Solar absorption panel comprising a header
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional headers for solar absorption panels experience severe thermal and mechanical strains due to rapid temperature changes, leading to short operational lifetimes, and require complex and expensive thermal protection devices, while also suffering from non-uniform fluid distribution and increased pressure losses.
Innovation Solution
A spherical header design with a diameter at least 1.5 times the sum of the inner passages of connected solar absorption tubes, featuring uniformly distributed junction nozzles that can be extruded or welded, allowing for thinner walls and reduced thermal stresses, and enabling uniform fluid distribution with minimal pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex thermal protection devices are added to protect nozzles from thermal strains, then the operational lifetime is extended, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex thermal protection devices from the system by fundamentally changing the header geometry to inherently resist thermal strains through its spherical shape and optimized nozzle positioning, thereby achieving reliability without added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the header from cylindrical to spherical with a diameter at least 1.5 times the sum of the inner passages of connected tubes, and positions nozzles in specific zones, which fundamentally alters how thermal strains are distributed and resisted, eliminating the need for additional protection devices
2Strength
If the header wall thickness is increased to withstand mechanical pressure, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the thermal strains on connected nozzles increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different wall thicknesses at different locations of the spherical header, with thinner walls in regions where nozzles are connected to minimize thermal strain transmission, while maintaining sufficient thickness in other areas to withstand mechanical pressure requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical geometry of the header distributes mechanical stresses more uniformly throughout the structure compared to cylindrical designs, allowing for reduced wall thickness while maintaining strength, and the curvature helps mitigate thermal strain concentration at nozzle connections
3Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical header with constant cross section is used, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the fluid distribution becomes non-uniform and pressure losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the header geometry from cylindrical with constant cross-section to spherical with variable cross-section, where the diameter is at least 1.5 times the sum of the inner passages of connected tubes, which fundamentally improves fluid distribution uniformity and reduces pressure losses while remaining manufacturable
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 spherical header design reduces thermal stresses, extends operational lifetime, simplifies manufacturing, and eliminates the need for complex thermal protection, while maintaining efficient fluid distribution and reduced pressure losses across all connected solar absorption pipes.
Implementation Method 1
the inner chamber has a substantially spherical shape with a diameter that is at least 1.5 times the sum of the sections of the inner passages of the solar absorption tubes to be connected to said junction nozzles, wherein at least one and preferably a plurality of the junction nozzles is located in a semi-spherical segment of the inner chamber that is transversally opposed to said access opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A header for solar absorption panels, comprising header body (18, 18') having a header wall surrounding an inner chamber (11, 11'), at least one access opening (21, 21') communicating with the inner chamber (11, 11') for connecting a fluid pipe, and a plurality of junction nozzles (16, 16') provided in the header wall which are connectable to respective solar absorption pipes (14), the access opening (21, 21'), inner chamber (11, 11') and nozzles (16, 16') arranged to allow a thermal fluid to flow there through, characterized in that the inner chamber (11, 11') has a substantially spherical shape; at least one of the junction nozzles (16, 16') is located in a semi-spherical segment of the inner chamber (11, 11') that is transversally opposed to said access opening (21, 21').