US 4,048,982 AGranted

Bulb-type solar energy collector

AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.

InventorYu Kun Pei

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The disclosure relates to a bulb-type solar energy collector device comprising a hollow glass body shaped with a parabolic interior surface that is coated with specular finish of a metal, e.g. silver, and includes an apex aperture and integral hollow yoke. A hollow glass, bulb-shaped absorber element is exteriorly coated with a wave length selective coating. The bulb-shaped element includes a tubular hollow stem dependent from the bulbar portion and fixed in the yoke of the glass body so that the central axis of the stem and bulbar end portion is along the focal axis of the parabolic reflecting surface. A cover plate is sealed over the enlarged end of the reflecting surface enclosing the interior mirror surface in a chamber which is evacuated to substantial vacuum, e.g. 10.sup.-4 torr or greater vacuum. A working media is circulated from a source in a manifold through the interior volume of the absorber element to remove the solar energy absorbed thereby as heat and the media is returned to the manifold. The solar energy laden media is available for heating, cooling or power generating uses.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A solar collector apparatus comprising an integral endless glass wall defining a parabolic surface disposed about a central focal axis, an aperture at one end of said wall centered on said axis at the apex of said parabolic surface, the opposite end of said wall defining an enlarged open end,

a continuous reflective coating layer over the parabolic surface of said wall for reflecting solar radiation striking said surface to said focal axis,
a hollow glass absorber member comprised of an enlarged bulbar end portion and an integral tubular stem portion depending therefrom that is open at one end, the stem of said member being inserted through said aperture and coaxial with said focal axis such that the open end thereof is disposed outside of said parabolic surface and adjacent the apex aperture,
fusion connecting means sealingly attaching said glass absorber member integrally with said parabolic glass wall at the apex aperture region thereof such that the bulbar end portion is disposed along said focal axis and within said parabolic surface,
said glass absorber member including an energy absorbing surface thereon extending over the surface area of the bulbar end portion thereof,
a transparent glass cover member for covering the open end of said parabolic wall opposite the aperture thereof, and
means for sealingly connecting the glass cover plate over said parabolic glass wall closing the parabolic chamber defined thereby, said chamber being evacuated to at least a partial vacuum.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/682,816Filed 3 May 1976
Granted: 20 Sep 1977
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F24S 10/40
Solar heat collectors using working fluids: in absorbing elements surrounded by transparent enclosures, e.g. evacuated solar collectors
F24S 20/20
Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments: solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g.…
F24S 23/71
With reflectors: with parabolic reflective surfaces
Y02E 10/40
Energy generation through renewable energy sources: solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers