Snow melt system for solar collectors

a solar collector and solar thermal technology, applied in solar heat systems, solar heat collector safety, lighting and heating apparatus, etc., can solve the problems of reducing affecting the efficiency of energy transfer, and losing heat, so as to achieve adequate snow melt, efficient and simple way of keeping snow, and efficient system operation

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-10-03
SNOWLAR
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention provides a particularly efficient and simple way to keep snow from accumulating on the solar collectors. The use of a PV panel as the power source ensures efficient operation of the system. The amount of power generated by the PV panel is sufficient to ensure adequate snow melt on the

Problems solved by technology

This occurs because heat is lost only from the header, not from the absorber surface of the array.
When covered by snow the tubes obviously become more opaque and

Method used

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  • Snow melt system for solar collectors
  • Snow melt system for solar collectors
  • Snow melt system for solar collectors

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0019]Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1 shows the snow melt system 10 according to the invention. System 10 comprises an evacuated tube solar collector array 20 comprised of individual evacuated tube solar collectors 21 arranged on a rack 22. Arranged on each solar collector is a conductor 23 which can be in the form of a wire or conductive paint. Conductor 23 is connected to a controller 30, which controls the electricity supplied to conductor 23. Controller 30 is connected to battery 31 and stored in a waterproof housing 32. Battery 31 is powered by photovoltaic panel 33, which turns solar energy into electrical current. Panel 33 can be configured of various sizes, depending on the size of the array 20 and amount of snow to be melted.

[0020]A snow sensor 35 is attached adjacent array 20 to sense the presence of snow on array 20. Sensor 35 is connected to controller 30.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a single evacuated tube solar collector 21....

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PUM

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Abstract

A solar collector system having several evacuated tube solar collectors arranged together, a conductor arranged on the solar collectors, a power source for sending electricity through the conductor, and an indicator connected to the conductor to indicate when electricity is flowing through the conductor. A snow sensor connected is connected to the conductor adjacent the evacuated tube solar collectors and a controller is connected to the snow sensor. The controller controls the electricity flow through the conductor and allows electricity to flow when the snow sensor senses snow covering the snow sensor, and stops the electricity flow when the snow sensor is no longer covered. The electricity flow heats the conductor, which in turn melts the snow on the collectors.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 616,701, filed on Mar. 28, 2012.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to a snow melt system for solar thermal collectors, particularly evacuated tube collectors. In particular, the invention relates to a snow melt system having heated wires running around the evacuated tubes, to prevent snow from adhering to the collectors and decreasing their efficiency.[0004]2. The Prior Art[0005]Solar collectors are used throughout the world to convert solar energy into hot water. There are two different types of solar collectors, flat plate and evacuated tube. These two types are different in structure, but have the same purpose. Both act as renewable resources for domestic hot water (DHW) by using the sun's rays to heat up the heat transfer fluid (HTF). A flat plate collector has a series of vertical finned...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): F24J2/46
CPCF24J2/461F24J2/055Y02E10/44F24J2/4632F24J2/32F24S10/45F24S10/95F24S40/20F24S40/70F24S80/30
Inventor NICKEL, BRENDAN T.
Owner SNOWLAR
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