern in order to accurately obtain biological information other than the blood pressure. Blood pressure amplitudes PA(i) are computed from the measured cuff pressures C(i) and a pulse wave pattern is generated (35) on the basis of this pulse wave amplitude data and this pulse wave pattern is classified into a plurality of reference patterns (37) according to reference patterns or reference values (36). Here, the reference patterns or reference values are set as hemodynamic references based on dynamic characteristics of the blood vessel or cardiac output characteristics.

Abstract: The device for collecting solar energy and transferring it to a reception body to be heated includes a plurality of parallel profiled elements and a closure mechanism. The profiled elements are spaced apart and superposed in order to form a curtain having an outer face suitable for being exposed to solar radiation and an inner face suitable for being located on the reception body side. The profiled elements have two reflecting faces and a shape such that when the inner face is vertical, the profiled elements slope downwardly from the inner face to the outer face. The profiled elements define a plurality of air channels directed upwards from the outer face to the inner face when the inner face is vertical. The profiled elements and the two reflecting faces thereof are formed of an insulating material so as not to conduct heat from the outer face to the inner face.