Unitary solar collector
AssigneeThe Franklin Institute
InventorRobert Allan Erb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitary solar collector for transfer of thermal energy which is a synthetic thermoplastic unit. The unit has a solar-energy transmitting region and a solar-energy absorbing region. The unit is useful for heating purposes.
Claims68
A unitary solar thermal collector panel highly effective in absorbing and transferring thermal energy and having resistance to thermal distortion, the panel being constituted of a coextruded, self-supporting synthetic thermoplastic integral unit and being adapted to collect and transfer solar energy which comprises
- (a) a first section defining a first region, the first region being adapted to allow the passage of solar radiation, the first region being divided into a plurality of first channels of which adjacent first channels are defined by first common ribs;
- and
- (b) a second section defining a second region juxtaposed from the first region, the second region being capable of absorbing solar radiation and transferring it to a fluid, the second region being divided into a plurality of second channels of which adjacent second channels are defined by second common ribs;
- and
- the first and second regions being defined one from the other by a common divider.
A solar thermal collector system of high efficiency in collection, transfer and circulation of solar thermal energy and high resistance to heat distortion, which system comprises, in combination:
- (1) a panel and (2) a header,
- (1) the panel being unitary and constituted of a coextruded, self-supporting synthetic thermoplastic integral unit and being adapted to collect and transfer solar energy, which panel comprises
- (a) a first section defining a first region, the first region being adapted to allow the passage of solar radiation, the first region being divided into a plurality of first channels of which adjacent first channels are defined by first common ribs;
- and
- (b) a second section defining a second region juxtaposed from the first region, the second region being capable of absorbing solar radiation and transferring it to a fluid, the second region being divided into a plurality of second channels of which adjacent second channels are defined by second common ribs;
- and
- the first and second regions being defined one from the other by a common divider;
- (2) the header defining an interior space, and
- (3) blocking means for causing one end of the first channels of the first region of the panel to be in fluid-blocked relationship with respect to the interior space of the header and adapted to confine the fluid in the first channels of the first region,
- the same end of the second channels of the second region of the panel being in fluid-communicating relationship with the interior space of the header, whereby the header is adapted to admit and circulate the heated fluid from the second channels of the second region into the interior space of the header.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.