Solar energy collector having hollow microspheres

A solar energy collector comprising an outer transparent cover and an inner cover, and having disposed therebetween a black coated heat absorber and at least one heat exchange medium tube, wherein said outer cover consists of a transparent sheet or panel comprising a mass of hollow glass microspheres cemented together by fusion or sintering or bonded together with an organic or inorganic bonding agent or adhesive, said microspheres being filamented microspheres of substantially uniform diameter of 500 to 6000 microns and of substantially uniform wall thickness of 0.5 to 400 microns, wherein said microspheres are connected to each other by filament portions which are continuous with the microspheres and are of the same inorganic film forming material from which the microspheres are made, and said microspheres are free of latent solid or liquid blowing gas materials or gases, and the walls of said microspheres are substantially free of holes, relatively thinned wall portions or sections and bubbles.

A solar energy collector comprising an outer transparent cover and an inner cover, and having disposed therebetween a black coated heat absorber and at least one heat exchange medium tube, wherein there is disposed between said outer cover and said black coated heat absorber a first mass of hollow glass microspheres, and there is disposed between said black coated heat absorber tubes and said inner cover a second mass of hollow glass microspheres, said first and second masses of hollow glass microspheres being of substantially uniform diameter of 500 to 6,000 microns and of substantially uniform wall thickness of 0.5 to 400 microns, wherein said microspheres are free of latent solid or liquid blowing gas materials or gases and the walls of said microspheres are substantially free of holes, relatively thinned wall portions or sections, sealing tips and bubbles.

A solar energy collector comprising an outer transparent cover and an inner cover and having disposed therebetween a black coated heat absorber and at least one heat exchange medium tube wherein there is disposed between said outer cover and said black coated heat absorber a first mass of hollow glass microspheres, and there is disposed between said black coated heat absorber tubes and said inner cover a second mass of hollow glass microspheres said first and second masses of hollow glass microspheres being filamented microspheres of substantially uniform diameter of 500 to 6000 microns and of substantially uniform wall thickness of 0.5 to 400 microns, wherein said microspheres are connected to each other by filament portions which are continuous with the microspheres and are of the same inorganic film forming material from which the microspheres are made, and said microspheres are free of latent solid or liquid blowing gas materials or gases, and the walls of said microspheres are substantially free of holes, relatively thinned wall portions or sections and bubbles.

A solar energy collector comprising an outer transparent cover and an inner cover, and having disposed therebetween a black coated heat absorber and at least one heat exchange medium tube, wherein said outer cover consists of a transparent sheet or panel comprising a mass of hollow glass microspheres cemented together by fusion or sintering or bonded together with an organic or inorganic bonding agent or adhesive, said microspheres being filamented microspheres having a diameter of 500 to 6,000 microns and having a wall thickness of 0.5 to 400 microns, wherein said microspheres are connected to each other by filament portions which are continuous with the microspheres and are of the same inorganic film forming material from which the microspheres are made.

A solar energy collector comprising an outer transparent cover and an inner cover and having disposed therebetween a black coated heat absorber and at least one heat exchange medium tube wherein there is disposed between said outer cover and said black coated heat absorber a first mass of hollow glass microspheres, and there is disposed between said black coated heat absorber tubes and said inner cover a second mass of hollow glass microspheres said first and second masses of hollow glass microspheres being filamented microspheres having a diameter of 500 to 6,000 microns and having a wall thickness of 0.5 to 400 microns, wherein said microspheres are connected to each other by filament portions which are continuous with the microspheres and are of the same inorganic film forming material from which the microspheres are made.