초록 ▼

A solar powered fluid heating system includes a thermal collector for vaporizing a refrigerant, a separator for removing any liquid component from the vapor component of the heated refrigerant, and a condenser for transferring heat from the refrigerant vapor to a fluid thereby returning the refriger

A solar powered fluid heating system includes a thermal collector for vaporizing a refrigerant, a separator for removing any liquid component from the vapor component of the heated refrigerant, and a condenser for transferring heat from the refrigerant vapor to a fluid thereby returning the refrigerant to the liquid phase. Liquid refrigerant is returned from the condenser to the separator, and from the separator to the thermal collector. A pump or a compressor is used to force refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit. The pump or the compressor is actuated by solar energy which is received either from an array of photovoltaic cells or from a generator driven by a turbine which is in turn driven by refrigerant vapor flowing from the separator to the condenser. Secondary refrigerant circuits may be utilized to preheat the refrigerant in the thermal collector, or to exhaust excess heat therefrom, or both. The thermal collector and/or the photovoltaic cell array may comprise an assembly having an inverted T-shaped configuration for maximizing output throughout all of the entire day.

대표청구항 ▼

A solar powered fluid heating system comprising: a predetermined quantity of refrigerant; a thermal collector for heating the refrigerant and including: (a) first and second spaced apart panels, at least the first panel being formed from a thermally conductive material; (b) connector panel means ext

A solar powered fluid heating system comprising: a predetermined quantity of refrigerant; a thermal collector for heating the refrigerant and including: (a) first and second spaced apart panels, at least the first panel being formed from a thermally conductive material; (b) connector panel means extending between and connected to the first and second panel for cooperation therewith to define a substantially closed refrigerant heating chamber; (c) inlet means for admitting liquid refrigerant to the refrigerant heating chamber; (d) the first and second panels comprising the thermal collector extend in divergent planes to define a refrigerant receiving zone wherein the first and second panels are positioned relatively close to one another and a refrigerant discharge zone wherein the first and second panels are positioned relatively apart from one another; (e) outlet means for exhausting vapor refrigerant from the refrigerant heating chamber; and (f) baffle means positioned within the refrigerant heating chamber and connected between the first and second panels for preventing both inward and outward movement therebetween; (g) said baffle means being spaced apart from the connector panel means to facilitate refrigerant flow through the refrigerant heating chamber; separator means for receiving heated refrigerant from the thermal collector and for separating the vapor component of the heated refrigerant from any liquid component thereof; a condenser for receiving the vapor component of the heated refrigerant from the separator means; a supply of fluid to be heated; means for transferring heat from the refrigerant in the condenser to the fluid and thereby returning the refrigerant vapor to the liquid phase; vapor conduit means extending from the separator means to the condenser; liquid conduit means extending from the condenser to the inlet means of the thermal collector; said thermal collector, separator means, condenser, vapor conduit means and liquid conduit means comprising a closed refrigerant circuit which contains the predetermined quantity of refrigerant; and refrigerant pressurizing means for causing the refrigerant to flow through the closed refrigerant circuit.