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 assembly for heating the refrigerant and comprising; (a) first thermal collector means for heating refrigerant in response to solar radiation; (b) first supporting means extending in a subst

A solar powered fluid heating system comprising: a predetermined quantity of refrigerant; a thermal collector assembly for heating the refrigerant and comprising; (a) first thermal collector means for heating refrigerant in response to solar radiation; (b) first supporting means extending in a substantially horizontal direction for supporting the first thermal collector means for maximum exposure to solar radiation during a first predetermined portion of the day; (c) second thermal collector means for heating refrigerant in response to solar radiation; (d) second supporting means extending in a substantially vertical direction for supporting the second thermal collector means for maximum exposure to solar radiation during second and third predetermined portions of the day; (e) third thermal collector means for heating refrigeration in response to solar radiation; (f) third supporting means extending in the substantially horizontal direction for supporting the third thermal collector means for maximum exposure to solar radiation during said first predetermined portion of the dry; (g) said first and second supporting means further supporting the first and second thermal collector means for combined maximum exposure to solar radiation during a fourth predetermined portion of the day occurring between the first and second predetermined portions of the day; (h) said second and third supporting means supporting the third and fourth thermal collector means for maximum exposure to solar radiation during a fifth predetermined portion of the day occurring between the first and third predetermined portions; and (i) means for selectively adding the outputs of heated refrigerant from the first, second and third thermal collector means during the predetermined portions of the day to thereby optimize the output of heated refrigerant during the entire day; separator means for receiving heated refrigerant from the thermal collector assembly 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 thermal collector assembly; said thermal collector assembly, 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 refrigerant circuit.