Solar energy collector for hot water

Abstract

A solar energy concentrating collector having a frame with bottom, end and side panels of corrugated material adapted to include secondary side panels that are folded inward and have vertical slots for containment of parabolic supports for a flexible reflective surface placed on top of the supports.. Frame end panels have apertures located on the parabolic focal line for connection of fluid conduits outside the frame. For arrangement in solar collector arrays, conduit apertures in end-to-end mounted collectors are aligned to receive a common absorber pipe that extends through and beyond a plurality of collector frames for external connections to conduits in the next adjacent parabolic reflective surface parallel to the first reflective surface in the same frame. Supports for the reflective surface have parabolic cutouts in the top portion and are processed as multiple side by side components in a corrugating machine. The preferred material is corrugated paperboard.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY [0001] Presently, most solar collectors for hot water heating in residential and industrial applications include rigid frames (usually metal) with a conductive absorber plate having attached fluid conduits or a double plate absorber having internal fluid passages, plus glazing, gaskets, etc. to enclose the absorber within the frame. [0002] Flat plate collectors have the inherent ability to absorb indireect solar rays, for example during partially cloudy weather or days with thin cirrus type clouds, and are usually installed in arrays on rooftops with fixed slopes, or on framework with fixed slopes mounted on flat roofs of commercial buildings and factories. When arrays are mounted at ground level, fixed slopes are used. [0003] For low temperature fluid heating, parabolic concentrating collectors are not preferred since they require direct sunlight and changes in the mountng angle to keep solar rays focused on the fluid absorber pipe due to seasonal changes in ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] For higher solar insolation, frames to adjust for angular orientation and its beneficial effect on the amount of solar heat collected are well known, but present practice avoids adjustable framework for flat plate or concentrating designs at the expense of higher system efficiency.

[0009] The instant collector relies on the same operating principles as '037 and is an improvement thereof by defining a fabricated blank that folds into a collector panel having integral inside walls with vertical slots that locate and retain the parabolic supports and thus eliminates the separately molded frames and the additional components required by '037.

Problems solved by technology

For higher solar insolation, frames to adjust for angular orientation and its beneficial effect on the amount of solar heat collected are well known, but present practice avoids adjustable framework for flat plate or concentrating designs at the expense of higher system efficiency.

Prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,037 describes use of corrugated material for reflector surface supports but fails to anticipate use and folding of extended side panels to provide positioning and retention means for the supports.

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