Solar energy collector and method of making same

Abstract

Method and device manufactured thereby for economically making solar collectors and concentrators by employing a technique of applying high-efficiency, energy absorptive coatings. The technique is spraying less-than-ultra-pure nickel or chromium, in a molten state, onto a heated surface of a glass absorber substrate so that a thin metallic layer fuses thereon. After spraying, the metallic layer is chemically blackened. An outer glass insulator jacket is hermetically sealed, using a glass-to-glass junction, over the inner glass absorber substrate to provide an insulating space. The spraying technique employed is more economical than by applying the metallic coating by conventional vapor deposition and sputtering techniques which require expensive equipment and ultra-pure metals. Absorption efficiency exceeding 95% with infrared emissions below 0.09% has been achieved. Borosilicate glass is preferred, but other transparent substances can also be used. The technique is employed with both tubular and flat plate type solar collectors and/or concentrators. A getter design and a self-circulation heat-exchange fluid system also are disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.