US2009139515A1PendingUtilityA1

Solar thermal energy collector

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Dec 3, 2007Filed: Dec 3, 2007Published: Jun 4, 2009
Est. expiryDec 3, 2027(~1.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Randy GeeRoland Winston
F24S 10/45F24S 10/25F24S 23/80Y02E10/44
55
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A solar thermal energy collector includes a receptacle and a tube positioned within the receptacle and having a closed end. The tube includes a divider cross-sectionally bifurcating the tube. The divider is spaced apart from the closed end of the tube to allow fluid communication between two bifurcated portions of the tube. A fluid is circulated through the two bifurcated portions of the tube 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 positioned within the receptacle and having a closed end, the tube including a divider cross-sectionally bifurcating the tube, the divider being spaced apart from the closed end of the tube to allow fluid communication between two bifurcated portions of the tube,   wherein a fluid is circulated through the two bifurcated portions of the tube 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 fluid for transfer of solar thermal energy is an antifreeze solution. 
   
   
       4 . 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 and the two bifurcated portions. 
   
   
       5 . The collector of  claim 4 , wherein the manifold is coupled to additional tubes. 
   
   
       6 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the divider is a plate which cross-sectionally divides the tube into the two bifurcated portions. 
   
   
       7 . The collector of  claim 6 , wherein the tube has a circular cross section and the divider forms two bifurcated portions with semi-circular cross sections. 
   
   
       8 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is an integral part of a manifold. 
   
   
       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 a region between an outer surface of the tube and the inner wall of the dewar is filled with a second fluid to facilitate heat transfer. 
   
   
       11 . The collector of  claim 9 , wherein the second fluid is mineral oil. 
   
   
       12 . The collector of  claim 9 , wherein the dewar has a thermal absorption coating on an outer surface of the inner wall. 
   
   
       13 . The collector of  claim 12  wherein the coating is aluminum nitride cermets. 
   
   
       14 . 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. 
   
   
       15 . The collector of  claim 1 , further comprising an external reflector for reflecting sun rays onto the receptacle. 
   
   
       16 . The collector of  claim 15 , wherein the external reflector is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). 
   
   
       17 . 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 having a closed end and having a divider cross-sectionally bifurcating the tube, the divider being spaced apart from the closed end of the tube to allow fluid communication between two bifurcated portions of the tube; and   circulating a fluid through the two bifurcated portions of the tube for transferring of the solar thermal energy.   
   
   
       18 . The method for collecting solar thermal energy of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is mineral oil. 
   
   
       19 . The method for collecting solar thermal energy of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is an antifreeze solution. 
   
   
       20 . The method for collecting solar thermal energy of  claim 17 , wherein the divider is a plate which cross-sectionally divides the tube into two bifurcated portions. 
   
   
       21 . The method for collecting solar thermal energy of  claim 17 , 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. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a region between an outer surface of the tube and the inner wall of the dewar is filled with a second fluid to facilitate heat transfer. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the dewar has a thermal absorption coating on an outer surface of the inner wall.

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