Heat Receiver Tube With Infrared-Reflective Glass To Reduce Thermal Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat receiver tubes with glass encapsulation suffer from significant thermal losses due to infrared radiation, which are not adequately addressed by current designs.
Innovation Solution
A heat receiver tube with a glass tube encapsulation featuring an infrared light reflective coating comprising tin oxide (indium tin oxide) and an additional layer of Al2O3 or SiO2, applied to the inner surface to reflect infrared radiation back to the core tube, reducing thermal losses while maintaining transparency for solar radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the infrared light reflective coating is applied to the glass tube, then infrared radiation reflection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular compositional parameters for the transparent conducting coating (tin oxide and indium) and provides a manufacturing method that controls the deposition process. By defining specific material composition ranges and deposition conditions, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving the desired infrared reflection performance.
2Loss of energy
If the transparent conducting coating comprises tin oxide and indium, then infrared light reflection is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific compositional parameters for the transparent conducting coating, including the use of tin oxide and indium in particular proportions. These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing targets that simplify quality control while achieving optimal infrared reflection performance.
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 effectively reduces thermal losses by 20-60% through selective reflection of infrared radiation, optimizing energy absorption and conversion efficiency in solar power plants using parabolic trough collectors.
Implementation Method 1
the infrared light reflective coating comprises a transparent conducting coating, the transparent conducting coating comprises tin oxide and the tin oxide comprises indium; and an additional layer comprising Al2O3 or SiO2 covers the infrared light reflective coating. The glass tube of the heat receiver tube can be manufactured with following steps: The method comprises following steps: a) providing a glass tube and b) attaching the infrared light reflective coating onto an inner surface of the glass tube.
Implementation Method 2
The core tube comprises a core tube surface with a solar energy absorptive coating for absorbing solar absorption radiation of the sunlight.
Implementation Method 3
The glass tube, which is transparent for the sunlight, is arranged coaxially around an inner, central stainless tube of the heat receiver tube.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A glass tube with a glass tube wall is provided, wherein an inner surface of the glass tube wall comprises at least partially at least one infrared light reflective coating. Moreover a method for manufacturing the glass tube is provided. The method comprises following steps: a) providing a glass tube and b) Attaching the infrared light reflective coating onto an inner surface of the glass tube. Additionally a heat receiver tube for absorbing solar energy and for transferring absorbed solar energy to a heat transfer fluid, which can be located inside a core tube of the heat receiver tube, is provided. The core tube comprises a core tube surface with a solar energy absorptive coating for absorbing solar absorption radiation of the sunlight. The core tube is enveloped by an encapsulation with the glass tube with the infrared light reflective coating. The core tube surface and the encapsulation are arranged in a distance between the core tube surface and the inner surface of the encapsulation wall with the infrared reflective surface such, that the solar absorption radiation can penetrate the encapsulation with the infrared light reflective coating and can impinge the solar energy absorptive coating. IR radiation emitted from core tube surface reflects back to the core tube and hence reduces energy losses. A parabolic trough collector is provided with at least one heat receiver tube, which is arranged in a focal line of a parabolic mirror, too. The parabolic trough collector is used in a solar power plant for converting solar energy into electrical energy.