Modular thermal radiation heating system

Abstract

A thermal heating system, apparatus and method for heating a fluid using thermal radiation, for example, solar thermal radiation. The thermal heating apparatus includes a tank containing a fluid, a plurality of thermal units arranged in a panel and connected to the tank, and a frame supporting the tank and the thermal units. The thermal units may comprise a heat pipe that is receivable within a tube protruding into the tank. The tube may be formed directly with the tank or provided as a separate piece. The thermal units may also include a thermal casing that encapsulates the heat pipe, for example in a vacuum. Providing a thermal heating apparatus as described may allow collection and transfer of thermal energy to a fluid in the tank. The heated fluid may then be circulated for use in other parts of a thermal heating system.

1 . An apparatus for collecting thermal radiation, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a tank having an interior surface defining a volume that contains a fluid, the tank having an aperture therein,    b) a tube having an open end and a closed end, the tube being joined to the tank such that open end registers with the aperture in the tank and the closed end is located within the volume of the tank, and    c) a heat pipe comprising a top end insertable into the open end of the tube such that a portion of the heat pipe is exposed to incident thermal radiation, wherein the incident thermal radiation is transferred from the heat pipe to the fluid in the tank.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is formed integrally with the tank.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is welded to the tank.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a conductive sleeve comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sleeve can slide over the heat pipe when the heat pipe is inserted into the tube such that the inner surface is in contact with an external surface of the heat pipe and, the outer surface is in contact with an internal surface of the tube.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal casing encapsulating the heat pipe such that a vacuum is formed between the thermal casing, the tank, and the tube, wherein the incident thermal radiation travels through the thermal casing, through the vacuum and to the heat pipe.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) a piping system fluidly connected to the tank,    b) a pump connected to the piping system,    c) a pump controller in communication with the pump, wherein the pump controller can turn the pump on to circulate fluid through the tank and the piping system.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a temperature sensor in temperature measuring relation to the fluid within the tank and in communication with the pump controller, wherein a signal from the temperature sensor can turn the pump on.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a boiler connected to the piping system, wherein the boiler is piped in parallel with the tank.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for collecting thermal radiation, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a tank having a volume that contains a fluid,    b) a tube having an open end, the tube being joined to the tank so as to be in heat transfer communication with the fluid in the tank,    c) a heat pipe comprising a top end insertable into the open end of the tube such that a portion of the heat pipe is exposed to incident thermal radiation, wherein the incident thermal radiation is transferred from the heat pipe to the fluid in the tank, and    d) a thermal casing encapsulating the heat pipe such that a vacuum is formed between the thermal casing, the tank, and the tube, wherein the incident thermal radiation travels through the thermal casing, through the vacuum and to the heat pipe.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising 
 a) a frame supporting the tank at an upper portion of the frame and supporting the thermal casing at a lower portion of the frame, and    b) a tilt assembly affixed to the frame, such that the tilt assembly tilts the frame to orientate the apparatus with respect to thermal radiation.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a tilt controller in communication with the tilt assembly to automatically tilt the frame based on a predetermined factor.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a frame supporting the tank at an upper portion of the frame comprising a quick release holder connected to a lower portion of the frame, the quick release holder releasably supporting the thermal casing.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tube has a second end opposite the open end, the second end abutting an exterior surface of the tank.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the tube is part of a tee coupling having a main conduit and a branch protruding from the main conduit at an angle, wherein the branch forms the tube, which extends from the second end to the open end, and wherein the tank has a cylindrical shell such that the main conduit can slide over the shell.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for collecting thermal radiation, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a tank having a volume that contains a fluid,    b) a tube having an open end, and a second end opposite the open end that abuts to the tank, and    c) a heat pipe comprising a top end insertable into the open end of the tube such that a portion of the heat pipe is exposed to incident thermal radiation, wherein the incident thermal radiation is transferred from the heat pipe to the fluid in the tank.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein thermal energy from the incident thermal radiation conducts from the top end of the heat pipe, and through the tank before the thermal energy is transferred to the fluid.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tube is part of a tee coupling having a main conduit and a branch protruding from the main conduit at an angle, wherein the branch forms the tube, which extends from the second end to the open end, and wherein the tank has a cylindrical shell such that the main conduit can slide over the shell.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the tee coupling is soldered to the shell.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a thermal casing encapsulating the heat pipe such that a vacuum is formed between the thermal casing, the tank, and the tube, wherein the incident thermal radiation travels through the thermal casing, through the vacuum and to the heat pipe.