Micro-Channel Solar Absorber for Building-Integrated Thermal Cladding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary solar thermal systems face challenges including unsightly aesthetics, high costs, and limited functionality, which hinder their widespread adoption as they cannot be seamlessly integrated into building structures and require separate installation, limiting their thermal capacity and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The development of a novel solar thermal micro-channel absorber with a continuous fluid jacket and innovative manifolds, allowing for integration into building envelopes as both thermal energy collectors and structural elements, utilizing materials like metal, plastic, or glass, and employing modular production methods for cost-effectiveness and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional plate and tube solar collectors are used, then thermal energy collection function is provided, but collector aesthetics deteriorate and seamless integration into building architecture becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The solar collector is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a thermal energy collection device and an architectural cladding element. The absorber plate integrates fluid channels directly into its structure, allowing it to function as both the heat collection surface and the visible exterior covering, eliminating the need for separate aesthetic treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the solar thermal collection function with the building cladding function into a single integrated unit. The absorber plate is designed to be the exterior surface itself, combining the previously separate functions of heat collection and architectural coverage into one unified component.
2Use of energy by moving object
If traditional solar thermal systems are installed separately from building structure, then thermal energy collection is achieved, but installation costs increase and thermal capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The solar collector serves dual purposes as both a thermal energy collection device and a structural building envelope component. By designing the absorber plate to function as cladding, the system eliminates the need for separate installation processes and reduces overall material requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorber plate is segmented into modular units with integrated fluid channels, allowing for standardized manufacturing and efficient assembly. The plate is divided into functional zones with inlet and outlet manifolds that facilitate modular installation across building surfaces.
3Temperature
If expensive plastic materials are used to meet temperature requirements, then thermal performance is improved, but material cost increases and advantage over metal absorbers is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber plate utilizes composite construction combining metal channels embedded in a plastic matrix. This composite structure leverages the high thermal conductivity of metal for heat transfer while using plastic for structural integrity and aesthetic properties, achieving temperature resistance without requiring entirely expensive plastic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are used in different regions of the absorber plate: metal is used specifically in the fluid channels where thermal conductivity is critical, while plastic is used in the surrounding structural areas where aesthetic properties and corrosion resistance are more important than thermal conductivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If solar collectors are integrated into building envelope as cladding, then installation cost is reduced and functionality is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex integrated absorber plate is manufactured as modular segments that can be assembled into larger building envelope configurations. Each module contains integrated fluid channels and cladding surfaces, allowing complex functionality to be achieved through standardized modular components rather than custom monolithic structures.
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
This solution enhances thermal efficiency, reduces installation costs, and provides aesthetic appeal by integrating solar thermal collectors into building structures, offering superior energy savings and increased thermal performance compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a solar absorption surface of the micro-channel absorber is lower than an averaged solar absorption surface of a comparable 'plate and tubes' solar thermal absorber
Implementation Method 2
a continuous fluid jacket adjacent to the surface of the active plate, thus providing a large active area of heat exchange
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a uniform temperature across the whole active surface without temperature peaks that occur in-between the tubes of current 'plate and tubes' solutions
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method of its production for a micro-channel thermal absorber to be used as a solar thermal collector, heat collector, or heat dissipater, extruded or continuously cast in one piece or in modular segments from a metal, plastic, or glass and assembled into panels of different structures seamlessly integrated into the envelope of a building as covering layers or structural elements. The micro-channel thermal absorber comprises an active plate, a back plate adjacent to the active plate, and a plurality of micro-channel walls arranged substantially perpendicular to the active plate and the back plate to define a plurality of fluid transport micro-channels configured to allow fluid flow there-along, wherein the micro-channel walls constitute supporting elements between the active plate and the back plate to provide structure.