Abstract: A concentrated solar power generation system includes a movable platform having a groove, a Fresnel lens located in the groove of the movable platform, a header located below the Fresnel lens, a plurality of heat collection tubes arranged in a circular array, a reflector with a tapered surface, and a support base. The header has a water circulation pipe, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe each are communicated to the water circulation pipe. A lower end of each of the heat collection tubes is fixed on the support seat, and an upper end of each of the heat collection tubes contacts the water circulation pipe. The reflector is mounted on the support base and located in a space enclosed by the heat collection tubes.

Abstract: An electric heating device for heating fluids, comprising a housing, inlet and outlet connection pieces arranged at inlet and outlet openings of the housing, respectively, a flow path in the housing through which the fluid to be heated flows leading from the inlet connection piece to the outlet connection piece, and an electric heating unit attached to the housing. The flow path comprises inlet and outlet chambers and at least two flow channels running side by side from the inlet to the outlet chambers. A separating wall separates two flow channels from one another. Each flow channel has an inlet section connected to the inlet chamber and defining an inlet flow direction and an outlet section connected to the outlet chamber and defining an outlet flow direction. The inlet connection piece is oriented in the inlet flow direction and/or the outlet connection piece is oriented in the outlet flow direction.

Abstract: A roof mounting system for the attachment of an article to a roof, the system comprising a plurality of PV modules each having at least one corner and a frame member, a flashing member having a top surface; an upstanding sleeve attached to the top surface of the flashing member; an elevated water seal having a borehole formed therethrough, the elevated water seal further comprising at least one screw for providing a waterproof seal between the article and the roof structure; and whereby the plurality of PV modules are interlocked in a way to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement supported above the roof through the frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheet-like light collector device comprising a light receiving side and a light exit side, and a plurality of curved structures of light guiding material comprising an organic dye configured to absorb at least part of the light of a light source and to convert at least part of the absorbed light into converted light in the visible wavelength range. Each curved structure has a convex curved part at the light receiving side, a concave part at the light exit side, and a light exit edge part at the light exit side. Each curved structure has a curvature and light guide thickness configured to facilitate transport of incoupled light and the visible converted light in the direction of the light exit edge part to provide device light escaping from the light exit edge part.

Abstract: A solar energy gathering device includes a heat storage unit, a number of heat gathering units and a number of Fresnel lenses. Each of the heat gathering units includes a transparent glass block having a vacuum receiving space, and a heat pipe received in the vacuum receiving space and in thermally contact with the heat storage unit. The Fresnel lenses are attached on each of the glass blocks, and configured for converging solar light to the heat pipes through the glass bocks.

Abstract: The radiation-selective absorber coating for absorber tubes of parabolic trough collectors includes two or more barrier layers (24a, 24b); an infrared reflective layer (21) on the barrier layers (24a, 24b); at least one cermet absorption layer (22) above the infrared reflective layer (21) and an antireflection layer (23) above the at least one cermet absorption layer (22). The two or more barrier layers (24a, 24b) include a first barrier layer (24a) of thermally produced oxide and a second barrier layer (24b) arranged above it. The second barrier layer (24b) is a cermet material including at least one oxide compound and at least one metal. The oxide compound is aluminium oxide, silicon oxide, nickel oxide and/or chromium oxide. The metal is molybdenum, nickel, tungsten and/or vanadium. The invention also includes an absorber tube with the absorber coating on it.

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: A solar energy collection system and components includes a vacuum and an air compressor. The system includes a plurality of flexible units each having a backing portion and a solar cell portion upwardly adjacent and coupled to the backing portion. Each backing portion includes adhesive and at least one channel in the adhesive. Each channel is configured for communication with the vacuum to withdraw air from the channel when the adhesive is initially coupled to a structure and for communication with an air compressor to provide air to the channel to separate the adhesive from the structure. Each solar cell portion has an electricity generating element. The structure for coupling units transfers electricity between units. Each unit has an electricity outlet for passing electricity generated by at least one generating element for storage or use.

Abstract: A solar water heating system, including: (a) a solar heating collector, having: (i) an array of convex lenses; (ii) a panel disposed below the array of convex lenses, wherein the array of convex lenses focuses sunlight on the panel to heat areas of the panel; (iii) a fluid chamber disposed below the panel; and (iv) a plurality of members extending from the panel into the fluid chamber to transfer heat from the panel into fluid in the fluid chamber; (b) a fluid reservoir; (c) a fluid inlet line for moving fluid from the fluid reservoir into the fluid inlet of the solar heating collector; (d) fluid outlet line for moving fluid from the fluid chamber of the solar heating collector to the fluid reservoir; and (e) a pump for moving fluid cyclically through the fluid chamber of the solar collector and the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: Solar absorber (1) comprising at least one solar thermal absorber (2) and also at least one solar cell layer system (3) applied thereto and comprising a first layer (10) and a second layer (11) which is directly contact-connected to the first layer (10), wherein the second layer (11) is applied in planar fashion to the solar thermal absorber (2) either directly or indirectly.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for converting solar radiation into thermal energy via a first and second non-ferrous metal conduit joined in a serpentine configuration by a non-ferrous metal end fitting. In one aspect, the apparatus is a high performance solar radiation collector converting solar radiation into thermal energy and transferring said thermal energy to a liquid transfer medium flowing through the collector.

Abstract: The radiation-selective absorber coating for absorber tubes of parabolic trough collectors includes two or more barrier layers (24a, 24b); an infrared reflective layer (21) on the barrier layers (24a, 24b); at least one cermet absorption layer (22) above the infrared reflective layer (21) and an antireflection layer (23) above the at least one cermet absorption layer (22). The two or more barrier layers (24a, 24b) include a first barrier layer (24a) of thermally produced oxide and a second barrier layer (24b) arranged above it. The second barrier layer (24b) is a cermet material including at least one oxide compound and at least one metal. The oxide compound is aluminium oxide, silicon oxide, nickel oxide and/or chromium oxide. The metal is molybdenum, nickel, tungsten and/or vanadium. The invention also includes an absorber tube with the absorber coating on it.

Abstract: An absorber (1) for a thermal solar collector, comprising an absorber sheet (3) and at least one thermal fluid tube (5) that is connected in a thermally conducting fashion to the absorber sheet (3) and is connected to the absorber sheet (3) by means of a welded joint, is characterized in that the welded joint is formed from a number of linearly extended weld seam sections arranged sequentially along the thermal fluid tube (5) and respectively separated from one another by a section without weld seam, the direction of the linear extent of the weld seam sections corresponding to the axial direction of the extent of the thermal fluid tube.

Abstract: A solar receiver includes a heat absorbing element having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface and a first coating including a carbon nanotube-infused fiber material in surface engagement with and at least partially covering the outer surface of the heat absorbing element. Solar radiation incident onto the first coating is received, absorbed, and converted to heat energy, and the heat energy is transferred from the first coating to the heat absorbing element. A multilayer coating for a solar receiver device includes a first coating that includes a CNT-infused fiber material and an environmental coating disposed on the first coating.

Abstract: A solar energy collection system and components includes a vacuum and an air compressor. The system includes a plurality of flexible units each having a backing portion and a solar cell portion upwardly adjacent and coupled to the backing portion. Each backing portion includes adhesive and at least one channel in the adhesive. Each channel is configured for communication with the vacuum to withdraw air from the channel when the adhesive is initially coupled to a structure and for communication with an air compressor to provide air to the channel to separate the adhesive from the structure. Each solar cell portion has an electricity generating element. The structure for coupling units transfers electricity between units. Each unit has an electricity outlet for passing electricity generated by at least one generating element for storage or use.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to solar heating systems, storage tanks with heat exchanger that may be used in a solar heating system, methods of constructing solar collection panels, methods of installing solar collection panels, methods of manufacturing and selling solar heat exchange systems, and methods of distributing solar heat exchange system manufacturing facilities. The solar collection panels and heat exchangers may comprise envelope-type configurations wherein one or more dimples are formed in an exterior surface of the solar collection panels or the heat exchangers. The solar collection panels and heat exchangers may have a variety of different shapes and sizes, and may be colored, such as by painting the solar collection panels or heat exchangers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to A roof-covering element (10), with an upper surface (11) and a lower surface (12), whereby for roof covering a plurality of elements (10) is juxtaposed in a particular way such that neighbouring elements (10) are interconnected by means of an interlocking arrangement (13, 14, 15), and whereby the roof-covering element (10) comprises means for exchanging heat with the environment, where at least one of the surfaces (11, 12) of the element (10) is at least partially made of a metal alloy. The particular roof-covering element (10) can in particular be made of an alloy comprising any combination of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), i.e. the alloy CuZn40Mn2Fe1. The roof-covering element (10) according to the present invention can also comprise a cavity (16), provided inside the element (10), in which a fluid is circulable for heat exchange with the environment.

Abstract: A solar thermal energy collector with integrated flowpath is provided. The insert can be connected to a solar collector manifold for collecting solar energy. The insert with integrated flowpaths can be surrounded by an evacuated chamber. A fluid can be used to transfer the heat collected from the insert. The insert includes first and second flowpaths for conveying the heat transfer fluid. The fluid flowpath is continuous and integral to the insert. The fluid flowpath may be comprised of a group of chambers designed for efficient transfer of thermal energy. Methods of manufacture of inserts with continuous flowpaths are provided. These may include methods for the extrusion of inserts with integral flowpaths from a single piece of material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar collector element having an absorber part and a tube for a heat transfer liquid connected thereto on a first side. The absorber part consisting of a composite material having a metallic substrate and an optically active coating on a second side of the substrate. The coating is a multilayer system having three layers. The top layer is a dielectric layer, preferably an oxide, fluoride or nitride layer of chemical composition MeOz, MeFr, MeNs, having a refractive index n<1.8. The middle layer is a chromium oxide layer of chemical composition CrOx. The bottom layer is gold, silver, copper, chromium, aluminium and/or molybdenum. The indices x, z, r and s indicate a stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric ratio in the oxides, fluorides or nitrides.

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: 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.