Device for converting solar energy into process heat

Abstract

A device for converting solar energy into process heat has a number of heat xchanging pipes traversing a heat exchanger chamber. A first partial stream of gas to be heated is delivered to inlets of the pipes via an upper distribution chamber, and the first partial stream of gas is subsequently collected from outlets of the pipes in a lower distribution chamber. An inlet aperture of the heat exchanger chamber receives sunlight radiation and a second partial stream of gas to be heated, the second partial stream of gas flowing around the heat exchanger pipes. The heat exchanging pipes absorb the solar radiation and heat both the first partial stream flowing through the pipes and the second partial stream flowing around the pipes. The heated second partial stream is collected by a heated gas outlet conduit connected to the heat exchanger chamber. The lower distribution chamber is also connected to the heated gas outlet conduit, to thereby collect the heated first partial stream of gas in the heated gas outlet conduit and form a total stream of heated gas.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.