Earth based solar collector

Abstract

This invention relates to the collection of sunlight for heat which is used for heating and for the conversion of heat to electricity. Where a large area of land is prepared then covered with a solar collecting film of plastic or glass. The air or water under the film being heated is then circulated around the inside of the collector over a heat exchanger. The solar collector is insulated from the ground it is constructed on and uses stone or water to retain the heat. The retained heat can extended the working time of the collector beyond the time when the sun sets. This heat exchanger carries a working fluid such as Freon that is used to perform work such as spinning an electric generator.

1 . A solar collector comprising:
 a transparent film,   an air gap,   heated air or water   a solar selective coating,   a heat retaining thermal mass,   a layer of insulation,   an insulating wall,   a heat exchanger,   a refrigerant,   a fan,   an Organic Rankine system.   
   
   
       2 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said collector comprises a multiplicity of transparent film layers. 
   
   
       3 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said transparent film layer has an infrared retention coating. 
   
   
       4 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said transparent film layer or layers are fabricated to retain infrared radiation. 
   
   
       5 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said transparent film layer or layers are plastic. 
   
   
       6 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said transparent film layer or layers are glass. 
   
   
       7 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said selective coating absorbs the solar spectrum. 
   
   
       8 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said thermal mass consists of stone or stone like material. 
   
   
       9 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said thermal mass is water. 
   
   
       10 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said thermal mass is placed above an insulating layer retaining the heat in the collector. 
   
   
       11 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said side wall is an insulating material retaining the collected heat in the collector. 
   
   
       12 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger extracts heat from the said heated air within the collector. 
   
   
       13 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said refrigerant transfers the heat energy from the collector. 
   
   
       14 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said refrigerant is a fluid like Freon or other organic fluid used in said Organic Rankine Cycle system. 
   
   
       15 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said fan is used to move the heated air around the inside of the collector over the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       16 . The solar collector of  claim 1  wherein said pump moves the heated water around the inside of the collector over the heat exchanger.