Device For Collectting Rainwater And Solar Energy Originating From Visible Radiation

Abstract

Device for collecting rainwater and heat originating from solar radiation to both drain the rainwater and generate sanitary or heating hot water, capable of being fitted at the base of a roof or on the edge of a balcony, comprising an open channel 2 having longitudinal walls and side walls 7, 8 , characterized in that a translucent or transparent covering element 3 is fitted inside the open channel 2 , being maintained by the side walls 7, 8 and defining inside the open channel a watertight sealed chamber 2 b , in that a heat-exchanger device 12 inside which a heat-transfer fluid can circulate is fitted inside said sealed chamber 2 b , and in that the translucent covering element 3 defines, with at least a part of a longitudinal wall of the channel 2 , a flow section for the rainwater.

1 . Device for collecting rainwater and heat originating from solar radiation to both drain the rainwater and generate sanitary or heating hot water, capable of being mounted at the base of a roof or on the edge of a balcony, comprising an open channel ( 2 ) having longitudinal walls and side walls ( 7 ,  8 ), characterized in that a translucent or transparent covering element ( 3 ;  24 ) is fitted inside the open channel ( 2 ), being maintained by the side walls ( 7 ,  8 ) and defining, inside the open channel, a watertight sealed chamber ( 2   b ), in that a heat-exchanger device ( 12 ), inside which a heat-transfer fluid can circulate, is fitted inside said sealed chamber ( 2   b ), and in that the translucent covering element ( 3 ) defines, with at least a part of a longitudinal wall of the channel. ( 2 ), a flow section for the rainwater. 
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the translucent or transparent covering element ( 3 ) comprises a plate defining, with a part of the longitudinal walls, the watertight sealed chamber ( 2   b ). 
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1  or  2 , in which the bottom part of the channel ( 2 ) defines the watertight sealed chamber ( 2   b ). 
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 1  or  2 , also comprising at least one longitudinal bottom wall ( 17 ) positioned in the open channel at a distance from a bottom wall of the channel, said longitudinal bottom wall forming the bottom of the watertight sealed chamber ( 2   b ) and partly delimiting the flow section for the rainwater. 
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 4 , in which the longitudinal bottom wall ( 17 ) extends from one of the internal longitudinal walls of the open channel to the vicinity of the opposite internal longitudinal wall so as to leave a space between said opposite internal wall and the longitudinal bottom wall ( 17 ). 
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the translucent covering element ( 24 ) is of generally tubular form. 
   
   
       7 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an additional trough ( 26 ,  26   b ) positioned inside the open channel ( 2 ) and partly surrounding the translucent covering element, said trough being covered by a reflecting element so as to increase the solar concentration effect inside the translucent covering element. 
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 7 , in which the additional trough ( 26 ) is preferably connected to one of the longitudinal walls of the open channel ( 2 ). 
   
   
       9 . Device according to  claim 6 , in which a plurality of tubular covering elements ( 24 ) are placed side by side. 
   
   
       10 . Device according to  claims 7  and  9  taken together, in which the additional trough has several concave parts ( 26   b ) each surrounding a tubular covering element ( 24 ). 
   
   
       11 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, divided up over its length and having several modules ( 1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c ) joined to one another. 
   
   
       12 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which an insulating plate ( 11 ) is positioned on at least a part of the internal side of the longitudinal walls of the bottom part of the open channel ( 2 ) inside the watertight sealed chamber ( 2   b ). 
   
   
       13 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a reflecting coating is applied to the internal side of a part open to the air ( 2   a ) of the longitudinal wall of the open channel ( 2 ). 
   
   
       14 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which one or several transverse flat plates ( 9 ), on which the bottom side of the covering element ( 3 ) bears, are fitted in the bottom part of the channel ( 2 ) to increase its rigidity. 
   
   
       15 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the material forming the open channel ( 2 ) is different from that of the heat-exchanger device ( 12 ). 
   
   
       16 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the heat-exchanger device ( 12 ) comprises a corrugated metal plate ( 12   a ) on the bottom side of which is welded at least one metal pipe ( 5 ), in which the heat-transfer fluid circulates. 
   
   
       17 . Device according to  claim 16 , in which the metal plate ( 12   a ) is coated with at least one mineral to convert the radiation into electricity. 
   
   
       18 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the watertight sealed chamber ( 2   b ) forms a controlled-atmosphere enclosure.