Vacuum tubes for solar collectors with improved heat transfer
AssigneeSgl Carbon SE
InventorsDirk Heuer, Walter Zimmerly, Werner Guckert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat transfer between an absorber and heat carrier tubes is simplified by using heat conducting elements which are made of compressed graphite expandate in vacuum tubes for solar collectors. The heat conducting element which is made of compressed graphite expandate can, for example, be embodied in a form-locking fit as an intermediate layer between an absorber internal wall and the carrier construction which can receive the heat carrier tubes or as a heat transfer component which is fitted into the absorber tube and which receives the heat carrier tubes in a form-locking fit.
Claims17
A solar collector vacuum tube, comprising:
- two glass tubes including an inner glass tube and an outer glass tube placed one inside another concentrically, each of said glass tubes being closed in a hemispheric shape at a first end, and fused to each other at a second end, said two glass tubes defining a gap there-between and said gap being evacuated;
- pipes functioning as heat transfer tubes disposed in an interior space of said inner glass tube and through which a heat transmission medium flows;
- and
- a heat conduction element disposed in said interior space of said inner glass tube and made of a compressed graphite expandate, said heat conduction element having a first side forming a form-locking connection with said interior wall of said inner glass tube and a second side forming a form-locking connection with adjoining surfaces of said heat transfer tubes.
A heat transfer component for a vacuum-tube solar collector having an inner glass tube with an inner wall, the heat transfer component comprising:
- a generally cylindrical shaped piece made of compressed graphite expandate for holding heat transfer tubes in a form-locking manner, and having a circumferential surface forming a form-locking connection with the inner wall of the inner glass tube.
A method of using compressed graphite expandate for heat transmission, which comprises the step of:
- placing the compressed graphite expandate in vacuum-tube solar collectors for performing heat transmission functions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.