초록 ▼

A solar thermal energy collector manifold is provided. The manifold is connected to solar collector tubes for collecting solar energy. A fluid is used to transfer the heat collected from the collector tubes. The manifold includes an inlet path for receiving the fluid, a fluid flow path for transferr

A solar thermal energy collector manifold is provided. The manifold is connected to solar collector tubes for collecting solar energy. A fluid is used to transfer the heat collected from the collector tubes. The manifold includes an inlet path for receiving the fluid, a fluid flow path for transferring the fluid to the solar collector tubes, and an outlet path for outputting the heated fluid. To facilitate the flow paths, the manifold includes a plate with depressions.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A solar collector manifold, comprising: a first manifold plate; a second manifold plate; a manifold inlet port; a manifold outlet port; and a solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to

What is claimed is: 1. A solar collector manifold, comprising: a first manifold plate; a second manifold plate; a manifold inlet port; a manifold outlet port; and a solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector tube; wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose therebetween a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the manifold inlet port, an outlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the manifold outlet port, and a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path; wherein the solar collector tube connection port comprises an insert that defines at least a portion of the fluid exchange path and additionally defines a counter-flow path. 2. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a first port that opens into the inlet fluid flow path and a second port that opens into the outlet fluid flow path. 3. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose the network of fluid flow paths with fluid tight seal. 4. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are stamped metal plates at least one of which comprises stamped depressions that define the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path between the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 5. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are welded together. 6. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the insert defines the fluid exchange path between the solar collector tube connection port and the inlet fluid flow path. 7. The solar collector manifold of claim 6, wherein the insert defines the fluid exchange path between the solar collector tube connection port and the outlet fluid flow path. 8. The solar collector manifold of claim 6, wherein the insert comprises a first port that opens into the inlet fluid flow path and a second port that opens into the outlet fluid flow path. 9. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the solar collector tube connection port comprises a surface sized to mate with a surface of the fluid tube of the solar collector tube. 10. The solar collector manifold of claim 1, wherein the inlet fluid flow path, the outlet fluid flow path, and the fluid exchange path are coplanar. 11. A solar collector manifold, comprising: a first manifold plate; a second manifold plate; a manifold inlet port; a manifold outlet port; and a solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector tube; wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose therebetween a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the manifold inlet port, an outlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the manifold outlet port, and a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path; wherein the solar collector tube connection port comprises an insert that defines at least a portion of the fluid exchange path, wherein and the insert comprises an external ridge that fixes the insert to each of the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 12. The solar collector manifold of claim 11, wherein the external ridge is embedded into each of the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 13. The solar collector manifold of claim 11, wherein the external ridge is a screw thread. 14. The solar collector manifold of claim 11, wherein the external ridge of the insert mates with matching recesses in the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 15. A solar collector manifold, comprising: a first manifold plate; a second manifold plate; a manifold inlet port; a manifold outlet port; and a solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector tube; wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose therebetween a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the manifold inlet port, an outlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the manifold outlet port, and a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path; wherein the solar collector tube connection port comprises an insert that defines at least a portion of the fluid exchange path, the solar collector tube connection port comprises an interior surface defining a first cylindrical channel portion and a second cylindrical channel portion, the first cylindrical channel portion terminates at the external opening into the manifold, the second cylindrical channel portion forms at least a portion of the fluid exchange path, and the first cylindrical channel portion has a larger internal cross-sectional diameter than the second cylindrical channel portion. 16. A solar collector manifold, comprising: a first manifold plate; a second manifold plate; a manifold inlet port; a manifold outlet port; and a solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a first fluid tube of a solar collector tube; wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose therebetween a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid from the manifold inlet port, an outlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid to the manifold outlet port, and a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path; wherein the solar collector tube connection port is constructed and arranged to connect the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path to a coaxial arrangement of the first fluid tube of the solar collector tube and an outer fluid tube of the solar collector tube, the solar collector tube connection port comprises an insert that defines at least a portion of the fluid exchange path, the insert defines a channel between the inlet fluid flow path and the external opening, the channel being sized to receive an extension of the first fluid tube of the solar collector tube through the external opening to an internal opening into the inlet fluid flow path, and at the external opening the insert is constructed and arranged to connect to the outer fluid tube of the solar collector tube that is coaxial with the first fluid tube. 17. The solar collector manifold of claim 16, wherein the insert comprises a port that opens into the outlet fluid flow path, and the fluid exchange path is defined between the insert and an outer surface of the first fluid tube of the solar collector tube. 18. A method, comprising: forming a first manifold plate and a second manifold plate at least one of which comprises depressions; joining together the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate to enclose therebetween a solar collector tube connection port and a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid from a manifold inlet port, an outlet fluid flow path that conveys fluid to a manifold outlet port, and a fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path, wherein the solar collector tube connection port defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a fluid tube of a solar collector tube; creating an insert that defines at least a portion of the fluid exchange path, wherein the insert comprises an external ridge; and fixing the insert between the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate, wherein the fixing comprises pressing the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate together with the insert therebetween such that the external ridge is embedded into each of the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the insert comprises a first port that opens into the inlet fluid flow path and a second port that opens into the outlet fluid flow path. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the forming comprises stamping the depressions in the at least one of the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the joining comprises welding the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate together. 22. A method, comprising: obtaining solar collector tubes; obtaining a manifold that comprises a first manifold plate, a second manifold plate, and for each of the solar collector tubes a respective solar collector tube connection port that defines an external opening into the manifold and is constructed and arranged to connect to a respective fluid tube of the solar collector tube, wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are joined together to enclose therebetween a network of fluid flow paths that comprises an inlet fluid flow path, an outlet fluid flow path, and for each of the solar collector tubes a respective fluid exchange path that conveys fluid between the respective solar collector tube connection port and at least one of the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path; and connecting the manifold to the solar collector tubes arranged in an array, wherein the connecting comprises for each of the solar collector tubes connecting the respective fluid tube of the solar collector tube to the respective solar collector tube connection port of the manifold; wherein each of the solar collector tube connection ports comprises a respective insert that defines at least a portion of the respective fluid exchange path and provides a counter-flow path for the fluid, and the connecting comprises connecting each of the inserts to a respective one of the fluid tubes of the solar collector tubes. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate are stamped metal plates least one of which comprises stamped depressions that define the inlet fluid flow path and the outlet fluid flow path between the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the inserts comprises a flow port that provides cross flow of the fluid through the insert.