US2009107488A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus and Method for Solar Thermal Energy Collection

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 30, 2007Filed: Oct 30, 2007Published: Apr 30, 2009
Est. expiryOct 30, 2027(~1.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Randy GeeRoland Winston
F24S 10/90F24S 10/45F24S 23/80Y02E10/44
55
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting solar energy includes a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy, an insert adapted for counter-flow located within the receptacle, and an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus for collecting solar energy, comprising:
 a receptacle adapted for receiving solar thermal energy;   an insert adapted for counter-flow located within the receptacle; and   an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle and thermally coupled to the insert.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has a vacuum drawn interior that is sealed with a glass to metal seal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-imaging optic reflector located external to the receptacle and adapted to direct solar thermal energy to the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a substantial portion of one side of the insert is adjacent the absorption device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the insert enters the receptacle substantially at a cross-sectional center of the receptacle and, further inside the receptacle, the insert shifts to become closer to the absorption device and closer to a non-imaging optical reflector. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper and aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption device is a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper and aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a manifold adapted for circulating a fluid and coupled to the receptacle; and   a pump utilized for the circulating.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the manifold is coupled to multiple receptacles. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption device is coated with a coating. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the coating is aluminum nitride. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorption device has a corrugated shape. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a counter-flow tube. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the counter flow tube is disposed inside the receptacle and is adapted to flow a thermal transfer fluid therein. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the counter-flow tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube and wherein the thermal transfer fluid flows between the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal connecting the receptacle to the insert. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the seal is a metallic disk, and wherein the insert extends through a center of the metallic disk. 
     
     
         19 . A method for collecting solar thermal energy, comprising:
 positioning a reflector exterior to a receptacle, the receptacle containing an absorption device positioned proximate to and substantially conforming to at least a portion of an internal surface of the receptacle, wherein the reflector is adapted to direct sunlight onto the absorption device;   positioning an insert inside the receptacle, the insert being coupled to the absorption device, and the insert being adapted for counter-flow; and   circulating a fluid within the insert.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a manifold is adapted to circulate the fluid, the receptacle being coupled to the manifold. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the counter flow insert is an element of the manifold. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the manifold is coupled to multiple receptacles. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the absorption device is coated with a coating of aluminum nitride. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the insert and the absorption device are formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper and aluminum.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2009107488A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.