Method of installing a collection system for heat energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar energy collection systems face challenges in integrating a seamless and aesthetically unobtrusive heat collection mechanism into roof structures, particularly in terms of pipe installation and heat transfer efficiency, and they often require visible components and modifications to the surface.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, rollable roofing felt material with embedded, adjustable and non-permanently attached pipes that act as a base layer and sound insulator, allowing for uniform installation on various surfaces, including curved ones, without altering the exterior appearance, and enhancing heat transfer through a flattened pipe design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pipes are installed inside roof tiles as shown in EP 0043095, then heat collection is achieved, but installation becomes difficult due to complex adjusting work and visibility of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the roofing felt base layer with the heat collection pipe system into a single integrated unit. The pipes are embedded within the felt material itself, eliminating the need for separate pipe installation within tiles. This integration simplifies installation while maintaining heat collection functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving heat collection and avoiding complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The roofing felt serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the base layer for roof covering, provides sound insulation, and incorporates the heat collection pipe system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and installation steps, thereby improving ease of manufacture while reducing device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If a separate collector installation is used, then heat collection is achieved, but the exterior appearance is altered and architectural solutions are affected
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the heat collection pipes directly into the roofing felt material, the system eliminates visible external collectors. The pipes are concealed within the uniform felt layer, maintaining the roof's original aesthetic appearance while preserving heat collection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded pipes are surrounded by and integrated into the homogeneous felt material structure. This creates a uniform appearance from the exterior, as the pipes cannot be distinguished from the surrounding felt, thereby maintaining aesthetic integrity while enabling heat collection.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional transparent protective surfaces are used in solar collectors, then heat collection is achieved, but inlets must be made to the surface layer and installation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for transparent protective surfaces and complex inlet structures. The felt material itself serves as both the protective covering and the heat collection medium, with pipes embedded directly within it. This removal of unnecessary components simplifies installation and reduces device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The roofing felt performs multiple functions: it provides the protective surface layer, enables heat collection through embedded pipes, and eliminates the need for separate inlet structures. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall system design and installation process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If rigid pipe systems are installed in roofs, then heat collection is achieved, but the structure cannot accommodate bent surfaces and heat transfer efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexible nature of the roofing felt material to accommodate bent and curved roof surfaces. The embedded pipes move with the felt, allowing the system to adapt to various surface geometries without requiring rigid structural modifications, thereby enhancing surface adaptability while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The felt material's physical parameters (flexibility, thickness) enable it to conform to different surface shapes. This parameter change allows the heat collection system to adapt to bent surfaces while maintaining effective heat transfer through the flexible medium.
5Reliability
If pipes are permanently attached to the roof structure, then structural stability is achieved, but heat transfer efficiency decreases and installation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pipes are merged with the felt material through embedding rather than permanent attachment. This integration provides sufficient structural stability while maintaining close thermal contact between the pipes and the roof surface, thereby optimizing heat transfer efficiency without requiring rigid permanent fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible felt material provides adequate structural support for the embedded pipes without requiring permanent attachment mechanisms. The close contact between the flexible felt and pipes ensures efficient heat transfer, while the non-permanent nature of the integration allows for installation flexibility and future modifications.
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
Enables efficient solar energy collection without altering the roof's appearance or structure, allowing for easy installation on complex surfaces and improved heat transfer, while maintaining the roof's integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible, rollable roofing felt material with embedded, adjustable and non-permanently attached pipes... enhancing heat transfer through a flattened pipe design
Implementation Method 2
Method of installing a collection system for heat energy of the sun which collection system is intended to be installed on a surface that receives solar energy
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Collection system for heat energy of the sun that is intended to be installed onto a surface that receives solar energy, especially to a coating material (1) that can be installed on a roof to which system pipe systems (5), which collect solar energy and can be installed on the mentioned surface, belong and to which system heat collecting medium that can be circulated with the help of a pump in pipe systems and a circulation system with its adjusting device for the mentioned heat collecting medium belong. Heat collector pipe systems (5) are adjusted to a coating material (1) that can be unwound from a roll (9) or can be cut to length in such a way that separate pipe systems (5) in relation to the coating material are located inside the coating material in the opening direction of the roll (9) or in a longitudinal direction in relation to the coating material that is cut to length.