# US 12,003,214 B2 · Heat exchange system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,214 B2 - Document ID: US12003214B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/046,146 - Filed: 2019-04-11 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-11 - Assignees: Hoole Enterprises Pty Ltd - Applicants: Hoole Enterprises Pty Ltd - Inventors: Thomas Hoole; Eric Hawkins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003214B2 ## CPC - H02S 40/425: {using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation} - F24S 10/70: the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits - F24S 40/55: Arrangements for cooling, e.g. by using external heat dissipating means or internal cooling circuits (by venting F24S40/53) - F24S 80/30: Arrangements for connecting the fluid circuits of solar collectors with each other or with other components, e.g. pipe connections; Fluid distributing means, e.g. headers - F24S 90/00: Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for - F28D 9/0056: {with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside conduits; with centrally arranged openings on the plates} - H02S 40/44: Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/67) - Y02E 10/44: Heat exchange systems - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/60: Thermal-PV hybrids - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A heat exchange unit for a solar photovoltaic panel comprising backing plate comprising U-channeling depressed in an upper surface thereof flexible tubing positioned within the U-channeling configured to carry fluid; and rear panel, the rear panel being positioned behind the backing plate, the rear panel having a reflective surface to reflect heat from the backing plate; wherein the heat exchange unit is configured to be positioned in thermal contact with a solar panel, with the flexible tubing between the backing plate and solar photovoltaic panel to facilitate heat exchange between the flexible tubing and the solar panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger for a solar photovoltaic panel comprising: a backing plate comprising U-channeling depressed in an upper surface thereof; and flexible tubing positioned within the U-channeling configured to carry fluid; wherein the heat exchanger is configured to be positioned in thermal contact with the solar photovoltaic panel, and, when the heat exchanger is positioned in thermal contact with the solar photovoltaic panel, the flexible tubing is retained between the U-channeling of the backing plate and the solar photovoltaic panel to facilitate heat exchange between the flexible tubing and the solar photovoltaic panel, wherein the U-channeling is configured to provide contact surface area between a surface of the U-channeling and a surface of the flexible tubing, the U-channeling having a rounded base and an opening having a width greater than a diameter of the flexible tubing; and the flexible tubing is configured to expand within the U-channeling when pressurized to increase the contact surface area between the U-channeling and the flexible tubing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tubing is arranged to carry the fluid around the backing plate in a continuous path, the flexible tubing having a tubing inlet for receiving the fluid into the heat exchanger and an outlet for passing the fluid out of the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being configured to facilitate the heat exchange between the fluid and the solar photovoltaic panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a metallic layer positioned across the flexible tubing, the metallic layer is positioned between the flexible tubing and the solar photovoltaic panel when the heat exchanger is affixed to the solar photovoltaic panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1 further comprising a rear panel, the rear panel being positioned behind the backing plate, the rear panel having a reflective surface to reflect heat from the backing plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the rear panel is configured to reflect the heat from the backing plate at lower temperatures but acts as a heat sink at higher temperatures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is divided into a plurality of heat cells, the plurality of heat cells being defined by insulation positioned between the backing plate and a rear panel, the insulation being configured to limit airflow along a length of the heat exchanger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is maintained in thermal contact with the solar photovoltaic panel by at least one rearward affixation bar affixing the heat exchanger to the solar photovoltaic panel, the rearward affixation bar being configured to engage with the solar photovoltaic panel by being sprung to drive the heat exchanger into contact with the solar photovoltaic panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A heat exchange unit for a solar photovoltaic panel comprising: the heat exchanger according to claim 1; a frame to contain the heat exchanger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system comprising the solar photovoltaic panel and at least one heat exchange unit comprising at least one heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1, the at least one heat exchange unit affixed to the solar photovoltaic panel, each heat exchanger being connected to a fluid path, the photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system being configured to carry the fluid from a pump through the fluid path and through the flexible tubing of the heat exchanger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system according to claim 9, further comprising at least one temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of the fluid in the fluid path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system according to claim 10 further comprising a flow rate control unit, the flow rate control unit being configured to control a rate of flow of the fluid in dependence on the temperature of fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system according to claim 11 further comprising at least one pressure sensor positioned in the fluid path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The heat exchange unit according to claim 8, further comprising a manifold, the manifold being configured to provide a fluid connection to the heat exchanger, the manifold comprising a tube and having at least one extension pipe extending from the tube, the extension pipe being configured for quick-fit connection to the heat exchanger to carry the fluid between the manifold and the flexible tubing of the heat exchanger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heat exchange unit according to claim 13 comprising insulation applied to the tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system according to claim 9, further comprising a control system, a plurality of the heat exchangers, a fluid path through the plurality of the heat exchangers and a pump for creating fluid flow in the photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system, the photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system further comprising a plurality of sensors for providing system measurements to the control system, wherein the control system controls operating parameters for the photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system in dependence on the system measurements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of: temperature sensors; pressure sensors; or sonic flow meters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system according to claim 15 wherein the operating parameters comprise at least one of: a flow rate of the fluid; a temperature of the fluid; a position of valves in the photovoltaic thermal heat exchange system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The heat exchanger according to claim 4 comprising at least one spacer to separate the rear panel from the backing plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tubing is silicone tubing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tubing is an elastomer, and the flexible tubing being configured to expand is configured to: define a relaxed condition in which the flexible tubing has a first surface contact amount with the U-channeling and the solar photovoltaic panel, and define an expanded condition when the flexible tubing is pressurized under pressure of the fluid in which the flexible tubing has a second surface contact amount with the U-channeling and the solar photovoltaic panel, wherein the second surface contact amount is greater than the first surface contact amount. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein when pressurized the flexible tubing expands to fill interstices between the surface of the U-channeling and the surface of the flexible tubing, and the solar photovoltaic panel and the surface of the flexible tubing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The heat exchange unit according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tubing is arranged to carry the fluid around the backing plate in a continuous path, the flexible tubing having a tubing inlet for receiving the fluid into the heat exchanger and an outlet for passing the fluid out of the heat exchanger, the flexible tubing being arranged in parallel runs with edge loops joining adjacent parallel runs, the edge loops being accommodated within a frame.