Device for heating a heat distributor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trough-shaped solar collectors face complexities in assembly and alignment of support segments for mirror segments and absorber tubes, as well as inadequate consideration of heat loads and thermal expansion, leading to inefficient energy transfer and potential heat loss.
Innovation Solution
A support frame with a polygonal support tube, such as a square or octagonal cross-section, featuring bearing rings and flat bending support arms with centering recesses and thermal insulation rings, allows for easy alignment and thermal expansion compensation, ensuring efficient energy transfer and reduced heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a support tube with bearing forks and displaceable support rollers is used to allow axial displacement and rotation, then thermal expansion and simple assembly are enabled, but the alignment of support segments and support arms becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
A form-fitting connection element (centering recess with alignment features) is introduced as an intermediary between the support tube and the support segments/arms. This mediator automatically ensures precise alignment during assembly, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining the beneficial axial displacement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support segments and arms are pre-equipped with centering recesses that have built-in alignment features (such as guide edges or positioning pins) before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the components are brought together, alignment occurs automatically without requiring complex adjustment procedures during assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support tube is divided into longitudinal sections screwed together via connecting flanges, then storage and thermal expansion are accommodated, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support tube is divided into multiple longitudinal sections that can be assembled in a modular fashion. Each section is equipped with simplified connecting flanges that feature self-aligning elements, allowing the sections to be screwed together easily while accommodating thermal expansion through the modular design.
3Reliability
If bearing rings are slidably supported on support rollers with axial displacement capability, then thermal expansion compensation is achieved, but the bearing mount design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing ring is designed with a nested structure where inner and outer rings can slide relative to each other along the axial direction. This nested arrangement allows the bearing assembly to accommodate axial displacement and thermal expansion while maintaining a relatively simple overall design through the concentric arrangement of components.
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 design simplifies assembly, aligns support segments and absorber tubes effectively, compensates for thermal expansion, and minimizes heat loss, enhancing the heating efficiency of the heat transfer medium.
Implementation Method 1
take thermal expansion of the support tube into account
Implementation Method 2
accommodate the absorber tube in a heat insulating ring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device for heating a heat transfer medium is described, comprising a trough-shaped solar collector (1) consisting of support segments (10) for mirror segments (11) extending from both sides of a support tube (4), defining the trough profile by means of an arc shape and arranged side by side in the direction of the support tube axis, with uprights (2) receiving the support tube (4), which have bearing receptacles (3) with support rollers (6) at their ends for rotatable and axially displaceable bearing of the support tube (4), and with support arms (15) extending radially from the support tube (4) for an absorber tube (14) running coaxially to the trough profile of the solar collector (1).In order to create advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the support tube (4), which has a cross-section in the form of a regular polygon, preferably a quadrilateral, is provided in the area of the bearing receptacles (3) with bearing rings (5) which are axially slidably supported on the support rollers (6) and engage in a form-fitting manner in centering recesses (12, 16) of the support segments (10) and the support arms (15) adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the support tube (4), and that the support arms (15) are designed as flat bending beams oriented perpendicular to the axis of the support tube and accommodate the absorber tube (14) in a thermal insulation ring (19).