Solar water-collecting, air-conditioning, light-transmitting and power generating house

Abstract

A system for collecting solar energy and fresh water may be disclosed. The system may include one or more assemblies of collector modules, each of which module may contain a photovoltaic cell and a thermal fluid. The thermal fluid may be used to heat a building and/or produce electricity. The assembly may further be coupled to a collection shaft which may collect water and/or disseminate light through a building. Various configurations of single modules, single assemblies, or multiple large-scale assemblies are also possible. If integrated with a house, the system may reduce the net energy consumption of the household.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar energy collector module, comprising:
 at least one concentrating lens comprising an acrylic thin-film material;   a thermally-conductive container containing a thermally conductive fluid; and   at least two pipes fluidly connected to the thermally-conductive container, at least one of which pipes is an inlet for the thermally conductive fluid and at least one of which pipes is an outlet for the thermally conductive fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The solar energy collector module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a solar photovoltaic cell, said solar photovoltaic cell located proximate to the focal point of the at least one concentrating lens.   
     
     
         3 . The solar energy collector module of  claim 1  wherein the at least one concentrating lens is coated with a protective material, wherein said protective material is resistant to at least one of water and particulate matter. 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy collector module of  claim 1  wherein the thermally conductive fluid is one of a molten salt or a thermal oil.