Solar collectors with solar panels having a particulate ferro-alloy surface
AssigneeOccidental Research Corporation
InventorJames P. McKaveney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The efficiency of a solar collector is increased by the use of a solar panel having an adherent coating of a comminuted ferro-alloy. The ferro-alloy displays a high degree of absorption of solar energy in the visible range and a minimal of infrared radiation.
Claims27
In a solar collector which includes a housing adapted to passage of a fluid therethrough and at least one solar panel for absorbing solar energy and transfer of such solar energy in the form of heat to a fluid passing through the housing, said solar panel being formed of a thermally conductive metal substrate and a solar energy receptive layer for exposure to solar energy, the improvement which comprises providing, as the solar energy receptive layer, a layer adherent to the thermally conductive metal substrate which layer contains at least one particulate, brittle ferro-alloy of high absorptivity and low infrared emissivity, the brittle ferro-alloy comprising, based on the total weight of the ferro-alloy,
- (i) a first alloyed constituent of from about 5 to about 95% by weight iron and
- (ii) a second alloyed constituent of at least about 5% by weight of an element selected from the group consisting of manganese, carbon, calcium, chromium, phosphorus, and silicon.
In a solar collector which includes a housing adapted to passage of a fluid therethrough and at least one solar panel for absorbing solar energy and transfer of such solar energy in the form of heat to a fluid passing through the housing, said solar panel being formed of a thermally conductive metal substrate and a solar energy receptive layer for exposure to solar energy, the improvement which comprises providing, as the solar energy receptive layer, a layer adherent to the thermally conductive metal which layer contains:
- (a) at least about 50% by weight, based on the weight of the layer, of at least one particulate brittle ferro-alloy of high absorptivity and low infrared emissivity, the brittle ferro-alloy comprising, based on the weight of the ferro-alloy,
- (i) a first alloyed constituent of from about 5 to about 95% by weight iron;
- and
- (ii) a second alloyed constituent of at least about 5% by weight of an element selected from the group consisting of manganese, carbon, calcium, chromium, phosphorus, and silicon;
- and
- (b) a binder for binding together the particulate ferro-alloy and adhering the ferro-alloy to the surface of the thermally conductive metal substrate.
In a solar collector which includes a housing adapted to passage of a fluid therethrough and at least one solar panel for absorbing solar energy and transfer of such solar energy in the form of heat to a fluid passing through the housing, said solar panel being formed of a thermally conductive metal substrate and a solar energy receptive layer for exposure to solar energy, the improvement which comprises providing as the solar energy receptive layer a layer adherent to the thermally conductive metal substrate which layer contains:
- (a) about 50 to about 97% by weight, based on the weight of the layer, of at least one particulate, brittle ferro-alloy of high absorptivity and low infrared emissivity, the ferro-alloy having an average particle size of less than about 10 microns and comprising, based on the total weight of the ferro-alloy,
- (i) a first alloyed constituent of about 70% by weight iron;
- (ii) a second alloyed constituent of about 25% by weight phosphorus;
- (iii) a third alloyed constituent of about 2% by weight silicon;
- and
- (iv) a fourth alloyed constituent of about 2% by weight manganese;
- and
- (b) an organic epoxy resin binder for binding together the particulate ferro-alloy and adhering the ferro-alloy to the surface of the thermally conductive metal substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.