A new solar water heater

Abstract

The utility model discloses a novel solar water heater, including support, water tank and heat collection pipe still include reflector and dust cleaning board, the reflector detachable connection in heat collection pipe below and with heat collection pipe has same inclination angle, the dust cleaning board is removed and is equipped with on heat collection pipe, and its lower part is pasted with reflector, is used for the dust cleaning of heat collection pipe and reflector, the utility model discloses an advantage lies in: through setting corrugated reflector, has improved solar water heater's optical gain and heat collection efficiency significantly, especially applicable to low irradiance area or winter, has effectively shortened the heating time and has improved hot water output rate, through setting movable dust cleaning board, can effectively clean the sundries on heat collection pipe and reflector, improves the heat exchange efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of solar water heater technology, and in particular to a novel solar water heater. Background Technology

[0002] A solar water heater is a device that uses solar radiation energy, converting light energy into heat energy through a collector to heat water. It mainly consists of a collector, an insulated water tank, connecting pipes, and a support frame. It requires no additional energy consumption, is energy-saving and environmentally friendly, and can provide domestic hot water for homes or businesses. However, because only the upper part of the collector tubes in a solar water heater receives solar energy during heat exchange, while the lower part is usually in the shade and cannot absorb solar energy, the collector tubes have low heat absorption efficiency. Furthermore, due to prolonged use, dust and other debris easily accumulate on the collector tubes, further reducing heat absorption efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a new type of solar water heater.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0005] A novel solar water heater includes a bracket, a water tank, and a heat collection tube, as well as a reflector and a cleaning plate. The reflector is detachably connected to the bottom of the heat collection tube and has the same tilt angle as the heat collection tube. The cleaning plate is movably sleeved on the heat collection tube, with its lower part in contact with the reflector, and is used to clean the heat collection tube and the reflector.

[0006] Furthermore, the reflector is curved and corrugated, and its position below the heat collection tube is an arc segment I concentric with the heat collection tube.

[0007] Furthermore, the cleaning plate includes a plate body and an arc segment II; the plate body has holes corresponding to the number of heat collection tubes; the arc segment II is constructed at the lower end of the plate body and conforms to the contour of the arc segment I; a brush I for cleaning the outer wall of the heat collection tubes is bonded to the inner circle of the holes; a brush II for cleaning the surface of the reflector is bonded to the lower part of the arc segment II.

[0008] Furthermore, a handle is formed on the top of the plate.

[0009] Furthermore, three support rods are provided below the reflector to support it.

[0010] Furthermore, the contour of the contact surface between the support rod and the reflector corresponds to the contour of the lower surface of the reflector.

[0011] Furthermore, the reflector is made of mirror-finished stainless steel with a polished surface.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] By setting up a corrugated reflector, the optical gain and heat collection efficiency of the solar water heater are significantly improved, making it especially suitable for areas with low to medium irradiance or in winter. It effectively shortens the heating time and increases the hot water output rate. By setting up a movable cleaning plate, debris on the heat collection tubes and reflector can be effectively cleaned, improving heat exchange efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention from another perspective;

[0016] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Sectional view at point AA;

[0017] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dust removal board.

[0019] In the picture,

[0020] 1-Bracket, 2-Water tank, 3-Heat collector tube, 4-Reflector, 5-Dust removal plate, 6-Brush I, 7-Brush II, 8-Support rod;

[0021] 41-Arc segment I;

[0022] 51-Plate body, 52-Arc segment II, 53-Hole, 54-Pull handle. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that these descriptions are for the purpose of aiding understanding of this utility model, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0024] Reference Figure 1-5 As shown, a novel solar water heater includes a bracket 1, a water tank 2, and a heat collection tube 3, as well as a reflector 4 and a cleaning plate 5. The reflector 4 is detachably connected to the bottom of the heat collection tube 3 and has the same tilt angle as the heat collection tube 3. The cleaning plate 5 is movably sleeved on the heat collection tube 3, and its lower part is attached to the reflector 4 for cleaning the heat collection tube 3 and the reflector 4.

[0025] It should be noted that bracket 1 constitutes the main support structure of the entire water heater, and it is typically made of corrosion-resistant metal materials (such as hot-dip galvanized steel or aluminum alloy profiles). Bracket 1 includes a bottom support frame and an inclined mounting surface. The inclination angle of this mounting surface is calculated and optimized to ensure that the collector tube 3 receives solar radiation at the optimal angle. For example, this angle can be set within ±10° of the local latitude value to ensure optimal heat collection efficiency throughout the year. Bracket 1 is securely connected to the installation foundation (such as a roof or ground) using anchor bolts or other fixing devices to ensure the stability of the entire system under severe weather conditions such as strong winds. Water tank 2 is fixedly installed on top of bracket 1 and is used to store and insulate the heated water. The outer shell of water tank 2 is typically made of stainless steel, with a high-strength inner tank inside. The space between the inner tank and the outer shell is filled with high-efficiency insulation materials such as polyurethane foam to reduce heat loss. Water tank 2 is connected to external piping through a lower inlet and an upper outlet, and is connected to the upper end of the collector tube 3 through a circulation hole located at the bottom, forming a natural or forced circulation heating loop. The collector tube 3 is the core heat-collecting element of the solar water heater, and it is usually an all-glass vacuum tube structure. Each collector tube 3 consists of an outer transparent glass tube and an inner heat-absorbing glass tube. A high vacuum is formed between the two glass layers to create an effective heat insulation layer. The outer surface of the heat-absorbing glass tube is coated with a selective absorption coating (such as aluminum nitrogen / aluminum or chromium black cobalt). This coating has the characteristics of high solar absorptivity and low infrared emissivity, which can efficiently absorb solar radiation energy and convert it into heat energy to heat the working fluid transferred inside the tube. The lower end of the collector tube 3 is inserted into the manifold of the water tank 2 at a certain angle (usually consistent with the angle of inclination of the bracket mounting surface) through a sealing ring, and the upper end is a closed free end. The number of collector tubes 3 can be configured according to the water tank capacity and heat load requirements. For example, common household water heaters can be configured with 15 to 30 collector tubes. In order to improve the heat collection efficiency of the system and make full use of scattered and reflected light, a reflector 4 is added below the collector tube 3. The reflector 4 is detachably connected to a specially designed mounting slot or connecting plate on the bracket 1. Its mounting angle is strictly consistent with the tilt angle of the heat collection tube 3 to ensure that the reflected light can be accurately projected onto the back of the heat collection tube 3 (the non-direct light-receiving surface), thereby significantly increasing the effective light-receiving area and energy input of the heat collection tube 3.

[0026] Specifically, the reflector 4 is generally corrugated. This corrugated design has multiple benefits: first, it increases the structural rigidity and wind pressure resistance of the reflector 4 itself; second, it effectively increases the reflective surface area without increasing the projected area; and third, the specific corrugated shape helps to reflect light more evenly to the heat collector array. The local area directly below each heat collector 3 on the reflector 4 is constructed as an arc segment I41 concentric with the corresponding heat collector 3. The radius of curvature of this arc segment I41 is optically designed to be slightly larger than or equal to the outer diameter of the heat collector 3, allowing it to converge and reflect incident light to the back of the heat collector 3 like a parabola, minimizing light energy loss. The reflector 4 is preferably made of mirror-finished stainless steel (such as 304 / 316 stainless steel) with a surface that has been mechanically or electrolytically polished. Mirror-finish stainless steel possesses extremely high reflectivity (typically exceeding 0.7), excellent weather resistance, good mechanical strength, and corrosion resistance, enabling it to maintain high reflectivity in outdoor environments for extended periods without easily aging, fading, or oxidation. Alternatively, the reflector 4 can be made of high-reflectivity anodized aluminum, a silver-plated glass lens on the back, or an aluminum-plated film based on polymer materials, with additional back support structures to ensure its shape stability. In outdoor environments, dust, sand, bird droppings, leaves, and other contaminants easily accumulate on the outer surface of the collector tube 3 and the upper surface of the reflector 4. These contaminants severely reduce the light transmittance of the glass tube and the reflectivity of the reflector, a major cause of the efficiency degradation of solar water heater systems over time. Conventional cleaning methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and pose risks associated with working at heights; therefore, a dust removal plate 5 is installed.

[0027] Specifically, the cleaning plate 5 includes a horizontal (or slightly inclined) plate body 51 and an arc segment II 52 located at the lower edge of the plate body 51. The plate body 51 has through holes 53 that perfectly match the number, position, and spacing of the heat collection tubes 3. The diameter of the through holes 53 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the heat collection tubes 3, ensuring that the cleaning plate 5 can move freely along the axial direction of the heat collection tubes 3 without excessive swaying. The arc segment II 52 is constructed as a continuous or segmented arc structure that matches the contour of the arc segment I 41 on the reflector plate 4, allowing the arc segment II 52 to slide closely against the corrugated upper surface of the reflector plate 4 during downward movement. A ring of brushes I 6 is fixed to the inner ring of each through hole 53 by weather-resistant adhesive or mechanical pressure strips. Brush I6 is made of a soft and wear-resistant material, such as nylon (PA), polypropylene (PP), or natural bristles. The inner diameter of its bristles is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the heat collector tube 3, so that when the cleaning plate 5 moves up and down, brush I6 can tightly wrap around and scrub the outer wall of the heat collector tube 3, effectively scraping off the adhering dirt. Similarly, on the lower surface of arc segment II 52, a long strip of brush II 7 (the cross-section of which can be rectangular or circular) is adhered along its direction, used to clean the upper surface of the reflector 4 when the cleaning plate 5 moves down.

[0028] Specifically, to facilitate user operation, a handle 54 is formed at the top of the plate 51. Users simply stand on the ground and hold the handle 54 to easily apply pull or pressure, moving the entire cleaning plate 5 up and down along the collector tubes 3. This completes the cleaning of all the outer walls of the collector tubes and the entire upper surface of the reflector plate in one operation, safely, effortlessly, and efficiently. If the plate is not clean enough, it can be pulled repeatedly. In another preferred embodiment, a simple pulley system and traction rope mechanism can be installed at the top of the support, allowing users to operate the cleaning plate more easily by pulling the rope; alternatively, a DC motor and transmission mechanism powered by a small solar panel can be installed to achieve timed automatic or remote-controlled operation of the cleaning plate, further enhancing automation and user experience.

[0029] Specifically, to support the reflector 4 and maintain its precise shape and position, at least three support rods 8 are provided below the reflector 4. The support rods 8 are preferably spaced apart along the width of the reflector 4, and their ends are fixedly connected to the longitudinal beam of the bracket 1 by bolts or quick-release clips. The upper surface of the support rod 8 that contacts the reflector 4 is machined into a curved surface that perfectly matches the corrugated profile of the lower surface of the reflector 4 (e.g., by die casting or machining). This large-area curved surface contact support method can evenly transfer the weight and wind load of the reflector 4 to the support rods 8 and the bracket 1, effectively preventing the reflector 4 from sagging in the middle or undergoing local deformation, thus ensuring the long-term stability of its optical performance.

[0030] The working principle of this utility model:

[0031] Under sunlight, sunlight directly hits the front half of the collector tube 3 and is absorbed and converted into heat energy by the coating. Simultaneously, some of the light hitting the reflector 4 is reflected by its highly reflective surface to the rear half of the collector tube 3, significantly increasing the heat acquisition of a single collector tube and improving the overall system thermal efficiency. When the efficiency decreases due to dust accumulation on the outer wall of the collector tube 3 or the surface of the reflector 4, the user can periodically (e.g., once a month or depending on environmental conditions) move the cleaning plate 5 along the entire length of the collector tube 3 by pulling or pressing down the handle 54. During the upward or downward movement, brush I 6 thoroughly cleans the outer wall of each collector tube, while brush II 7 simultaneously cleans the upper surface of the reflector 4. The removed dirt falls off under gravity, restoring the cleanliness of the photothermal conversion interface and ensuring the water heater always operates at high efficiency.

[0032] The embodiments of this utility model have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this utility model is not limited to the described embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this utility model, and these variations still fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A novel solar water heater, comprising a support frame (1), a water tank (2), and a collector tube (3), characterized in that: It also includes a reflector (4) and a cleaning plate (5); the reflector (4) is detachably connected to the bottom of the heat collection tube (3) and has the same tilt angle as the heat collection tube (3); the cleaning plate (5) is movably sleeved on the heat collection tube (3), and its lower part is in contact with the reflector (4) for cleaning the heat collection tube (3) and the reflector (4); The cleaning plate (5) includes a plate body (51) and an arc segment II (52); the plate body (51) has holes (53) corresponding to the number of heat collection tubes (3); the arc segment II (52) is constructed at the lower end of the plate body (51) and conforms to the outline of the arc segment I (41); a brush I (6) for cleaning the outer wall of the heat collection tubes (3) is bonded to the inner ring of the hole (53); a brush II (7) for cleaning the upper surface of the reflector (4) is bonded to the lower part of the arc segment II (52). The reflector (4) is curved and corrugated, and its position below the heat collection tube (3) is an arc segment I (41) concentric with the heat collection tube (3).

2. The novel solar water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: A handle (54) is formed on the top of the plate (51).

3. The novel solar water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: Three support rods (8) are provided below the reflector (4) to support the reflector (4).

4. The novel solar water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that: The contour of the contact surface between the support rod (8) and the reflector (4) corresponds to the contour of the lower surface of the reflector (4).

5. The novel solar water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The reflector (4) is made of mirror stainless steel with a polished surface.

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