9196results about "Solar heat collectors with working fluids" patented technology

PCT No. PCT / NZ95 / 00084 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 28, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 28, 1997 PCT Filed Sep. 14, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 08683 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 21, 1996A 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.

A solar assembly comprising two components: a multi-functional solar collecting apparatus and a mounting embedment integrated with building construction material. The mounting embedment component is affixed to a building frame structure using standard construction techniques and receives the multi-functional solar collecting apparatus that is secured with fasteners. The multi-functional solar collecting apparatus converts solar energy to electrical energy using a photovoltaic grid mounted on a copper plate that provides even temperature dispersion across the plate and acts as a thermal radiator when the apparatus is used as a radiant cooler; and a plurality of interconnected heat transfer tubes located within the apparatus enclosure disposed on the plane below the copper plate but conductively coupled to the copper plate for converting the solar energy to thermal energy in a fluid disposed within the heat transfer tubes.

There is herein described energy storage systems. More particularly, there is herein described thermal energy storage systems and use of energy storable material such as phase change material in the provision of heating and / or cooling systems in, for example, domestic dwellings.

Thermochromic liquid crystal filters are fabricated by providing two polarizers oriented at offset polarity with respect to each other; providing alignment structures adjacent the inner surfaces of the polarizers; placing a plurality of spacers between the polarizers; and filling a space created by the spacers with a thermotropic liquid crystal that acts as a wave block in an isotropic state and acts as a depolarizer in a nematic state. Alternatively, the filters can be created by encapsulating a thermochromic liquid crystal with a polymer material to form a flexible film and orienting the thermochromic liquid crystal in the polymer material to create a structure that functions as a thermochromic optical filter. Such filters can control the flow of light and radiant heat through selective reflection, transmission, absorption, and / or re-emission. The filters have particular application in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials, and devices, and particularly as construction materials.

A sealed well direct expansion geothermal heat exchange unit, whose sealed well can be placed in ground and / or in water, consisting of a conventional direct expansion, or other heat pump, system wherein the exterior refrigerant heat exchange lines are placed within an insulated and sealed container, which container is supplied with a circulating heat conductive liquid from and to a sub-surface sealed well encasement, which container liquid may be supplemented with heat from a solar heating system, and which unit's hot refrigerant vapor line may be supplementary cooled by means of condensate water evaporative cooling, as well as a means to provide any direct expansion, and any closed-loop water-source, geothermal heat pump system with an optional solar heating supplement in the heating mode, and with an optional water-cooled vapor line supplement in the cooling mode.

A modular shade system with solar tracking panels includes a series of generally North-South oriented, spaced apart torque tubes, each torque tube having an axis, a series of panels mounted to at least some of the torque tubes to create spaced-apart rows of panels along the torque tubes, at least some of the panels being solar collector panels. The system also includes a shade structure, positioned at a selected location between selected ones of the torque tubes and above the support surface so to provide an enhanced shaded region thereunder, and a support structure. The support structure includes a first mounting assembly mounting each torque tube above the support surface for rotation about the axis of each torque tube and a second mounting assembly supporting the shade structure at the selected location. The system further comprises a tilting assembly selectively rotating each torque tube about its axis.

An economical solar generator system is provided wherein the solar energy collector is constructed from a plurality of heat exchangers of the kind used as evaporators in automobile air conditioners. The solar generator system includes a plurality of said heat exchangers connected to receive incoming liquefied refrigerant under pressure. The number of such heat exchangers is sufficient to collect solar energy sufficient to induce a phase change from a liquid to a gas state. The solar generator system also includes an air motor and an electric generator. The air motor is coupled to the outflow heated gas from the plurality of heat exchangers. The air motor is rotated by the heated gas. The electrical generator is coupled to the air motor so that rotation of said air motor causes rotation of said generator.

Cooling systems for providing cooled air to electronic devices are described. The systems can include large storage tanks or waste treatment systems to improve the efficiency of the plant and reduce impact on the environment.

The invention provides receivers which can be used to heat a working fluid to high temperature. In preferred embodiments, concentrated solar radiation is received and converted to heat at varying depths in the receiver such that multiple layers of surface are used to heat the working fluid. In addition, the depth-loading configuration helps to trap received heat to reduce radiant thermal loss.

A sunlight collecting system and a solar energy utilization system which collects sunlight with the sunlight collecting system are provided, a sunlight collecting system including a solar heat collector which includes a heat collecting element which is formed by a helically wound heat exchange medium circulation pipe inside which the heat exchange medium flows, in such a way to have an incurved light receiving surface which narrows and converges towards the sunlight inlet and a sunlight collecting reflector which includes a reflector group which includes a plurality of reflector segments each of which includes a reflecting surface which makes sunlight converge on a heat collector, a sunlight collecting system in which a plurality of heliostats Bm are arranged in places which are irradiated by the sunlight between a plurality of heliostats An, in which each of the heliostats An and the heliostats Bm reflect light in a direction to a light collecting point of a heliostat group in which the heliostat is included.

A solar energy storage and utilization device comprises a metal inner container, a collecting lens, an energy storage tank and a water storage tank. A transparent vacuum tube is arranged outside the metal inner container; the bottom of the water storage tank and the bottom of the metal inner container are communicated through a water pipe I, the upper portion in the metal inner container and the bottom of the water storage tank are connected through a steam pipe I, and an exhaust pipe and a water supplementing pipe are arranged on the energy storage tank. According to the solar energy storage and utilization device, the transparent vacuum tube layer is arranged outside the metal inner container, received solar energy is stopped from being lost and thus the utilization rate of solar energy is substantially increased; meanwhile, the water storage tank and the energy storage tank are arranged so that solar energy received in good weather is stored in the energy storage tank in the form of high temperature and high pressure water and utilized in bad weather, the situation that an existing solar energy utilization device depends a lot on weather conditions is eliminated, and the application range of the solar energy utilization device is widened.

Systems, methods, and computer-implemented embodiments consistent with the inventions herein are directed to storing and / or transferring heat. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a system for transferring / storing heat comprised of a heat exchange / storage apparatus including a chamber, and a heat input device adapted to heat / provide a vapor into the chamber. Other exemplary implementations may include one or more features consistent with a heat output device through which a working medium / fluid passes, a thermal storage medium located within the chamber, and / or a heat exchange system that delivers a heat exchange medium / fluid to the thermal storage medium.

It is in vacuum state between glass heat pipe and glass outer tube as well as inside glass heat pipe. Fusing seals both of heat pipe and outer tube. Heat absorption coating is coated on external wall, and working medium is filled inside heat pipe. Quantity of working medium filled is 0.1-0.5%V, where V is cubage of heat pipe. Based on theory of applied thermodynamics, quantity of working medium is selected scientifically. When temp reaches a critical temperature, all working medium is turned to vapor phase. If temp rises continuously, the pressure is raised according to rule of vapor phase, reducing pressure inside the heat pipe under high temp so as to solve issue of cracking glass heat pipe caused by solarizing empty glass heat pipe. Adsorption material is added inside heat pipe in order to ensure restarting glass heat pipe rapidly.

A solar insulation capturing and transporting system includes a solar insulation receiving member configured in combination with a dual walled conduit. Fluid is flowed through one portion of the conduit and into the solar insulation receiving member and thence into a second portion of the conduit. Heat energy captured in the fluid is then transferred, in the flowing fluid, to a use location where the energy may be usefully exploited.

Systems and methods for converting thermal energy, such as solar energy, from a localized thermal energy source to another form of energy or work comprise dual thermodynamic cycle systems that utilize the liquid-to-gas phase transitions of a cryogenic fluid such as liquid nitrogen and a working fluid such as sulfur hexafluoride to drive prime movers. Heat transfer between the fluids as they undergo the phase transitions is used to increase the energy in the system and its work output, and improve system efficiency.

A solar array tracker controller including an operator programmable micro- processor electronically connected to the drive motors in a solar panel array or other solar device array. The processor is user programmable and includes memory for storing a software program which includes an algorithm that determines the precise location of the sun relative to the array based on the local data input into the processor A GPS sensor and interface may be provided to obviate the need for local

It includes at least one module with a concave reflecting mirror surface which concentrates the light radiation towards certain devices in order to then obtain electrical or other type of energy. It also includes means for orienting that mirror surface according to the position of the sun.It is characterised in principle in that each module comprises a thin lightweight laminar body with an arched structure which incorporates the concave mirror surface, this laminar body being associated with certain stiffening supports which stabilise and stiffen that arched structure in order to maintain this shape, said structure being supported on some ground with the interposition of guide means by which the arched structure at least tilts towards one side or the other depending on the light sensor or timer which activates a device that positions each module in real time with the required orientation according to the position of the sun.

Invented is a method of making combustion air for a fossil fuel burner, as a coal burning power plant, oil refinery or gas fired household appliance. Combustion air is made from solar, wind, biomass, hydropower or geothermal. A staged progression using lower cost greenhouses, or flatplates, or solarponds, feed warm air to higher cost concentrator solar collectors. Wind energy, biomass, geothermal energy heat and compress combustion air. Hydropower also heats and compresses combustion air. Solar evaporation from salt or impure water creates water or local rain for the hydropower system. Combustion air thus is made economically hot, compressed and high velocity, and placed into a heavily insulated pipes for long distance transmission to a distant power plant.

The present invention relates to a solar heating and power generation combined supply system. Said system includes the following several components: rotating parabolic saucer condenser, rotating hyperbolic spectral control system, light-gathering photovoltaic group battery and hot-pipe type water heater. Said invention also provides the concrete structure of the above-mentioned every portion and the working principle of said system.

The invention relates to a solar medium-high-temperature loop heat pipe steam generator which is composed of a loop heat pipe (1), a straight-through all-glass vacuum pipe (2), a steam pocket (3) and a sealing ring (4). The loop heat pipe (1) is a closed loop formed by an evaporation section (5), a condensation section (6), a first heat insulation section (7(A)) and a second heat insulation section (7(B)), the first heat insulation section (7(A)) is a steam ascending pipe, the second heat insulation section (7(B)) is formed by a condensing liquid descending pipe (12) and a U-shaped liquid storage pipe (13), the straight-through all-glass vacuum pipe (2) and the evaporation section (5) are placed coaxially to form an annular non-vacuum space (20), two ends of the annular non-vacuum space (20) are sealed by adopting sealing rings (4), and the steam pocket (3) is in sealed connection with the condensation section (6) of the loop heat pipe (1). The solar medium-high-temperature loop heat pipe steam generator is suitable for groove-type solar DSG technology, high-efficiency phase change of the heat pipe is utilized for heat transfer to heat water in the steam generator so as to directly generate high-temperature steam, system cost is lowered, and system running reliability is improved.

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.

A heat pipe can include a microchannel heat exchanger at the heat absorbing end and another heat exchanger which is optionally also a microchannel heat exchanger at the heat sink end, with one or more pipes flowably connecting the two ends for transporting liquid working fluid to the head absorber and vaporized working fluid to the heat sink. The heat pipes may be used to cool electronic devices with rejection of heat outside an enclosure, and optionally outside a room, containing the electronic devices. The heat pipes may be used to cool photovoltaic or solar collection devices with rejection of heat to ambient air at a distance removed from the photovoltaic devices. Heat pipe systems are disclosed wherein the working fluid is a hydrofluorocarbon or a mono-chlorinated hydrofluoroalkene having a normal boiling point in a range from 10° C. to 80° C.

A solar power plant having a plurality of receiver panels mounted in a circular fashion about a solar receiver. Each receiver panel includes a plurality of tubes that terminate at each end at a header. To eliminate the presence of gaps between the tubes of adjacent receiver panels the headers are staggered or beveled. In the staggered configuration the headers of adjacent receiver panels are located in different elevations so that the headers of adjacent receiver panels may overlap each other, thus allowing the headers and tubes of adjacent receiver panels to be positioned closer together to eliminate gaps between the tubes of adjacent panels. In the beveled configuration the headers are angled such that the terminal ends of adjacent headers are parallel and positioned in a closely abutting relationship, resulting in the absence of gaps between adjacent headers and tubes.

Methods and devices are presented that allow the harvest of electricity, heat and lighting simultaneously from a solar converter, often at less cost than conventional solar collectors. The converters use slats to intercept sunlight. Slat surfaces in the direct light path may be coated with photovoltaic (PV) material, or may be shaped to concentrate sunlight, allowing less PV material to capture reflected, concentrated light for improved economics. Forcing air flow past enclosed slats let the slats operate as PV heat sinks, heat absorbers, and heat exchangers capturing much of the solar energy that is not converted to electricity, as heat. Embodiments also allow passage of indirect light to supplement interior artificial lighting, often with positive aesthetic effects. These slatted apertures mitigate glare and overheating problems associated with typical skylights and some windows, allowing wider use as architectural elements. The devices also can be integrated into new building construction, and serve a dual purpose as building structural components.

A solar energy collection system can include a drive configured to adjust a tilt position of a solar collector assembly so as to tract the sun. The drive can include hardware for providing feedback control of the orientation of the solar collector assembly. A method for calibrating the drive can include moving the drive to a reference position and saving an output value from a sensor configured to detect the orientation of the drive. The reference value output from the sensor can then be used in determining the target output value from the sensor required to achieve a desired orientation.

A solar battery system with an improved effect of utilizing solar energy and a thermoelectric hybrid type solar battery system for furthermore recovering heat energy are provided. It is configured to include a solar battery panel 1 receiving sunlight at a light receiving surface 1a and supplying electricity generated by photoelectric conversion to the outside; a heat pipe 2 configured to have a serpentine thin hole provided therein with a sealed refrigerant fluid or configured to have a plate-shaped structure, for example, in a flat shape, a thin shape, furthermore, a thin film shape, wherein a surface of said plate-shaped structure on one end portion side is affixed to a back surface of said light receiving surface of said solar battery panel, and receiving heat H generated at said solar battery panel 1 from said one end portion 2a and conducting to the other end portion 2b; and a heat release part 3, such as a hot water generation part, receiving the heat from the other end portion 2b which is conducted in the heat pipe 2.

The absorber pipe (1), especially for a parabolic collector for a solar heat collecting apparatus, is described. The absorber pipe (1) includes central metal pipe (3), a glass sleeve tube (2) surrounding the nine so that an annular space (4) is formed between them and an expansion compensating device connecting the central metal nine and a glass-metal transitional element (5) on a free end of the sleeve tube (2). The expansion compensation device (10) connects the metal pipe and sleeve tube, so that they can slide relative to each other, and includes folding bellows (11) for that purpose. Furthermore it also includes a connecting element (15), which has either a cylindrical or a conical section (17,18,18″) and which connects an interior end of the folding bellows with the metal pipe.

A tubular radiation absorbing device (1) designed for a solar heating application is described. The tubular radiation absorbing device has a metal central tube (3) and a glass tubular jacket (2) surrounding the central tube (3). A folding bellows (11) is connected between the central tube (3) and the tubular jacket (2), so that the tubular jacket and the central tube are movable relative to each other. A connecting element (20) connects an inner end of the folding bellows (11) with the central tube (3) and extends from the inner end of the folding bellows (11) through an inner annular space (30) between the folding bellows (11) and the central tube (3). The connecting element includes at least a part of a hydrogen window (50). A getter (6) is arranged in an outer annular space (33) between the folding bellows (11) and the tubular jacket (2).

In one embodiment, a solar receiver has a base plate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, and a multiplicity of fins extending outwardly from the second surface of the base plate. Each of the multiplicity of fins has a fin height axis extending generally perpendicular relative to the base plate, a fin length axis extending generally in parallel with the base plate, and a bottom end attached to the second surface of the base plate, wherein each of the multiplicity of fins are formed from a single, continuous sheet of metal arranged in a serpentine configuration, and wherein each of the multiplicity of fins have a plurality of undulations along the length axis of the fin.