Solar Collector, System, And Method Of Use

A solar collector system, comprising:

• A flexible, inflatable, longitudinally extending solar collector that is substantially flat and readily capable of being compressed to less than ten millimeters thick when uninflated, comprising:
• a first layer formed of flexible, tear-resistant, substantially air-tight and waterproof plastic;
• a second layer on top of and substantially covering, the first layer and comprising flexible insulative material adapted to reflect radiant energy;
• a third layer on top of and substantially covering the second layer and comprising flexible material adapted to absorb solar energy;
• a fourth layer on top of and substantially covering the third layer and comprising flexible material adapted to absorb solar energy, the fourth layer being air-permeable;
• a fifth layer on top of and substantially covering the first, second, third, and fourth layers and comprising flexible, tear-resistant, substantially air-tight and waterproof plastic material adapted to be substantially translucent to solar radiation;
• wherein at least the first and fifth layers are affixed together by a plurality of longitudinally extending seams forming there between a substantially air-tight heating chamber below the fifth layer, the substantially air-tight heating chamber comprising at least one of an air intake port, an air exhaust port, or one or more junctions adapted to be in air communication with another heating chamber in another solar collector;
• wherein the solar collector is adapted to heat pressurized air when it is passed into the air intake port, through the heating chamber below the fifth layer, and out the air exhaust port or junction, when the solar collector is placed in sunlight with the fifth layer facing the sun.
• a heating control system comprising a housing defining one or more air inputs in communication with one or more hot air registers, and one or more cool air return registers in air communication with an air pressurizer, the air pressurizer in pressurized air communication with one or more air outputs;
• first ducting adapted to connect at least one of the air outputs of the heating control system to the air intake port of the solar collector;
• and
• second ducting adapted to connect the air exhaust port of the solar collector to at least one of the air inputs of the heating control system;
• wherein the solar collector system is adapted to cause air to flow into the cool air return register, be pressurized by the air pressurizer, flow out at least one of the air outputs, through the first ducting, into the intake port of the solar collector, through the heating chamber in the solar collector, thereby inflating it, out the air exhaust port of the solar collector, through the second ducting, into at least one of the air inputs, and out of at least one of the hot air registers.

A method of using a solar collector system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a solar collector system, comprising:
• a flexible, inflatable, longitudinally extending solar collector that is substantially flat and readily capable of being compressed to less than ten millimeters thick when uninflated, comprising:
• a first layer formed of flexible, tear-resistant, substantially air-tight and waterproof plastic;
• a second layer on top of and substantially covering the first layer and comprising flexible insulative material adapted to reflect radiant energy;
• a third layer on top of and substantially covering the second layer and comprising flexible material adapted to absorb solar energy;
• a fourth layer on top of and substantially covering the third layer and comprising flexible material adapted to absorb solar energy, the, fourth layer being, air-permeable;
• a fifth layer on top of and substantially covering the first, second, third, and fourth layers and comprising flexible, tear-resistant, substantially air-tight and waterproof plastic material adapted to be substantially translucent to solar radiation;
• wherein at least the first and fifth layers are affixed together by a plurality of longitudinally extending seams forming there between a substantially air-tight heating chamber below the fifth layer, the substantially air-tight heating chamber comprising at least one of an air intake port, an air exhaust port, or one or more junctions adapted to be in air communication with another heating chamber in another solar collector;
• wherein the solar collector is adapted to heat pressurized air when it is passed into the air intake port, through the heating chamber below the fifth layer, and out the air exhaust port or junction, when the solar collector is placed in sunlight with the fifth layer facing the sun.
• a heating control system comprising a housing defining one or more air inputs in communication with one or more hot air registers, and one or more cool air return registers in air communication with an air pressurizer, the air pressurizer in pressurized air communication with one or more air outputs;
• first ducting adapted to connect at least one of the air outputs of the heating control system to the air intake port of the solar collector;
• and
• second ducting adapted to connect the air exhaust port of the solar collector to at least one of the air inputs of the heating control system;
• wherein the solar collector system is adapted to cause air to flow into the cool air return register, be pressurized by the air pressurizer, flow out at least one of the air outputs, through the first ducting, into the intake port of the solar collector, through the heating chamber in the solar collector, thereby inflating it, out the air exhaust port of the solar collector, through the second ducting, into at least one of the air inputs, and out of at least one of the hot air registers;
• removably lodging the housing of the heating control system into an at least partially open window of a building such that the one or more hot air registers and one or more cool air return registers are directed toward the interior of the building, and the one or more air inputs and one or more air outputs are directed outside the building;
• placing the solar collector in sunlight with the fifth layer facing the sun;
• connecting at least one of the air outputs of the heating control system to the air intake port of the solar collector with the first ducting;
• connecting the air exhaust port of the solar collector to at least one of the air inputs of the heating control system with the second ducting;
• and
• causing air to flow into the cool air return register, be pressurized by the air pressurizer, flow out at least one of the air outputs, through the first ducting, into the intake port of the solar collector, through the heating chamber in the solar collector, thereby inflating it, out the air exhaust port of the solar collector, through the second ducting, into at least one of the air inputs, and out of at least one of the hot air registers.