Abstract: The thermal hybrid tank is a multifunctional tank with a shape that makes for easy construction and assembly while maximizing the ability of thermal syphoning. This invention can store an inlet liquid and thermal energy from a heat exchanger, for outlet usage in multiple applications. The tank typically has a pitch coupling front surface and a downward angled front surface which together allows for coupling with the heat exchanger and a roof decking or a solar panel, of which could be a liquid cooled PV solar panel, or a solar focusing panel, or a roof structure.

Abstract: There is provided a cladding member (13) formed of a supporting body portion (67) having mounts (54) and a head portion (12), and an absorber surface portion (70) having a peripheral boundary wall (71) defining a recess into which a solar cell array (removed in this view for clarity) is bonded. The supporting (67) and absorber surface (70) body portions are pressure moulded from polyvinyl ester/glassfibre (30%)/fire retardant (40%)/pigment sheet moulding compound. Complementary bonding portions (72) form a glue line in assembly and have complementary water passages (73) defined therebetween. The bonding portions (72) contrive a generally sinusoidal glue space (74) that is longer that the transverse sectional dimension of the boding portions (72), cooperating with the adhesive system to resist water pressure in the passages (73).

Abstract: The invention can make up the entire roof of a building or vehicle, or be integrated into a portion of said roofs. This invention utilizes and reduces the amount of solar radiation that enters a building or vehicle via the roof. This system can include a water holding tank or a plurality of tanks, heat exchangers, fire sprinkler heads and various glazing options. Said heat exchangers are contained between the rafters or trusses, and takes advantage of thermal syphoning to store energy in said tank or said plurality of tanks. Additionally, this roof system can function as a fire suppression apparatus and a skylight apparatus that allows natural light into the structure, and may be integrated with LED lighting to illuminate the skylight glazing and interior space. The exterior upper covering may consist of a glazing material like tempered glass coupled with additional roofing elements or standard upper covering assemblies.

Abstract: A volumetric receiver vessel for heating a fluid with concentrated solar radiation which includes: an external housing having an aperture at the front end; an internal housing separating fluid entering the vessel from fluid exiting thereof; a window covering the aperture of the vessel, where the window closes and seals the aperture of said vessel against a non-metallic seal; and a radiation absorber, located inside the vessel and places to absorb radiation entering the vessel through said window on a radiation absorbing surface, where said surface include at least two zones with different radiation absorption coefficients.

Abstract: A heat pipe comprises an evaporator section 5 having a radiation absorbing plate 6 a portion of an elongate tube 7, and a condenser section 10 at a distal end of the elongate tube 7 remote from the evaporator section 5. A flow control valve 20 is provided between the evaporator section 5 and the condenser section 10 to selectively interrupt communication between said sections when the temperature within the condenser section 10 exceeds a predetermined maximum. A temperature sensitive member, (coil of memory metal 34?, or discs 34?) acts between a support plate 26 and a seat 36 located on a valve pintle 30 to urge the valve head 22 towards the valve seat 24 when the temperature of the temperature sensitive member 34 exceeds a predetermined limit. A return spring 38 is provided to bias the valve head 22 away from the valve seat 24.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises a solar absorbing tube 3 containing elongate tube 11 that extends out of one end of the solar absorbing tube 3 and into an end fitting 15 wherein an annular outer passageway 13 of the elongate tube 11 communicates with a cold fluid inlet conduit 16 within the end fitting 15 and the inner passageway 14 of the elongate tube 11 communicates with a hot water outlet conduit 17 within the end fitting 15. Each end fitting 15 is provided with a receiving portion 22 extending orthogonally to the tubular passage 18 for receiving an end of the concentric elongated tube 11. The end fittings 15 are interconnected to provide fluid flow paths without the need for a manifold. Any number of solar collector tubes can be interconnected in this way. The invention also applies solar collectors of the heat pipe type.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

Abstract: A solar collector includes a solar absorbing tube containing an elongate tube that extends out of one end of the solar absorbing tube and into an end fitting. An annular outer passageway of the elongate tube communicates with a cold fluid inlet conduit within the end fitting. An inner passageway of the elongate tube communicates with a hot water outlet conduit within the end fitting. Each end fitting 15 is provided with a receiving portion extending orthogonally to the tubular passage for receiving an end of the concentric elongated tube. The end fittings are interconnected to provide fluid flow paths without the need for a manifold. Any number of solar collector tubes can be interconnected in this way.

Abstract: A solar collector is provided that concentrates solar energy for heating a medium such as air. The solar collector includes a housing with a first end wall, a second end wall and a cavity therebetween. A receiver tube is extended through the first end wall on a first end and extending longitudinally within the cavity. A receiver core member made from a metal foam material is disposed within the receiver tube. At least one mirror is arranged within the cavity opposite the receiver tube, the at least one mirror being arranged to reflect light onto the receiver tube. In one embodiment, an automated cleaning system is arranged to clean the collector cover. In another embodiment, the mirror is made from a dielectric mirror.

Abstract: An air heating system is for use with a mechanism for flowing air. The system includes a plenum and a solar absorber. The solar absorber defines a first boundary of the plenum. The solar absorber is permeable to air. The mechanism for flowing air is for pulling air into the plenum through the permeable solar absorber. The plenum has an axial direction, wherein along a cross section of said plenum normal to the axial direction the permeable absorber has an average shape that is substantially convex when the permeable absorber is viewed from outside of the plenum.

Abstract: A solar collector including a plurality of hollow tubes, each tube directly joined, or indirectly joined by a web, to an adjacent tube; a first manifold connected to a first end of each tube; a second manifold connected to a second end of each tube; where at least two adjacent tubes are separated along a portion of their length so as to form a first section in which adjacent tubes are separated from one another and a second segment in which adjacent tubes are joined to one another. Also disclosed is a method for preventing damage to a tube mat solar collector which includes maintaining the hollow tubes of a solar collector in a substantially coplanar relationship in the absence of high wind conditions; permitting individual tubes to move about their longitudinal axis in response to high wind conditions; and returning the tubes to their longitudinal axis as the high wind conditions subside, the high wind conditions being wind of at least 15 miles per hour.

Abstract: The solar absorber is equipped with an absorber body (10) that absorbs incident solar energy (12) and converts it to heat. The absorber body has a selective absorption layer (17) on a side (36) oriented toward the concentrator (13) and another selective absorption layer (18) on an opposite side (38) oriented away from the concentrator (13). The selective absorption layers (17, 18) have threshold wavelengths below which solar radiation is absorbed and above which a reradiation capacity of the absorber body is suppressed. The threshold wavelength of the selective absorption layer (17) on the side (36) of the absorber body that is oriented toward the concentrator is greater than the other threshold wavelength of the other selective absorption layer(18) on the opposite side (38) of the absorber body oriented away from the concentrator.

Abstract: Solar panel for water-heater of the type comprising a heat exchanger made of moulded synthetic material, having a plurality of passages 7 in which a heat-exchanging fluid can circulate and a translucent cover sheet 17 attached to the exchanger with a clearance, characterized in that the heat exchanger constitutes the brace supporting the panel and consists of two identical half-shells 1a, 1b furnished with parallel longitudinal central projecting ribs 2a, 2b and one projecting edging rib 4a, 4b of greater dimension than a central rib, the two half-shells being bonded or heat sealed so that the central ribs define the abovementioned passages 7 and that the respective edging ribs 4a, 4b define a sealed hollow edging frame full of insulating air confined on the periphery of the exchanger.

Abstract: An overmolding insert includes a base having at least one opening in a first surface, the opening communicating with a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one hollow projection extending from the first surface, the hollow projection having a first opening communicating with the opening of the first surface and a second opening located at a terminal portion of the hollow projection, the insert further having two opposed side walls, each side wall being joined to the first surface, two opposed end walls being joined to an opposite end of the first surface and extending from one side wall to the other side wall. The side walls, the end walls, and the first surface define a partially closed space, with the terminal portion of the hollow projection extending beyond the partially closed space.

Abstract: A coolant sealing structure for a solar cell of which the sealing property is maintained with high reliability in use for a long period. A solar cell has its light receiving surface and a reinforced portion formed around the fringe portion of the light receiving surface. The plate member is joined with the top of the reinforced portion by means of an anode joint process. A transparent member is joined with the plate member to form a coolant passage. This structure allows the solar cell to be directly cooled with the coolant flowing through the coolant passage. Since the solar cell is joined with the plate member, separation does not occur at the joined portion under repeated temperature changes. The coolant sealing structure can be used with high reliability for a long period.

Abstract: A process of converting steam to hydro-electric power through a process of allowing steam to displace water from a tank for operating a turbine or pelton wheel. The process allows hydro-electric power to be generated at a greatly increased efficiency. Preferably, two concrete, underground chambers are used to receive steam which exert pressure to displace the water. The process allows existing power plants to utilize excess steam to generate additional power, and thus greatly increase the overall efficiency of the plant. Solar energy heats the water to produce low pressure steam in a transparent enclosure, and further heats the vapor passing through transparent conduits leading into the underground chambers.