Dissipator integrated into a compact solar collector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact solar collectors face challenges with poor energy storage capacity at night and uncontrolled overheating, leading to potential damage and inefficient heat dissipation in existing systems, which are often bulky or require external components for heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A compact solar collector design with integrated heat dissipation, featuring a containment structure with vacuum tubes, a circulator, thermostat, safety valve, and vacuum breaker valve, allowing for efficient heat exchange and dissipation through radial fins and a dissipation conduit, maintaining overall dimensions while ensuring rapid and effective heat reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If compact solar collectors use vacuum tubes to reduce nocturnal heat loss, then thermal insulation is improved, but the temperature of the primary heat transfer fluid may reach very high values in a very short time causing uncontrolled overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The containment structure is divided into functional zones: a primary conduit for heat transfer fluid, a secondary conduit for water to be heated, and a dissipation conduit integrated into the frame. This segmentation allows different thermal management functions to be performed in different segments of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The dissipation conduit with radial fins is pre-integrated into the containment structure frame before operation. This preliminary heat dissipation path prevents overheating by providing a ready-made thermal relief mechanism before excessive temperatures occur, counteracting the heat accumulation tendency caused by vacuum tube insulation.
2Temperature
If external heat dissipation systems are added to solar plants, then excess heat can be dispersed, but the overall dimensions of the solar collector increase and the system becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The dissipation conduit is merged with the containment structure frame, combining the heat dissipation function with the structural support element. The radial fins are integrated into the frame profile itself, eliminating the need for separate external dissipation components and maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame of the containment structure serves multiple functions: structural support, thermal insulation housing, and heat dissipation conduit carrier with radial fins. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated external dissipation components, keeping the system compact.
3Productivity
If the fluid flow speed in dissipation conduit is increased, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat dissipation is enhanced by adding the radial dimension through fins extending from the dissipation conduit. This increases the heat exchange surface area perpendicular to the fluid flow direction, improving heat dissipation efficiency without requiring increased flow velocity and thus avoiding excessive pressure drop.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient and rapid heat dissipation, maintaining system integrity and safety by increasing fluid flow speed and heat exchange efficiency, reducing the risk of overheating and preserving energy storage capacity, without adding external components.
Implementation Method 1
a circulator in fluid communication between the primary conduit and the at least one dissipation conduit, said circulator being suitable for increasing the flow speed of the primary heat transfer fluid in the dissipation conduit in order to enhance the convective heat exchange
Implementation Method 2
a dissipation conduit in fluid communication with said primary conduit to dissipate the excess heat to the outside with respect to said solar collector
Implementation Method 3
a dissipation conduit in fluid communication with said primary conduit to dissipate the excess heat to the outside
Implementation Method 4
The vacuum tubes enable nocturnal heat loss through the upper cover to be diminished. As is known, the best thermal insulation is a vacuum because, in the presence of a vacuum, convective heat exchange mechanisms are not triggered
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a solar collector (1) comprising a containment structure (6) with at least one face exposed to solar radiation, said containment structure (6) comprising a central housing recess (7) and an outer edge (8) that surrounds said central housing recess (7), inside said central recess (7) a primary conduit being arranged for the circulation of a primary heat transfer fluid, exposed to solar radiation, a secondary conduit for the circulation of a secondary fluid, and a heat exchange area between said primary and secondary conduit for the heat exchange between the primary heat transfer fluid and the secondary fluid, said solar collector (1) being characterized in that in at least one portion of said outer edge (8) of the containment structure (6) at least one dissipation conduit (9) is obtained in fluid communication with said primary conduit to dissipate the excess heat to outside said solar collector (1).