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US 4,392,482 AGranted
Solar heating panel arrangement
OwnerMoo K. Changinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar heating panel arrangement and method wherein a plurality of spherical lenses transmit and focus solar radiation onto the upper surface of a fluid passage for various relative positions of the sun. The upper surface of the passage is in heat transfer proximity to the fluid therein, causing solar radiation focused thereon to be transferred to the fluid in the form of heat. Solar radiation not directly incident on the lenses may be reflected onto them to increase the amount of solar energy available for transfer to the fluid. A supplementary insulating flow of fluid may also be provided above the passage to absorb heat passing upwardly therefrom and retain the heat within the system.
Claims24
A solar heating panel arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of spherical lenses for transmitting and focusing incident solar radiation;
- fluid passage means having upper and lower boundary portions defining a series of relatively thin hemispherical fluid passages concentric with said lenses, respectively, said upper boundary portions being in heat transfer proximity to fluid flowing through the passages and having upper surfaces which include the focal points of the lenses for incident solar radiation of various directions;
- and
- means for reflecting solar radiation onto the lenses for transmission to the upper boundary portions, said reflecting means including a plurality of multifaceted reflective structures each comprising three planar reflective portions arranged vertically about a portion of one of the lenses;
- such that solar radiation is focused at a plurality of locations on each of said upper boundary portions to heat said fluid, one of said locations representing radiation directly incident on the corresponding lens and the other location or locations representing radiation reflected onto the lens by said reflecting means.
2 more elements
A solar heating panel arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of spherical lenses for transmitting and focusing incident solar radiation;
- fluid passage means having upper and lower boundary portions defining a series of relatively thin hemispherical fluid passages concentric with said lenses, respectively, and establishing an air space between each of the lenses and the respective upper boundary portion, said upper boundary portions being in heat transfer proximity to fluid flowing through the passages and having upper surfaces which include the focal points of the lenses for incident solar radiation of various directions;
- means for reflecting solar radiation onto the lenses for transmission to the upper boundary portions;
- and
- means for producing a thermally insulating flow of said fluid past the passage means, the insulating flow means being upstream of the passage means and including a series of substantially planar annular fluid conduits positioned horizontally over the passage means and the air spaces at locations substantially about the lenses;
- such that solar radiation is focused at a plurality of locations on each of the upper boundary portions to heat the fluid, one of said locations representing radiation directly incident on the corresponding lens and the other location or locations representing radiation reflected onto the lens by the reflecting means, and heat escaping from the passage means is absorbed by the fluid and carried thereby into the passage means.
3 more elements
A solar heating panel arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of spherical lenses for transmitting and focusing solar radiation;
- fluid passage means having a plurality of upper and lower boundary portions defining a series of relatively thin hemispherical fluid passages concentric with said lenses, respectively, and establishing an air space between each of the lenses and the respective upper boundary portion, said upper boundary portions being in heat transfer proximity to fluid flowing through the passages and having upper surfaces which include the focal points of the lenses for incident solar radiation of various directions;
- such that solar radiation incident on the lenses is focused on the upper surfaces to heat the fluid within the passage means;
- and
- means for producing a thermally insulating flow of the fluid past the passage means, the insulating flow means being upstream of the passage means and including a series of substantially planar annular fluid conduits positioned horizontally over the passage means and the air spaces at locations substantially about the lenses, to cause heat escaping from the passage means to be absorbed by the fluid and carried thereby into the passage means.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.