Polycarbonate solar water heater
OwnerKim Pierson, Rebecca Tollakson, Jr.inventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar water heater absorber absorbs the sun's energy on the surface of a twin-walled polycarbonate panel and conducts the heat from the sun through the panel wall into fluid flow through channels of the panel. The panel is an extruded polycarbonate glazing material that consists of two panes connected by longitudinal ribs to form a plurality of water channels that may further include twisted strips providing a helical water flow pattern that increases turbulence within the water channels. The panel is connected to large pipes or headers on the top and bottom ends of the panel that receive the heated fluid from the water channels, allow the heated fluid to exit the panel, and for return water to re-enter the panel in a solar water heating system.
Claims17
A solar heat absorber for absorbing heat and transferring heat from a sun to a heat exchanger comprising:
- a heat absorber panel having
- front and rear plates wherein the front plate supports an absorbent sun contact surface;
- a plurality of ribs extending between the front and rear plates and forming longitudinal channels extending along a longitudinal axis flanked by the front and rear plates wherein the plurality of channels permits a flow of fluid along the longitudinal axis;
- an upper header communicating with the heat absorber panel and configured to receive fluid from the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the upper header and the heat absorber panel is an upper interlocking joint;
- and
- a lower header positioned below the upper header and communicating with the heat absorber panel and configured to transfer fluid to the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the lower header and the heat absorber panel is a lower interlocking joint;
- wherein the upper and lower header have slots receiving upper and lower edges, respectively, of the heat absorber panel;
- wherein the plurality of longitudinal channels hold blocking elements configured to produce turbulence in the flow of fluid;
- and
- wherein the blocking element produces a turbulence in the flow of fluid that preferentially directs the fluid toward the front plate.
A solar heat absorber for absorbing heat and transferring heat from a sun to a heat exchanger comprising:
- a heat absorber panel having
- front and rear plates wherein the front plate supports an absorbent sun contact surface;
- a plurality of ribs extending between the front and rear plates and forming longitudinal channels extending along a longitudinal axis flanked by the front and rear plates wherein the plurality of channels permits a flow of fluid along the longitudinal axis;
- an upper header communicating with the heat absorber panel and configured to receive fluid from the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the upper header and the heat absorber panel is an upper interlocking joint;
- and
- a lower header positioned below the upper header and communicating with the heat absorber panel and configured to transfer fluid to the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the lower header and the heat absorber panel is a lower interlocking joint;
- wherein the upper and lower header have slots receiving upper and lower edges, respectively, of the heat absorber panel;
- and
- further comprising at least one spacer block positioned within a channel of the plurality of channels positioned at outer edges of the heat absorber panel.
A method of absorbing heat and transferring heat from a sun to a heat exchanger comprising:
- providing a heat absorber panel having front and rear plates wherein the front plate supports an absorbent sun contact surface, and a plurality of ribs extending between the front and rear plates and forming longitudinal channels extending along a longitudinal axis flanked by the front and rear plates wherein the plurality of channels permits a flow of fluid along the longitudinal axis;
- inserting into at least some of the longitudinal channels blocking element configured to produce turbulence in the flow of fluid that preferentially directs the fluid toward the front plate;
- attaching an upper header to the heat absorber panel, the upper header configured to receive fluid from the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the upper header and the heat absorber panel is an upper interlocking joint;
- attaching a lower header to the heat absorber panel, the lower header configured to transfer fluid to the plurality of channels wherein a connection between the lower header and the heat absorber panel is a lower interlocking joint;
- wherein the upper and lower header support slots receiving upper and lower edges, respectively, of the heat absorber panel;
- positioning the upper header above the lower header;
- and
- positioning the heat absorber panel in direct contact with heat from the sun.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.