Abstract: The present invention is a self-contained, solar powered heating and cooling system for a building. The collector has an insulated heating chamber, and a light transmissive cover and a thermostatically controlled vent. The chamber contains absorptive columns standing on the floor. An internal liquid conduit exposes the liquid to the heat within the chamber. The collector is connected to a remote thermal reservoir such that a liquid circuit and a separate gas circuit both circulate heated fluid to the reservoir. Heat can be stored in any of a liquid reservoir, thermal mass reservoir and gas reservoir. Wind powered generators and photovoltaic cells provide power for the system or other applications. The thermal reservoir has heat exchangers which deliver stored heat to the building or operate a heat operated refrigeration machine (e.g., a liquid absorption chiller). Additional self sustaining power sources may optionally be incorporated into the present invention.

Abstract: A building (1) has a roof structure (2) clad with a plurality of ambient heat collection tiles in the form of panels (3), mounted on parallel battens (4) carried by roof rafters (10), and disposed in edge-overlapping relationship. The panels (3) are of identical form. Each panel comprises a plank-like aluminum extrusion of substantial length and of rectangular plan form, having edge-coupling portions (5, 6). The interior of each panel (3) is formed with pair of substantially parallel ducts (7, 8) disposed side by side, which define flow and return paths respectively, for a heat transfer fluid, such as water. The flow and return ducts (7, 8) are divided from each other by an integral barrier wall (9). A panel (3) is not of uniform lateral cross section throughout its length. The cross section is uniform except at the ends where the dividing wall (9) has been cut away at one end so as to allow water to pass from the flow path (7) to the return path (8) in a re-entrant manner.

Abstract: A solar power heating system includes a plurality of concentrating solar collectors each comprising a frame having two side walls and a reflecting layer attached to the inside thereof. Each of the side walls has two engaging members so as to conveniently connect with others. An isolating block is received between the two side walls and a circulating tube is engaged in the isolating block with a section of the circulating tube being exposed from the top of the isolating block. An absorbing layer is attached to the top of the isolating block and the section of the circulating tube. A lens device is connected between the two side walls so that water flowing through the circulating tube is heated by the absorbing layer. A heat exchanging device is connected to concentrating solar collectors.

Abstract: A solar concentrator for producing usable power as heat and/or electricity uses a self-steering heliostat 1502 to concentrate solar radiation 1509 onto an absorbing surface such as, or including, a solar cell array 1511 capable of absorbing power from the radiation, meanwhile removing heat (such as from long-wave infra-red radiation or resistive losses) from the surface with fluid heat transfer means 1503, 1504, then making effective use of that low-grade heat. Thus the solar cell array is kept relatively cool and a larger proportion of the solar energy incident on the reflector unit is used. The invention uses electricity 1506 from the solar cells to move a transporting fluid through a heat exchanger 1504. Excess electricity may be available for local storage or use 1510, or feeding 1512 to the power distribution grid. Applications include warming swimming pools 1501, heating hot-water supplies using excess electricity, or warming, lighting and ventilating open spaces.

Abstract: This invention provides a molten salt, solar central smooth tube receiver that is able to effectively absorb a peak solar flux of 1.42 MW/M.sup.2 by constructing the receiver from low cycle fatigue 625 alloy. Although higher flux levels are attainable for a smooth tube receiver by reducing the tube diameter to increase the salt's heat transfer coefficient, the receiver's size is optimized at this flux level to minimize capital and performance costs. Analogously, material provides substantial performance and capital cost improvements for receivers constructed with internally enhanced film coefficient tubes. The receiver's cost is minimized by utilizing autogenously welded and drawn tubing with the weld located at the tube's neutral axis to provide minimal strain at the weld.

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 solar heat collector roof comprises an absorber plate (1) for incident radiation energy and a heat exchange plate (2) placed directly thereunder. The heat exchange plate is corrugated in such a manner that it comprises channels extending down along the roof. The heat exchange plate (2) is moreover in direct contact with the absorber plate (1) thereabove. A heat carrying or heat removing liquid medium (3), e.g. water, flows in the channels. The liquid medium (3), which removes heat from the heat exchange plate (2), is supplied at such a rate that the flow rate down along the roof in the channels lies below the rate at which the surface tension of the heat carrying medium (3) is broken, so that a winding and travelling flow pattern is imparted thereby to the liquid medium (3), and up along the channel walls (4).

Abstract: This modular element has several conduits disposed side by side, each pair of adjacent conduits being interconnected to form a rigid or flexible unit, each conduit has a male end and an opposite female end, the latter for joining with the male end of an aligned conduit of an adjacent modular element. The several conduits of a first modular element can therefore be simultaneously extended by the several conduits of a second modular element by simultaneously joining the female and male ends of the elements. These elements can be in the form of panels to be joined together to form, for instance, a solar panel or a floor covering with a circulating heat transfer fluid through the conduits. The conduits may also serve as protected passages for underground electrical wires. The conduits may be provided with sprinkler holes to water plants.

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.

Abstract: A solar heater includes one or more conduits coupled between a pair of pipes, one or more extensions are formed on each of the pipes, each of the conduits has two ends rotatably engaged in the extensions of the pipes, and a heat collecting mechanism is fixed on each of the conduits and rotated in concert with the conduits such that the heat collecting mechanism can be rotated relative to the pipes in order to adjust the directions of the heat collecting mechanisms.

Abstract: A solar boiler of improved energy efficiency that includes a solar panel for receiving solar energy and converting a liquid to steam and a highly accurate tracking system to maintain the panel substantially perpendicular to the sun. The panel includes a plurality of heat transfer liquid carrying tubes having a highly absorptive coating over areas receiving solar energy and high efficiency insulating material over remaining surface areas. An extruded compound concentrating cylindrical lens is positioned over each tube to concentrate received solar energy along a narrow linear energy receiving area. Each panel is mounted for rotation and tilting on a simple, sturdy base. Each panel is substantially closed but includes openings designed so that some air flow through the panel is permitted to prevent excessive heat within the panel while preventing entry of moisture.

Abstract: A solar energy collector whereby an absorber plate thereof is formed by providing a thin metallic foil for supporting sprayed molten metal, arranging fluid carrying tubes on the foil, and spraying molten metal using a source of pressurized inert gas onto a substrate and tubes to build up a coating of sufficient thickness to form a unified solar collector panel comprising the absorber plate, embedded tube and foil which have good thermal contact with each other. The method further includes forming a selective surface on the sprayed metal absorber plate.