US2009107489A1PendingUtilityA1

Solar thermal energy collector

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 29, 2007Filed: Jan 7, 2008Published: Apr 30, 2009
Est. expiryOct 29, 2027(~1.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Randy GeeRoland Winston
F24S 10/45F24S 10/25F24S 23/74F24S 10/70Y02E10/44Y02E10/40
55
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A solar thermal energy collector includes a receptacle and a tube. The tube is adapted to fit within the receptacle and defines a first region within the tube and a second region between the tube and an internal surface of the receptacle. A fluid is circulated between the first region and the second region for transferring of the solar thermal energy.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A solar thermal energy collector, comprising:
 a receptacle; and   a tube adapted to fit within the receptacle, the tube defining a first region within an internal surface of the tube and a second region between an external surface of the tube and an internal surface of the receptacle,   wherein a fluid is circulated through the first region and the second region for transferring of the solar thermal energy.   
     
     
         2 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid for transfer of solar thermal energy is mineral oil. 
     
     
         3 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is coupled to a manifold and the manifold is coupled to a pump that circulates the fluid through the manifold, the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         4 . The collector of  claim 3 , wherein the manifold is coupled to the receptacle with a seal. 
     
     
         5 . The collector of  claim 3 , wherein the manifold includes a tube-in-tube configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The collector of  claim 3 , wherein the manifold is coupled to additional tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is an integral part of a manifold. 
     
     
         8 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid circulates first through the first region and then through the second region. 
     
     
         9 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is a dewar, the dewar having an outer wall and an inner wall, the dewar having a vacuum drawn between the outer wall and the inner wall, and wherein the dewar is all glass. 
     
     
         10 . The collector of  claim 9 , wherein the dewar has a thermal absorption coating on an outer surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
         11 . The collector of  claim 10  wherein the coating is aluminum nitride cermets. 
     
     
         12 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein absent a solar tracker component and in combination with an external reflector component, the fluid has a temperature above 280 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid exits the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The collector of  claim 1 , further comprising an external reflector for reflecting sun rays onto the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The solar collector of  claim 13 , wherein the external reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). 
     
     
         15 . A method for collecting solar thermal energy, comprising:
 positioning one or more reflectors external to one or more receptacles, the reflectors being adapted to direct solar thermal energy to the one or more receptacles;   positioning a manifold having one or more tubes adapted to fit within the one or more receptacles, each tube defining a first region within the tube and a second region between the tube and an internal surface of the receptacle; and   circulating a fluid between the first region and the second region for transferring of the solar thermal energy.   
     
     
         16 . The method for collecting solar thermal energy of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is mineral oil. 
     
     
         17 . The method for collecting solar thermal energy of  claim 15 , wherein the receptacle is a dewar, the dewar has an outer wall and an inner wall, the dewar has a vacuum drawn between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the dewar is all glass. 
     
     
         18 . The collector of  claim 17 , wherein the dewar has a thermal absorption coating on an outer surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
         19 . A solar collector for heating a thermal transfer fluid, comprising:
 a dewar having an inner wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the dewar having an outer wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the dewar having a vacuum drawn between the outer wall inner surface and the inner wall outer surface, and the dewar having an absorbing material coating the inner wall outer surface;   a fluid tube disposed inside the dewar, the fluid tube having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a first region; and   a second region disposed in substantially the complete area between the fluid tube outside surface and the dewar inner surface of the inner wall;   wherein the thermal transfer fluid flows through both the first region and the second region.   
     
     
         20 . The solar collector of  claim 19  further comprising an external reflector for reflecting sun rays onto the absorbing material inside the dewar. 
     
     
         21 . The solar collector of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid is mineral oil. 
     
     
         22 . The collector of  claim 19 , further comprising a manifold coupled to the receptacle with a seal. 
     
     
         23 . The collector of  claim 19 , wherein the tube is coupled to a manifold and the manifold is coupled to a pump that circulates the fluid through the manifold and the first region and the second region. 
     
     
         24 . The collector of  claim 19 , wherein the tube is an integral part of a manifold. 
     
     
         25 . The collector of  claim 19 , wherein the manifold is coupled to multiple tubes.

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