Solar panel

Abstract

A solar panel that utilizes the sun's rays to heat a liquid to be used for providing heat or hot water includes front and rear parallel but spaced apart clear plastic panels. Each panel has a front surface, a back surface and left and right side edges. The front panel is intended to face the sun and is substantially transparent so that the sun's rays can pass therethrough. The rear panel has a reflective coating thereon wherein rays from the sun that pass through the front panel and through the space between the panels is reflective back toward the space. Located within the space between the panels are a plurality of conduits formed by a plurality of internal walls that extend between the front and rear panels and between the left and right side edges. Within the conduits is a darkened oily liquid that is heated by the incoming rays of the sun and by the rays reflected by the rear panel. In a preferred embodiment, the front and rear panels and the internal walls are extruded as a single unit.

1 . A solar panel of the type that utilizes the sun's rays to heat a liquid to be used for providing heat or hot water comprising:
 a front panel having a front surface, a back surface, a left side edge and a right side edge, said front panel being substantially transparent and being intended to face the sun so that the sun's rays can pass therethrough;   a rear panel having a front surface, a back surface, a left side edge and a right side edge, said rear panel being arranged parallel to but spaced apart from said front panel so as to leave a space in between said front and rear panels, said rear panel having a reflective coating thereon wherein rays from the sun that pass through said front panel and through said space to said reflective coating are reflected back toward said space;   a darkened liquid within said space and means for moving said liquid into and out of said space.   
   
   
       2 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 1  further including a plurality of conduits within said space, said darkened liquid being contained within said conduits. 
   
   
       3 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said conduits are formed by a plurality of internal walls extending between said front and rear panels. 
   
   
       4 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said plurality of internal walls also extend between said left and right side edges of said front and rear panels. 
   
   
       5 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said liquid is comprised of oil. 
   
   
       6 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said oil is a vegetable oil. 
   
   
       7 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said darkened liquid contains carbon black. 
   
   
       8 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said front and rear panels are formed from a clear plastic. 
   
   
       9 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said plastic is a polycarbonate. 
   
   
       10 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said internal walls are formed of plastic. 
   
   
       11 . The solar panel as claimed in  claim 10  front and rear panels and said internal walls are extruded as a single unit.