Abstract: The present invention proposes a medical heat exchanger for heating with a light emitter. The heat exchanger disclosed here has at least one fluid chamber having at least one outside wall which forms the fluid chamber with a fluid-tight seal, such that the fluid chamber is configured for receiving and/or conducting the medical fluid and such that the fluid chamber has at least one component, which is configured as a light absorber and is arranged within the fluid chamber in at least some sections so that there is direct contact between the component configured as the light absorber and the medical fluid in at least some sections when receiving and/or conducting the medical fluid and wherein the outside wall of the fluid chamber has at least one light-transmitting section, so that the light emitted by the light emitter can heat the absorber without any local temperature peaks on the medical heat exchanger.

Abstract: A functional roof construction arrangement for a roof frame of a building, includes a plurality of functional roof modules being assembled together. Each of the functional roof modules includes a module housing and a roof functional unit which includes three different roof functional panel units selectively supported by the module housing at different levels thereof to provide different functions for the building. The roof functional panel units are selectively configured for selectively providing multiple functions of solar energy collection, thermal insulation, sound insulation, wireless network system, and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including: a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis and including at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber.

Abstract: To overcome shortcomings of the conventional thermal receiver, embodiments of the technology disclosed herein are directed towards an improved thermal receiver. More particularly, the various embodiments of the technology disclosed herein relate to thermal receivers without a vacuum insulation, otherwise known as an approximation of a blackbody. Various embodiments of the technology disclosed herein enable greater absorption of sunlight collected by a parabolic solar trough concentrator compared with conventional thermal receivers.

Abstract: Potable drinking water is a scarce resource in many parts of developing countries, especially rural areas. Due to limited financial means of these countries, low cost point-of-use systems are thought to be appropriate technology to treat water. Systems using solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation could be successful since many vulnerable countries are located where solar radiation is intense and abundant throughout the year. The goal of this disclosure is to develop a simple and low cost point-of-use solar UV reactor to disinfect water. In this disclosure wavelength-dependent microbial dose-response behavior was investigated using surrogates to pathogenic microbes. A solar radiation prediction method based on the SMARTS model was used to predict solar UV intensity as function of geographic location and time. A numerical modeling procedure using the discrete ordinate (DO) model and CFD software (FLUENT) was used to simulate UV dose (distribution) delivery to microorganisms.

Abstract: A solar system for collecting solar energy, adapted to be rapidly assembled on site. The modular solar system includes a solar energy collector-assembly, having two wings of collectors, arranged in at least one row. The modular solar system further includes an energy-receiving-module, having a receiver unit, adapted to absorb the solar energy, a shaft, a support structure, a stand, disposed on rigid surface, a control-subsystem, a motor and a sun-following mechanism coupled to operate with the control-subsystem. The receiver unit has a diameter dr, wherein collected energy directed at the external surface of the receiver unit forms a pair of solar energy strips, each strip having a width de, such that de<dr. The solar system may be shipped by land vehicles inside one standard container, wherein each major component is light weight, and can be lifted by two workers.

Abstract: A solar power conversion receiver is described. In one aspect, the solar power conversion receiver includes a circular glass envelope and an absorber tube encapsulated within the circular glass envelope. An annulus, positioned between the circular glass envelope and the outer perimeter of the absorber tube, is bifurcated by first and second fins operatively coupled to the circular glass envelope and the absorber tube. These fins create first and second annulus compartments that are substantially sealed off, or independent, from one another. The first and second fins are ductile and responsive to expansion and contraction of components in the solar power conversion receiver due to temperature effects. In one aspect, gas in the lower annulus compartment stratifies with cooler gas interfacing with the encapsulating glass envelope, and hotter gas interfacing with the hotter absorber tube, resulting reduced natural convection heat loss as compared to conventional glass encapsulated receivers.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises an evacuated glass tube (8), an absorbing section (9) comprising a radiation absorbing plate (10), an elongate tube (11, 15) for a working fluid in contact with the radiation absorbing plate (10) and a wire clip (25) for retaining the absorbing section (9) in position in the solar absorbing glass tube (8). The wire clip (25) consists of a single piece wire having a clamping portion (26) for clamping onto the outer surface of the working fluid tube (11, 15) and a pair of resilient side support sections (27) flanking the clamping portion (26). The side support sections (27) extend so that portions thereof engage against the inner surface of the solar absorbing tube (8).

Abstract: A solar heating system for mounting under a roof includes a panel formed of a sheet material, the panel having substantially opposed first and second surfaces and adapted for attachment under the roof with the first surface substantially facing the roof. A plurality of tubing fasteners extend outward from the second surface of the panel, and at least one run of tubing is held against the second surface of the panel by the plurality of tubing fasteners. The plurality of tubing fasteners can be partially cut-out and bent portions of the sheet material. The system can also include a sidewall formed by folding a portion of the sheet material toward the second surface along a line of weakness and standoff tabs extending from the first surface formed as partially cut-out and bent portions of the sheet material.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device, such as a solar cell, light-emitting device, or photodetector, comprises a substrate, a number of fibers supported by the substrate so that an end of each fiber is in electrical communication with the substrate surface; an optional first layer, covering the substrate, though which the fibers protrude, and a second layer overlaid on at least part of the first layer and exposed fiber surfaces. The second layer may be electrically conducting, and electrically isolated from the substrate surface by the first layer. The second layer can be in electrical communication with each fiber, and an electrically conducting path can exists between the second layer and the substrate surface through each fiber. The substrate, in whole or in part (such as the substrate surface) can be electrically conducting.

Abstract: A method for forming a solar collector includes a panel provided with an inner bore and a deformable metal tube inserted in the bore and mechanically secured thereto by passing a plug or bullet through the tube to deform it outwardly into intimate contact with the panel such as to maximize the heat transfer therebetween and to substantially eliminate any possibility of corrosion by keeping the tube in constant compression. The tube can carry a liquid, such as water or glycol, which is heated by the panel exposed to radiant solar heat. The so formed solar collector typically uses a copper tube and an extruded aluminum panel. A number of parallel conduits connected at their opposite ends to common main inlet and outlet copper pipes may be provided with the panels of adjacent conduits mating together while allowing for relative movement therebetween but without the forming of gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A solar energy collector expansion assembly including means for reducing having axial thermal expansion in the riser tube is described in which each riser tube has a pair of solar collecting panels attached thereto by a removable elongated "C"-shaped connection member. The "C"-shaped connection member is deliberately made from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than does the material from which the solar collecting panel and the riser tube are formed thereby influencing the dimensional thermal expansion of the riser tube-connection member assembly into a radial rather than axial direction thereby reducing the weakening and failure of the bonds which join the riser tube to adjoining members. Each riser tube-connection member assembly is curved slightly from linear into a cambered shape to further influence the path of thermal expansion of the assembly from a direction other than axial.

Abstract: A solar energy collector comprising a plurality of heat absorbing modules formed by deforming two plates into intimate contact with parallel metallic pipes disposed intermediate the plates. The plates are secured together by rivets which are spaced along and traverse the deformed portions of the plates, thus providing a spring section to absorb unequal expansion of the plates and the fluid conducting pipes. The uppermost surface of the pair of plates is provided with a black body coating to emit infrared radiation when sunlight is incident thereon. A glazing is provided over such black body surface to freely transmit incident light to the black body surface but to reflect infrared heat energy emitted by the black body surface. Water or other heat transfer liquid flowing through the pipes is maintained at a sufficiently high pressure to produce a turbulent flow through the pipes to increase the efficiency of the heat transfer.

Abstract: A fin type radiating system is presented having an exposed rear flange for ease in installing, while improving efficiency. The resulting system is environmentally sound and durable.