182 results about "Solar absorber" patented technology

The present invention generally relates to heat pumps that utilize at least one thermal source operating with the same working fluids. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a hybrid solar heat pump comprised of at least one microchannel heat exchanger with integral solar absorber, at least one compression (i.e., mass flow regulator) device as the heat pump for concurrent compression to a higher pressure and mass flow regulator of the working fluid, and at least one working fluid accumulator with the entire system operating with the same working fluid. The present invention also generally relates to heat pump systems that utilize an inventory management system to provide both efficient and safe operation under a wide range of operating conditions.

A solar tower central receiver with separated boiler and Super-Heater allows better control on the output steam's temperature. The boiler takes higher solar flux density and works at lower temperature while the Super-Heater takes lower solar flux and works at high temperature to optimize the cost to performance ratio. The solar fluxes of the boiler and super-heater are adjustable through the pointing of the heliostats. The boiler consists of parallel pipes as solar absorber and the Super-Heater consists of helix parallel pipes as solar absorber. The steam drum chamber interconnects boiler and Super-Heater. The absorb pipes and circulation pipes are connected to water chamber, steam drum chamber, and Super-Heater chambers. The water level sensor and temperature sensors provide information regarding the operating status of the receiver.

A solar thermal photovoltaic device, and method of forming same, includes a solar absorber and a spectrally selective emitter formed on either side of a thermally conductive substrate. The solar absorber is configured to absorb incident solar radiation. The solar absorber and the spectrally selective emitter are configured with an optimized emitter-to-absorber area ratio. The solar thermal photovoltaic device also includes a photovoltaic cell in thermal communication with the spectrally selective emitter. The spectrally selective emitter is configured to permit high emittance for energies above a bandgap of the photovoltaic cell and configured to permit low emittance for energies below the bandgap.

A copper indium diselenide (CIS)-based photovoltaic device includes a CIS-based solar absorber layer including copper, indium, and selenium. The CIS-based photovoltaic device further includes a substrate formed from a silicone composition. The substrate, because it is formed from the silicone composition, is both flexible and sufficiently able to withstand annealing temperatures in excess of 500° C. to obtain maximum efficiency of the device.

An evaporation tool for forming a dopant structure on a front surface of a continuous workpiece, wherein the front surface includes a precursor layer to form Group IBIIIAVIA absorbers for solar cells and the dopant structure is used to introduce dopants into the precursor layer. The tool includes at least a first vapor source station to deposit a Group VIA material, such as Se, and a second vapor station to deposit a dopant material, such as Na, onto the continuous workpiece. A moving assembly of the tool holds and moves the continuous workpiece within the tool by feeding the continuous workpiece from a first end and taking up from a second end of the tool. A support assembly of the tool contacts a back surface of the continuous workpiece to remove the heat from and apply tension to the continuous workpiece during the process.

A photo-absorbing layer for use in an electronic device; the layer including metal alloy nanoparticles copper, indium and / or gallium made preferably from a vapor condensation process or other suitable process, the layer also including elemental selenium and / or sulfur heated at temperatures sufficient to permit reaction between the nanoparticles and the selenium and / or sulfur to form a substantially fused layer. The reaction may result in the formation of a chalcopyrite material. The layer has been shown to be an efficient solar energy absorber for use in photovoltaic cells.

The invention discloses a method for controlling the size and distribution of a metal surface micro-nanostructure. In order to implement the invention, plasma filaments induced by ultrashort pulse laser with the pulse width of 15fs-5ps are utilized to directly irradiate a metal surface, by controlling the ultrashort pulse laser parameters and the scanning speed and scanning spacing to the metal surface of the filaments, control of the plasma filaments on the size and distribution of the metal surface induced micro-nanostructure is realized; by changing the incidence angle of the laser induced plasma filaments, the orientation of the micro-nanostructure is changed; the control on the shape of the micro-nanostructure is realized by changing the polarizing character of the laser. The invention provides a method used for designing parts such as a solar absorber in an optimized manner.

The invention provides a solar power system for use as a solar roofing concept based on an absorber system with a solar thermal absorber and a circulation system for circulating absorber liquid through the absorber and a core system which extracts energy from the absorber liquid and provides hot water to a building. An intelligent controller uses data about external conditions to control the core system, where both current conditions and predicted conditions are taken into account. In preferred embodiments, the system can generate heat, hot water and electric energy to cover the need for a normal household. When excess heat is generated, the thermal energy can be used by an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) machine for electricity production. A forecasting and control unit using external weather measurements in combination with internet weather forecasts will by fuzzy logic calculate the optimum periods of time for use of the heat pump during the colder periods. Preferably, the intelligent controller can switch between 15 different modes of operation of the system to optimized energy efficiency to match the actual working conditions. In embodiments, the system includes a geothermal hose also connected to the liquid system of the absorber system, thus providing a synergetic exchange of energy with the solar absorber

A cavity type solar energy absorber comprises a square casing with a front opening and a grooved type cavity structure embedded in the casing, the gap between the cavity structure and the sides is a heat-insulation layer. The cavity structure is in triangle shape, enclosed by two absorption ducts and a glass covering plate; the two absorption ducts are connected up to form the two walls of the cavity structure which are connected with the two side walls of the casing; and the glass covering plate is disposed in the front opening. The triangle cavity structure is utilized to absorb the sun incident light and secondary reflection light sufficiently, and to increase optics efficiency greatly; the absorber can be produced only by traditional material and technology, has the advantages of simple processing and low price.

The invention discloses a cylindrical-cavity type solar heat absorber with an internally-convex bottom surface, relating to a solar heat absorber and aiming at solving the problem that metal pipes at the bottom surface of the cylindrical-cavity type heat absorber are difficult to be full of the bottom surface, and a dead zone of absorption of solar radiant heat flux, of the solar absorber exists.The bottom surface of a heat absorber shell is an internally-convex structure, the bottom surface of the heat absorber shell is in a V-shaped structure, coil pipes on the lateral surface part of the heat absorber are wound on the inner wall of the lateral surface of the heat absorber shell, coiling pipes on the internally-convex section of the bottom surface of the heat absorber are wounded on the bottom surface of the heat absorber shell, and the inlet end of the coil pipes on the lateral surface part of the heat absorber is communicated with the outlet end of the coil pipes at the internally-convex section of the bottom surface of the heat absorber; a mineral cotton insulation layer is arranged on the outer surface of the heat absorber shell; a working medium outlet pipe is penetratively arranged in the mineral cotton insulation layer and communicated with the outlet end of the coil pipes on the lateral surface part of the heat absorber; and a working medium inlet pipe is penetratively arranged in the mineral cotton insulation layer and communicated with the inlet end of the coil pipes at the internally-convex section of the bottom surface of the heat absorber. The invention is used for absorbing solar energy.

A shop-assembled solar receiver heat exchanger having an arrangement of heat transfer surfaces and a vertical steam / water separator structurally and fluidically interconnected thereto. A vertical support structure is provided to support the vertical separator and the heat transfer surfaces. The vertical support structure is bottom supported, while the vertical steam / water separator and heat exchanger heat transfer surfaces are top supported from the vertical support structure. The vertical support structure provides structural support and rigidity for the heat exchanger and a means by which the heat exchanger can be picked up and lifted for placement at a desired location. A fabrication / transport / lifting fixture is provided which facilitates fabrication, assembly, transportation and erection of the heat exchanger from the shop to the field. The fixture supports two trunnion shafts attached to the support structure of the receiver Lifting lugs would be located on the top end of the support structure.

The present invention provides methods for forming a doped Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer for a solar cell. The method includes forming precursor layers that include a dopant rich layer and then annealing the precursor layers. The annealing process results in dopants diffusing through the layers to an exterior surface. The annealing process is periodically halted to remove dopants from the exposed surface.

The present invention includes interlayers and multiple layer glazing panels comprising those interlayers, wherein the interlayers comprise an infrared absorbing agent that is dispersed in the interlayer in a nonuniform distribution. The nonuniform distribution of the infrared absorbing agent allows the interlayer to be used successfully in applications in which transmission of a minimal level of infrared radiation is desirable to allow for sensor communication through the glazing.

The invention discloses a slot type solar heat collector which is characterized by comprising an open annular pipe, an absorbing coating, an insulating material and an inlet glass cover; the opening annular pipe is provided with an opening; the annular chamber body is internally provided with a heat-absorbing working fluid; the internal surface of the annular chamber body is provided with the absorbing coating; the external surface of the annular chamber body is provided with an insulating material; and the opening is connected with an inlet glass cover. In the invention, the slat type solar heat collector has the advantages that the severe requirements of the traditional vacuum pipe on the vacuum can be overcome, the structure can be greatly simplified, the manufacturing cost is obviously reduced, the characteristic of high absorption rate of the black chamber is sufficiently utilized, the gathered light beam is absorbed sufficiently, the heat collecting efficiency is high, the structure is simple, the maintenance is convenient, the cost is low, and the defects that the traditional slot-type system solar absorber-vacuum heat collecting pipe is inconvenient to machine and manufacture and has high machining charge and manufacturing charge, great technical difficulty, short service life and the like can be solved.

The invention discloses a glass tube bundle and porous medium composite structure solar absorber which comprises a solar absorber shell, wherein a quartz glass window is formed in one end of the solar absorber shell, and a medium outlet is formed in the other end of the solar absorber shell; the solar absorber shell and the quartz glass window are connected into a whole, and a cavity is formed between the solar absorber shell and the quartz glass window; glass tube bundles and porous media are sequentially arranged inside the cavity along the solar incident direction; a preheating channel is formed among the solar absorber shell, the glass tube bundles and the porous media; a first medium inlet is formed in one end of the preheating channel; and after preheated in the preheating channel, the media converge sunlight at the second medium inlet so as to enter the glass tube bundles. Because the glass tube bundles are small in solar absorption and small in external radiation energy, the thermal efficiency of the system is improved. Meanwhile, the incident sunlight is transmitted to the porous medium by the glass tube bundles, so that medium distribution is matched with sunlight flow density, while the porous medium is mainly capable of converting solar radiation energy into internal energy of working media; and therefore, the problem that the existing porous medium solar absorber is low in thermal efficiency and reliability is effectively solved.

A localized heating structure includes a spectrally-selective solar absorber, that absorbs incident solar radiation and reflects at wavelengths longer than 2 μm, with an underlying heat-spreading layer having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 50 W / (mK), a thermally insulating layer, adjacent to the spectrally-selective solar absorber, having a thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W / (mK), one or more evaporation openings through the spectrally-selective solar absorber and the thermally insulating layer, and an evaporation wick, disposed in one or more of the evaporation openings in the thermally insulating layer, that contacts liquid and allows the liquid to be transported from a location beneath the thermally insulating layer through to the spectrally-selective solar absorber in order to generate vapor from the liquid. The thermally insulating layer is configured to have a density less than the liquid so that the localized heating structure is able to float on the liquid.

The solar energy absorber is capable of reducing weight, being directly connected to a water supply pipe, increasing pressure of heated water, omitting a pressurizing pump, etc. The solar energy absorber comprises: a water-flowing section including heat collection tubes, which are composed of stainless steel, and connecting pipes; a heat-retaining box accommodating the water-flowing section, including a heat insulating material and having an opening part which is located on the heat collection side; and a cover plate being composed of a transparent multilayer plastic and closing the opening part of the heat-retaining box. The heat collection tubes are arranged parallel. End plates closing ends of the heat collection tubes are connected to the connecting pipes. Each of the heat insulating tubes is coated with a heat-absorbing layer. Parts of the heat collection tubes which are located on the opposite side of the heat collection side contact the heat insulating material.

A solar absorber for a concentrated solar power (CSP) dish system includes a cylindrically shaped blackbody cavity receiver fused to a cylindrically shaped heat exchanger shell covering the receiver to form a monolithic cavity receiver and heat exchanger. An exterior surface of the cavity receiver has grooves embedded to create a duct spiraling about the exterior of the cavity receiver so that the duct forms tubes of a tube-style heat exchanger when covered by the heat exchanger shell. An interior diameter of the cavity receiver is greater than or equal to a diameter of an aperture of the cavity receiver, and a longitudinal interior depth of the cavity is greater than or equal to twice the interior diameter of the cavity receiver. The monolithic solar absorber is preferably composed of a ceramic material such as silicon carbide having emissivity greater than 0.9.

It aims to provide a solar heat collecting apparatus that can efficiently collect energy from solar light. The solar heat collecting apparatus comprises an opened container part 22 that accumulates heat, a closed part 25 that closes the container part 22 and has an opening part 26 to let the collected solar light in, and a light absorbing part 36 that absorbs the solar light dispersed by passing through the opening part 26 so that it is converted into heat.

A solar energy converter comprising: a solar energy absorber, the solar energy absorber comprising a photovoltaic element; a heat transfer element in thermal contact with the solar energy absorber; a primary heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat transfer element; a secondary heat exchanger; and a heat transfer control element; wherein the heat transfer control element is arranged to selectively place the secondary heat exchanger either in thermal contact with the heat transfer element or out of thermal contact with the heat transfer element.

The invention discloses an idle-sunning resistant flat-plate solar collector. The idle-sunning resistant flat-plate solar collector comprises an automatic light shading and heat insulating transparent cover plate, a solar absorber plate core, a heat-insulating back panel and a component frame, wherein a layer of temperature-sensitive phase-change dimming material or liquid crystal dimming film is compounded on the surface of the automatic light shading and heat insulating transparent cover plate. The invention has the following technical effects: when the interior of the flat-plate collector reaches a certain temperature due to idle sunning, the temperature-sensitive phase-change dimming material on the surface of the glass is subject to phase change, the transmission of the cover plate of the collector is changed, and the transparent state is switched to a light-tight sate, so that an automatic light shading function is performed, the solar absorber plate core is prevented from continuous heat absorption which results in temperature rise, accordingly, idle sunning is avoided, and the service life of the product is prolonged; and when the collector decreases to a certain temperature, the solar radiation transmission of the cover plate of the collector is changed, the light-tight state is switched to the transparent state, and the normal working state recovers.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a solar reflector assembly comprising a corrugated support structure and a reflector panel. The support structure includes a plurality of support panels each having a generally U or V-shaped cross-section. The support panels are interlocked and connected to a lower facing surface of the reflector panel which is designed to reflect and concentrate light energy. The solar reflector assembly of this embodiment may further comprises a solar absorber in the form of a pipe and / or including photovoltaic strip for collecting the concentrated the light energy.

A combination solar absorber and atmospheric radiator in multiple embodiments, a method for constructing these embodiments, and a method for using the combination solar absorber and atmospheric radiator, the absorber / radiator has a thermally conductive sheet which serves as a back plate, tubular fluid conduit or conduits, generally rectangular thermally conductive caps, and a means for fastening the caps to the sheet, covering one or more conduits and pressing them against the sheet. The side of the sheet with the caps and conduits is exposed to the sun and atmosphere, providing two thermal pathways to and from the conduit.

The invention relates to a sun protection device having sun protection elements, where each of the sun protection elements have a housing in which a flexible membrane is arranged, where each sun protection element is connected to a reservoir containing a hydraulic fluid by means of a hydraulic line, the reservoir including a solar absorber, where the membrane is adapted to extend from the housing if the pressure in the hydraulic line increases.

The present invention provides an improved solar dryer with improved. The dryer consists of a solar absorber / collector (9) and a drying chamber (6). One end of the collector is connected to a forced draft fan (10) and the other end connects the drying chamber. The drying chamber has a drawer in which the material to be dried is kept on a wire mesh. The dryer further has the provision for placing color indicative silica gel under the wire mesh when operated in recirculation mode. The other end of the drying chamber has an induced draft fan (11). Both the dc fans operate using a 10 watt photovoltaic panel (3). V-trough reflectors (4,5,7,8) made from anodized aluminum are fixed on the collector and optionally on the drying chamber. A tracking circuit is incorporated to auto-track the dryer. A locking mechanism (14) is also incorporated to help the unit withstand high wind load. The dryer further has the provision of programmable recirculation of the spent air from drying chamber once its humidity drops below a pre -set value which process helps to speed up the rate of drying.

A thermal flask has a body and a vacuum solar heating device. The solar heating device is detachably mounted on an opening defined in the hollow body. The vacuum solar heating device has a transparent tube, a connecting collar and a solar energy absorber. The tube has an inner wall, an outer wall, a closed end, an open end and a vacuum chamber defined between the inner and outer walls. The connecting collar is mounted on the open end of the tube and has an inner thread screwed onto an outer thread formed around the opening in the hollow body. The solar energy absorber is mounted in the tube to absorb solar energy and radiant heat. Accordingly, the vacuum solar heating device can heat the liquid in the flask, and the temperature of the liquid will be maintained for a desired long time while traveling.

The invention provides a solar hot water heating system including one or more solar energy absorbers (102) having at least a first fluid circulation path wherein, an over temperature path (119) is provided, the over temperature path including a pressure vessel (120) which is normally closed to atmosphere, the over temperature path being connected to the first fluid circulation path (108) so that, in the event that fluid in the solar energy absorber vaporizes, the fluid is forced out of the solar energy absorber and into the pressure vessel. The present invention also provides a temperature sensitive valve leaving a flow path and a valve member operated by a thermal element having thermal expansion characteristic the valve including a support member against which the thermal element expands to force the valve element to close the flow path.

A solar collector or multi-glazed window includes a desiccant-filled vent which reduces chamber pressure fluctuations, thereby minimizing failure of seals, while inhibiting contamination by moisture. Excess pressure due to solar-heated gas is vented from the chamber, and insufficient pressure due to cooled gas is relieved by additional gas entering the chamber after being dried by the desiccant. Expandable chamber seals can further mitigate pressure fluctuations by enabling chamber dimensions to vary as the gas temperature changes. When the sun warms the desiccant, absorbed moisture is carried away by venting, solar-heated gas. A purging system can fill and purge the chamber, and a dry gas source can provide input gas at a slightly elevated pressure. A pressurized, gas-maintenance system can maintain a constant overpressure in a plurality of chambers. Solar absorbers can be formed by one or two corrugated sheets having fluid tubes installed in channels formed therein or therebetween.

The invention relates to a selective solar energy absorber and a manufacturing method thereof. A later system comprises an absorber layer (2) arranged on a substrate (1) and a transparent low-refractive-index dielectric covering layer (6) arranged on the absorber layer (2). The absorber layer is a mixed layer (4) composed of a transparent high-refractive-index dielectric material and an absorbing material. The transparent material contains silicon nitride, silicon aluminum nitride or optically-equivalent aluminum nitride as an essential component. The absorbing material contains nitride of chromium or its alloy, or nitride, oxide or oxynitride of other metal or its alloy as an essential component. The selective solar energy absorber is chromic oxide-free, and compared with the prior art, the selective solar energy absorber is not complex in configuration, so that stable optical properties are achieved throughout the year, the cost of the device is reduced, and with required uniformity being met, the layer system can also be used to manufacture a large-scaled solar panel at low cost.