Solar collector system

A solar collector system for converting solar radiation to thermal energy and electricity, comprising:

• an upper cover having a material that is transparent to solar radiation;
• a solar energy absorbing structure disposed under said upper cover and having a heat conducting material;
• a first heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure and having a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to a first substance flowing within said first heat transfer system;
• and
• cells that absorb solar radiation:
• said cells converting said solar radiation into electricity;
• wherein said cells are further attached to an interior face of said upper cover.

A solar collector system for converting solar radiation to thermal energy and electricity, comprising:

• an upper cover having a material that is transparent to solar radiation;
• a solar energy absorbing structure disposed under said upper cover and having a heat conducting material;
• a first heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure and having a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to a first substance flowing within said first heat transfer system;
• cells that absorb solar radiation, said cells being configured and disposed on at least a portion of said upper cover, said cells converting said solar radiation into electricity;
• and
• a second heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure and having a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to a second substance flowing within said second heat transfer system.

A solar collector system for converting solar radiation to thermal energy, comprising:

• an upper cover having a material that is transparent to solar radiation;
• a solar energy absorbing structure disposed under said upper cover and having a heat conducting material;
• a first heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure having air conditioning coolant flowing within first pipes made of a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to said air conditioning coolant, wherein heating said coolant changes the state of said coolant;
• and
• cells that absorb solar radiation, said cells configured and disposed on at least a portion of said upper cover, said cells converting said solar radiation into electricity.

A solar collector system for converting solar radiation to thermal energy, comprising:

• an upper cover having a material that is transparent to solar radiation;
• a solar energy absorbing structure disposed under said upper cover and having a heat conducting material;
• a first heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure having air conditioning coolant flowing within first pipes made of a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to said air conditioning coolant, wherein heating said coolant changes the state of said coolant;
• and
• a second heat transfer system separate from said first heat transfer system, said second heat transfer system including second pipes disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure and having a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to a substance flowing within said second heat transfer system.

A solar collector system for converting solar radiation to thermal energy comprising:

• an upper cover having a material that is transparent to solar radiation,
• a solar energy absorbing structure disposed under said upper cover and having a heat conducting material;
• a first heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure and having a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to a first substance flowing within said first heat transfer system;
• a second heat transfer system disposed in contact with said solar energy absorbing structure and having a material that transfers heat from said solar energy absorbing structure to a second substance flowing within said second heat transfer system, said second substance having a different chemical composition than a chemical composition of said first substance;
• and
• said solar energy absorbing structure is a sheet of said heat conducting material formed into the shape of a pyramid, and wherein said first heat transfer system further includes first pipes forming a first double reverse flow coil spiraling around said pyramid, and wherein said second heat transfer system further includes second pipes forming a second double reverse flow coil spiraling around said pyramid, said first pipes being disposed generally parallel to said second pipes.