Snow melt system for solar collectors

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...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a simple and efficient way to keep snow from accumulating on solar collectors. Using a PV panel as a power source ensures efficient operation of the system. The power generated by the PV panel is sufficient to melt the snow on the collector array. Alternatively, or in addition, the power can be directly supplied from a house or building's power system, using a transformer. This allows the house to act as a backup in case there is not enough sunlight to power the system.

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 do not allow for very much light to pass through it, affecting its efficiency.

This accumulated snow can thus greatly reduce the efficiency of the energy transfer.

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