Modular solar air heater
OwnerAdam Peter Plesniakinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular solar air heater comprises an extruded metal frame having fingers operable to secure a glazing, an absorber, and an insulating back sheet to the frame. The heater may also operate as a cooler. The heater further comprises an active air circulation system, such as a fan, which may be coupled with an air inlet of the heater. The heater has an air outlet and may further include a bypass channel to direct the airflow alternatively through one or both the bypass channel and the air outlet. A heating element and a cooling element may be coupled with the air outlet to further heat and also cool the air through the air outlet, respectively. A photovoltaic panel may be included to provide electrical power to the heater.
Claims17
A modular solar air heater, comprising:
- (a) a glazing;
- (b) an absorber having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (c) an insulating back sheet having an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein air enters through the air inlet and exits through the air outlet;
- (d) an extruded metal frame including a plurality of fingers operable to receive the glazing, the absorber, and the insulating back sheet, said fingers are configured to direct the airflow between the bottom surface of the absorber and a top surface of the insulating back sheet so as to prevent dust particle accumulation over the top surface of the absorber;
- (e) an active air circulation system coupled with the air inlet;
- and
- (f) a bypass channel, wherein the heater is configured to operate so as to direct the air to exit through at least one of the bypass channel and the air outlet.
A method of conditioning air via a modular solar air heater, comprising:
- (a) providing a glazing;
- (b) providing an absorber having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- (c) providing an insulating back sheet having an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein air enters through the air inlet and exits through the air outlet;
- (d) providing an extruded metal frame including a plurality of fingers operable to receive the glazing, the absorber, and the insulating back sheet, said fingers are configured to direct the airflow between the bottom surface of the absorber and a top surface of the insulating back sheet so as to prevent dust particle accumulation over the top surface of the absorber;
- (e) providing an active air circulation system coupled with the air inlet;
- and
- (f) providing a bypass channel, wherein the heater is configured to operate so as to direct the air to exit through at least one of the bypass channel and the air outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.