초록 ▼

Recirculating natural convection solar energy collectors are disclosed. In one species of the invention, the collector comprises an insulated housing, a cover of glass or other suitable transparent material, a transparent plate of glass or other suitable material mounted inside said housing and spac

Recirculating natural convection solar energy collectors are disclosed. In one species of the invention, the collector comprises an insulated housing, a cover of glass or other suitable transparent material, a transparent plate of glass or other suitable material mounted inside said housing and spaced apart from the cover, a heat absorber mounted inside the housing and spaced apart from the transparent plate, an air separator mounted inside the housing and spaced apart from the absorber and cover, and a heat exchanger located inside the housing at the top of the housing. The heat absorber is made from a thin sheet of suitable material such as aluminum foil that has a surface coated with a heat absorbing material such as black paint, solar selective black chrome and the like. As the air inside the housing flows over the heat absorber, it is heated and rises to the top of the housing. The heat exchanger at the top of the housing absorbs heat from the hot air thereby cooling the air. The cooler air flows downward through a cool air return channel and then again flows over the absorber to be heated. In this manner a continuous air flow is maintained with the heat exchanger absorbing useful heat from the air. In a second species of the invention, a second plate made of glass or other suitable transparent material is mounted between the transparent plate and the heat absorber. A variation of the two main species is also disclosed. In this variation, a small blower is mounted in the bottom of the housing to assist the air flow.

대표청구항 ▼

An air convection solar collector comprising: a housing having a front side, a back side wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top side wall and a bottom side wall, said back side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, said top side wall and said bottom side wall being secured t

An air convection solar collector comprising: a housing having a front side, a back side wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top side wall and a bottom side wall, said back side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, said top side wall and said bottom side wall being secured together in such a manner that said housing is closed on all said sides except the front side, said front side being open; a plate made of a suitable solar transparent material. said plate being secured to said top side wall, said bottom side wall, said first side wall and said second side wall in such a manner that said plate forms a wall for said front side and thereby closes said open front side of said housing; a layer of insulating material secured inside said housing such that said layer of insulating material covers all sides of said housing except said front side; a solar absorber plate shorter in length than the length of said housing, said solar absorber plate being secured inside said housing in such a position that said solar absorber plate is spaced apart from said plate and from said layer of insulating material covering said top side wall of said housing and is spaced apart from said layer of insulating material covering said bottom side wall of said housing; an air flow separator plate shorter in length than the length of said housing, said air flow separator plate being secured inside said housing in such a position that said air flow separator is spaced apart from said solar absorber plate and from said layer of insulating material covering said back side wall of said housing and is spaced apart from said layer of insulating material covering said top side wall of said housing and is spaced apart from said layer of insulating material covering said bottom side wall of said housing; and a single heat exchanger secured inside said housing adjacent to said layer of insulating material covering said top side of said housing and adjacent to said layer of insulating material covering said back side of said housing.