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US 2009/0014048 A1Published application
Solar collector with hydrophilic photocatalytic coated protective pane
OwnerGerald D. Beranekinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar collector which is illuminated by the sun through a glass panel wherein the glass panel is constructed of glass without low-e coatings with a first surface coating of a magnetron sputtered vapor deposition coating consisting primarily of titanium dioxide. The titanium dioxide achieves a hydrophilic photocatalytic surface to produce a solar collector which is self-cleaning for increased solar energy transmittance with less cleaning cost.
Claims10
A solar collector comprising:
- means for collecting useful solar energy with an opening arranged to receive solar radiation;
- and
- a glass pane, covering the opening, without a low-E coating with a pre-installation solar energy transmittance of greater than 85% and with an outer surface coated with a photocatalytic titanium dioxide coating of less than 100 angstroms in thickness, the titanium dioxide coating of the type which when exposed to ultraviolet light activates the outer surface to a hydrophilicity to the extent of having a water droplet contact angle of 0-25°;
- wherein the photocatalytic coating is capable to degrade organic matter in contact with the outer surface.
1 more element
A photovoltaic or thermal solar collector comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a solar cell array or a thermal collecting tube arrangement within the enclosure;
- and
- the enclosure comprising a protective glass cover pane, the cover pane having a Magnetron Sputter Vapor Deposition coating comprising TiO2, the coating less than 100 angstroms in thickness;
- wherein the coating is photocatalytic and hydrophilic and the cover pane has a solar transmittance of greater than 85 percent.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.