초록 ▼

The invention relates to a solar collector. The collector has a heat regulating medium which defines a cavity therein. An aperture communicates with the cavity so as to allow solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity. An energy collection device is disposed in the cavity and in therm

The invention relates to a solar collector. The collector has a heat regulating medium which defines a cavity therein. An aperture communicates with the cavity so as to allow solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity. An energy collection device is disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A solar collector comprising: a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing;a gas that

1. A solar collector comprising: a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing;a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing;an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity; anda heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium; wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves. 2. The solar collector of claim 1, wherein the energy collection device is in physical contact with the heat regulating medium. 3. The solar collector of claim 1, wherein the energy collection device is a layer having a thickness of about 1 to about 10 mm. 4. The solar collector of claim 1 comprising a protective layer on a surface of the energy collection device abutting the cavity. 5. The solar collector of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger tubing is capable of accepting a heat transfer fluid, said tubing being at least partly embedded in the heat regulating medium, wherein different portions of the tubing are embedded in the heat regulating medium at different distances from the energy collection device. 6. The solar collector of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger tubing is coupled to a source of water and wherein, in use, the water is converted in the tubing to steam, said tubing being capable of withstanding an internal steam pressure of up to a pressure between about 10 and about 100 bar. 7. The solar collector of claim 1 additionally comprising a thermally insulating layer at least partially surrounding the heat regulating medium, wherein the insulating layer comprises either: a thermally insulating solid having pores and/or voids, said pores and/or voids including the gas therein, or an at least partial vacuum to insulate the heat regulating medium. 8. The collector of claim 1, wherein the collector has facility for absorbing energy from a source other than solar energy. 9. The solar collector of claim 1 comprising a shield disposed below the housing for protecting a lower portion of the housing from damage, said shield having a shield aperture for allowing solar energy to pass through the shield into the cavity, wherein the shield and the housing are separated by a gap. 10. The solar collector of claim 1 comprising a removable plug for inhibiting reirradiation from the cavity. 11. The solar collector of claim 10 comprising a plug insertion mechanism for inserting and removing the plug, wherein the plug insertion mechanism is coupled to a module controller, said module controller being configured to control the plug insertion mechanism so as to insert the plug at times when solar energy ceases to be directed to the aperture and to remove the plug at times shortly before solar energy commences to be directed to the aperture. 12. A solar energy collection device comprising: a solar collector comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing; (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing; (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity; and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium; wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves; anda solar energy concentrator capable of concentrating solar energy and disposed so as to be capable of directing the concentrated solar energy through the aperture of the solar collector and into the cavity. 13. The solar energy collection device of claim 12, wherein the concentrator comprises: an array of reflectors;a tracking device for moving the reflectors so as to direct the concentrated solar energy through the aperture of the solar collector and into the cavity thereof; anda support structure on which the solar collector is mounted,wherein the support structure comprises a tower and the solar collector is mounted on said tower by means of at least three substantially vertical poles and said array comprising one corridor corresponding to each of the substantially vertical poles, said corridors having no reflectors therein, whereby the array is capable of directing the concentrated solar energy between the poles and through the aperture. 14. The solar energy collection device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the poles is hollow and at least one of the following passes through a hollow pole: a heat transfer fluid passing into the heat exchanger tubing of the solar collector;steam or hot water formed in the heat exchanger tubing of the solar collector;electrical connections for conveying a signal from one or more thermocouples in the solar collector to a module controller; andconnections for conveying a signal to a plug insertion mechanism to insert or remove the plug. 15. The solar energy collection device of claim 12 comprising a module controller for controlling the operation of the solar collection device, said module controller being capable of controlling at least one of: movement of the solar collection device so as to direct the concentrated solar energy through the aperture of the solar collector and into the cavity, or so as to place the solar collection device, or at least one reflector of said solar collection device, in a non-collecting orientation if required;insertion or removal of a plug into the aperture or into a shield aperture;water inflow into the collector; andhot water or steam outflow from the collector. 16. The solar energy collection device of claim 15, wherein the solar collector comprises at least one thermocouple for determining a temperature within the solar collector, whereby the thermocouple(s) is (are) configured to provide a temperature related signal to the module controller for controlling the operation of the solar collection device. 17. The solar energy collection device of claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to an electricity generator which is capable of being powered by a heated heat transfer fluid, so that, in use, solar energy incident on the aperture of the collector is transmitted in the form of heat to a heat transfer fluid in the heat exchanger, which heat exchange fluid is transferred to the electricity generator so as to generate electricity. 18. A solar energy collection system comprising: a plurality of solar energy collectors, each comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing; (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing; (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity; and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium; wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves;at least one solar energy concentrator; anda station controller for controlling the solar energy collection collectors and/or the solar energy concentrator(s);wherein said controller is coupled to the solar energy concentrator(s) so as to increase or decrease the total solar energy input to the solar energy collectors as required and wherein each solar energy collector is disposed so as to be capable of receiving concentrated solar energy from at least one solar energy concentrator. 19. A method for collecting and regulating solar energy, said method comprising: providing a solar energy collection device comprising (A) a solar collector comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing; (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing; (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity; and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium; wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves; and (B) a solar energy concentrator capable of concentrating solar energy and disposed so as to be capable of directing the concentrated solar energy through the aperture of the solar collector and into the cavity; andallowing solar energy to impinge on the solar energy concentrator of said device;thereby concentrating said solar energy on the solar collector of said device so as to heat the heat regulating medium of said device. 20. The method of claim 19 comprising controlling the solar energy concentrator so as to direct concentrated solar energy into the aperture, wherein the solar energy concentrator comprises an array of reflectors and wherein the step of controlling comprises detecting a temperature at a position within the solar energy collector and orienting at least one of said reflectors to a non-collecting orientation so as to prevent said temperature exceeding a predetermined upper limit. 21. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the steps of: a) controlling the solar energy concentrator so that said concentrator is in a non-collecting orientation; andb) inserting a plug so as to restrict loss of heat from the cavity of the solar energy collector;when it is desired not to collect solar energy. 22. The method of claim 21 additionally comprising the steps of: c) removing the plug so as to allow concentrated thermal energy to enter the cavity through the aperture; andd) controlling the solar energy concentrator so that said concentrator is in a collecting orientation in which it directs concentrated solar energy through the aperture into the cavity; when it is again desired to collect solar energy. 23. The method of claim 19, wherein said solar energy collection device forms part of a solar energy collection system, said system comprising: a plurality of solar energy collectors, each comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing; (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing; (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity; and(iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium; wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, and wherein heat exchanger tubing is disposed within the grooves;at least one solar energy concentrator; anda station controller for controlling the solar energy collection collectors and/or the solar energy concentrator(s),wherein said controller is coupled to the solar energy concentrator(s) so as to increase or decrease the total solar energy input to the solar energy collectors as required and,wherein each solar energy collector is disposed so as to be capable of receiving concentrated solar energy from at least one solar energy concentrator,said system having a single system output,said method comprising controlling the solar energy collection devices of said solar energy collection system by means of the station controller, said controlling comprising switching one or more of said devices on or off as required to obtain a desired quality of system output. 24. A method for preparing a solar collector, said collector comprising (i) a heat regulating medium defining a cavity therein and having an aperture communicating with the cavity for allowing solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity through the aperture, said heat regulating medium being disposed within a housing; (ii) a gas that does not substantially react with the heat regulating medium at the maximum operating temperature of the medium and/or a low pressure atmosphere within the housing; (iii) an energy collection device disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity; and (iv) a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium; wherein the heat regulating medium comprises graphite, graphite particles embedded in a thermally conductive matrix, pure carbon or a mixture of any two or more of these, wherein the heat regulating medium is formed from a plurality of adjoining heat regulator slabs, at least some of which having grooves therein, said method comprising: providing the heat exchanger tubing, the tubing comprising a plurality of parallel tubing portions disposed around an energy collection device and mounted on a base, said energy collection device comprising four vertical rectangular panels arranged in a square and a square top attached to an upper horizontal edge of the four vertical panels; andassembling between said tubing portions the plurality of slabs of the heat regulating medium such that the heat regulating medium contacts the four outer vertical faces and the top of the energy collection device, and such that the tubing is disposed within the grooves of the heat regulator slabs. 25. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising locating the energy collection device, assembled within a housing and sealing said housing to a lower rim of the energy collection device.