Solar radiation collection system

A solar energy collector system for efficiently utilizing incident radiant energy comprising:

• a collector element including radiant energy absorptive means on the upper side thereof;
• at least one planar light transmissive means disposed adjacent but spaced apart from the upper side and defining a fluid flow path adjacent the upper side of the collector element;
• planar insulating means disposed adjacent and spaced apart from the lower side of the collector element for defining a heating fluid flow path therebetween;
• and
• integral means disposed in conjunction with the collector element for establishing a free convection suppression flow of fluid relative to the upper side of the collector element.

A radiant energy collection system comprising:

• a collector panel having a radiant energy absorbing upper face and a heat transferring lower face;
• means disposed adjacent said panel for providing a partially restricted air flow path adjacent the upper face and a substantially laminar air flow path adjacent the lower face;
• and
• means intercoupling the partially restricted air flow path and the laminar air flow path with a plurality of spatially distributed flow paths at an angle to the faces of the collector panel, whereby free convection adjacent the upper face is suppressed.

A solar energy collector system comprising:

• a heat collector having an anisotropic heat transfer characteristic, with substantially lower heat transfer in a direction along the plane than to an adjacent fluid medium, the collector having a light absorptive surface;
• an insulating member disposed adjacent and parallel to the heat collector and spaced apart therefrom in coextensive relation on the opposite side from the radiant energy absorptive surface by a distance sufficiently small that a fluid flowing therebetween in thermal exchange relation with the collector is substantially uniformly heated in the direction therebetween with a small temperature differential relative to the temperature of the adjacent position on the collector;
• and
• means for feeding a fluid to be heated into the collector-insulating member space at a temperature substantially below that to which the collector heats the fluid, whereby a thermal gradient exists in the heat flow direction along the collector arising from the anisotropic heat transfer characteristic.

A solar energy collector comprising:

• a thin sheet of material having a radiation absorbing surface on one side and a limited longitudinal heat conduction along its length such that a substantial temperature differential can exist along the length, the sheet including bypass flow apertures in at least a portion thereof;
• means defining a laminar fluid flow path adjacent the side of the sheet opposite the radiation absorbing surface and along the length of the sheet, the fluid flow path being of a thickness to provide a low temperature differential relative to the sheet;
• and
• fluid supply means providing fluid at a low mass flow rate to the means defining fluid flow paths on both sides of said sheet and through the apertures therein, the inlet fluid being at a substantially lower temperature than the sheet temperature when exposed to solar energy.

A solar energy collector system comprising:

• collector panel means having longitudinal side edges and an upwardly facing radiant energy absorbing surface, said panel means including spatially distributed first aperture means;
• frame means coupled to support said collector panel means and including an insulating surface member substantially coextensive with and spaced apart from the under side of said panel means, said frame means including at least one outlet conduit means longitudinally disposed along the under side of said panel means;
• at least one light transmissive panel means spaced apart from and substantially coextensive with said collector panel means adjacent the upper side thereof;
• means including an air inlet means for establishing a first air flow path for inlet air extending under said collector panel means to the outlet conduit means;
• and
• means for establishing a bypass air flow for inlet air extending across at least a portion of the upper portion of said collector panel means and through the aperture means therein to the under side thereof.

A system for storing thermal energy collected from solar radiation, comprising:

• solar energy collector means for heating a first fluid in response to incident insolation;
• means coupled to the collector means for feeding the first fluid therethrough at an adjustable rate;
• counterflow heat exchanger means coupled to the first fluid feeding means for effecting thermal energy transfer between the first fluid and a second fluid, and coupled to return the first fluid to said collector means;
• means for feeding the second fluid to said counterflow heat exchanger means at a rate providing substantially matched enthalpies;
• at least two serially coupled energy storage devices for storing the second fluid at different temperature levels;
• flow diverter means receiving the second fluid from said heat exchanger means for controllably directing the second fluid into a selected branch point along the serially coupled energy storage devices;
• and means responsive to the heating effect of the solar energy collector means for controlling the flow diverter means to direct the second fluid to a selected branch point in accordance with the level of heating thereof.

A system for storing thermal energy collected from solar radiation, comprising:

• solar energy collector means for heating a first fluid in response to incident insolation;
• counterflow heat exchanger means receiving the first fluid in a first direction of passage through the heat exchanger means;
• means for recirculating the first fluid through the collector means and heat exchanger means;
• at least two insulated energy storage devices for storing a second fluid at different temperature levels, the energy storage devices being serially connected to provide a progressive hierarchy of temperature levels, the counterflow heat exchanger means comprising at least two serially coupled sections, each coupled to a different one of the energy storage devices and receiving the second fluid in a second direction of passage through the individual heat exchanger section;
• pumping means coupling each different energy storage devices to its associated heat exchanger section in a recirculating loop;
• and
• means responsive to the temperature of the heated first fluid for controlling the pumping means to initiate heat exchange in conjunction with a related temperature level of second fluid storage.