Solar Collector

Abstract

The invention is a solar powered heat exchanger (10) comprising a solar collector (12), a heat accumulator (14), and a heat exchanger (16). The solar collector is operatively coupled to the heat accumulator (14) via a supply line (18) and a recirculation line (20). The heat accumulator (14) is in turn operatively coupled to the heat exchanger (16) via a feed line (22) and a return line (24).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates broadly to a solar collector and a solar powered heat exchanger. The invention also relates to a solar tracking apparatus and a combination solar collector / tracking apparatus.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Solar hot water systems of a conventional construction include a solar collector connected to a storage cylinder containing stored water. The solar collector is fabricated from an arrangement of heat absorbing pipes or tubes layed out in a parallel or serpentine arrangement. In one form the tubes are formed in a black heat absorbing mat which can be placed on a rooftop to capture the sunlight. In another form the pipes are housed within an enclosure having a glass pane front which is exposed to sunlight and the efficiency of heating is improved under the influence of the greenhouse effect. The system may provide direct heating where the stored water itself is circulated through the solar collector. Alternatively, indirect...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0064]Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the solar collector, the solar powered heat exchanger, or the solar tracking apparatus have the following advantages:

[0065]1. the solar collector, having a sealed collector housing within which at least a partial vacuum can be drawn, provides efficient absorption of solar energy for heating of the heat transfer fluid and allows higher temperatures to be achieved;

[0066]2. the configuration of the solar collector and orientation of its inlet and outlet provides an effective flow of the heat transfer fluid promoted by a thermosiphon effect at the inlet of the collector tank;

[0067]3. the solar powered heat exchanger utilises density differences in the heat transfer fluid between the bottom of the collector (cooler and higher density) and the top of the heat exchanger (hotter and lower density) wherein the heat transfer fluid heated in the collector becomes less dense and rises by natural convection forces to the highest point of the heat exchange system whereas as the fluid cools in the heat exchanger it becomes more dense and falls to the bottom of the system; and

[0068]4. the solar tracking apparatus is effective in tracking the sun daily and / or seasonally to preferably provide maximum sunlight exposure for the solar collector.

Problems solved by technology

Because of this effect, efficiency of conventional collectors declines rapidly as the temperature of the heated fluid rises until eventually the long wave radiation losses from the collector surface equal the short wave radiation being absorbed by the collector and no further heating can occur.

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