Solar chimney with internal and external solar collectors
OwnerPitaya Yangpichitinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar chimney includes a solar collector which heats air in the chimney, producing updrafts which can be harnessed to perform useful work. The solar collector may be located inside or outside the chimney. The device may include a reservoir for storing a heat transfer fluid, thus enabling the device to be used during both day and night. The solar chimney may be equipped with both internal and external solar collectors, operating in parallel. The solar chimney may also be equipped with multiple external solar collectors, connected in parallel to a reservoir. The solar chimney of the invention provides a convenient and practical way to convert solar energy into electrical power.
Claims15
A solar chimney, comprising:
- a) an enclosure, defining a flow path for a fluid to be heated,
- b) an internal solar collector, the internal solar collector being located inside the enclosure, and being positioned in a vicinity of an opening in the enclosure so as to allow solar radiation from outside the enclosure to reach the internal solar collector,
- c) an external solar collector positioned outside the enclosure,
- d) a heat exchanger located within the enclosure, and
- e) means for transferring heat between the external solar collector and the heat exchanger.
A solar chimney, comprising:
- a) an enclosure defining a flow path for a fluid to be heated,
- b) at least one internal solar collector, the internal solar collector being located inside the enclosure and being positioned in a vicinity of an opening in the enclosure, so as to allow solar radiation to contact the internal solar collector, and
- c) at least one external solar collector, the external solar collector being external to the enclosure, and being in thermal contact with a heat exchanger located inside the enclosure, the heat exchanger being spaced apart from the internal solar collector.
A method of operating a solar chimney, comprising:
- a) providing at least one internal solar collector within a chimney, the internal solar collector comprising means for receiving solar radiation and for transferring absorbed heat to air in a vicinity of the internal solar collector,
- b) providing at least one external solar collector outside of the chimney, each external solar collector being in thermal contact with a heat exchanger located inside the chimney, the heat exchanger being spaced apart from the internal solar collector, and
- c) allowing air to flow inside the chimney, wherein the air becomes heated by interaction with the internal solar collector and the heat exchanger, wherein updrafts are produced within the chimney which updrafts are used to perform useful work.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.