THERMAL ENERGY SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

摘要

A thermal energy system for heating and/or cooling applications, system having solar collection means for transferring heat energy to and/or from a heat transfer fluid, thermal upgrading means for increasing the thermal energy within the system and thermal storage means. The collection means, upgrading means and storage means are connected so as to allow the transfer of heat therebetween via the heat transfer fluid. Control means is arranged to receive readings of operational variables from the thermal energy system and to process the operational variables using a system model so as to predict future operational variables for the system. The control means controls the flow of the heat transfer fluid around the system based on the predicted operational variables. The collection means may have an outer thermally conductive surface for the reception of solar radiation and one or more formations extending behind the outer surface, the formations being formed integrally with the outer surface and shaped to provide one or more elongate conduits for conveying a heat transfer fluid through the collection means during use.