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US 4,537,179 AGranted
Polymer-gel covered solar energy collector and storage unit
OwnerEbtisam S. Wilkins, Michael G. Wilkinsinventors
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Abstract
An aqueous gel comprising water and a cross-linked polyacrylamide provides a transparent, thermally insulating cover for a solar pond. Heat losses from the top of the pond to the atmosphere due to convection currents are minimized as well as losses due to evaporation. Advantage is taken of convection currents to maximize heat extraction efficiency.
Claims5
A solar pond comprising:
- (a) a container deployed to receive solar radiation;
- (b) a transparent heat-absorbing fluid within the container freely flowing therein and heated principally by convection currents induced by solar radiation;
- (c) means for withdrawing heat from the fluid;
- and
- (d) a transparent, cross-linked, aqueous polymer gel covering the fluid in amount and thickness sufficient to decrease substantially heat losses therefrom.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.