Mini-channel tube solar collector
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsGerardo C. Diaz, Neeraj Sharma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar collector device is provided. The solar collector device includes an evacuated tube and a mini-channel tube mounted within the evacuated tube, the mini-channel tube comprising a first plurality of ports for inflow of a heat-transfer fluid and a second plurality of ports for outflow of the heat-transfer fluid to a heat exchange system. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 3 millimeters to approximately 200 micrometers. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 200 micrometers to approximately 10 micrometers.
Claims20
A solar collector device comprising:
- an annular mini-channel tube comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the mini-channel tube defines two slits, each slit extends along at least a portion of a length of the mini-channel tube, and the two slits are separated around a circumference of the mini-channel tube such that the two slits separate at least a portion of the first section from at least a portion of the second section;
- wherein each of the first section and the second section comprises a first plurality of ports and a second plurality of ports,
- wherein each of the first section and the second section defines a plurality of mini-channels, and each mini-channel is an opening that extends from a respective one of the first plurality of ports to a respective one of the second plurality of ports, and
- wherein the at least a portion of the first section is thermally isolated from the at least a portion of the second section.
A solar collection system comprising:
- a solar collector comprising a mini-channel tube comprising:
- a first plurality of ports;
- and
- a second plurality of ports;
- wherein:
- an outer surface of the mini-channel tube is substantially cylindrical;
- the mini-channel tube has a substantially annular cross-section;
- the mini-channel tube defines a plurality of slits along the length of the mini-channel tube that divide the mini-channel tube into a plurality of sections;
- at least two of the plurality of sections are thermally isolated from each other;
- and
- each section defines a plurality of openings, each opening extending from a respective one of the first plurality of ports to a respective one of the second plurality of ports;
- a solar energy concentrator configured to direct solar energy onto the solar collector;
- and
- a connector configured for mounting the solar collector to the solar energy concentrator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.