High efficiency evacuated solar panel

Abstract

Evacuated solar panel ( 1 ) comprises a frame ( 2 ) carrying spacers ( 3,4 ) crossing one another and one or two transparent walls ( 10, 10 a ) connected to said frame ( 2 ) and defining with said frame ( 2 ) an evacuated closed chamber ( 11 ). The chamber ( 11 ) contains the longitudinal and transverse spacers ( 3,4 ) and an absorber ( 14 ) comprising a plurality of absorbing panels ( 14 a, 14 b ) each connected to a cooling pipe ( 15 ) welded to the frame ( 2 ) at both extremities. The longitudinal spacers ( 3 ) are in contact with the transparent wall ( 10 ) to support it against the ambient pressure, while the transverse spacers ( 4 ) support the longitudinal sides of the frame ( 2 ) against the ambient pressure and are not in contact with the transparent wall ( 10 ), so allowing the absorbers ( 14 a, 14 b ) to cover the whole length of the panel ( 1 ) without interruptions.

1 . High efficiency evacuated solar panel comprising a frame carrying longitudinal and transverse spacers crossing one another and at least a transparent wall connected to said frame and defining with said frame an evacuated closed chamber containing said longitudinal and transverse spacers and an absorber comprising a plurality of absorbing panel each connected to a cooling pipe, said longitudinal spacers having a portion in contact with said transparent wall to support it against the ambient pressure and said transverse spacers are apart of said transparent wall, said absorbing panels extend between said longitudinal spacers, transverse spacers and said transparent wall. Wherein said absorbing panels are supported by said transverse spacers. 
     
     
         2 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said transverse spacers have seats housing the cooling pipes of said absorber. 
     
     
         3 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said seats of said transverse spacers are defined by recesses in said transverse spacers. 
     
     
         4 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said seats also have protruding edges. 
     
     
         5 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said seats have a spacer in loose contact at their bottom to thermally insulate the cooling pipes. 
     
     
         6 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said absorbing panels have a longitudinal length substantially equal to that of the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said absorbing panels of said absorber are housed in a cell having three sides defined by the edge of the frame, while the fourth side is defined by a longitudinal spacer. 
     
     
         8 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the central absorbing panels  14   b  are housed in a cell having two short opposite sides defined by the edge of the frame, while the other two longer sides are defined by two opposite longitudinal spacers. 
     
     
         9 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the chamber of the solar panel is provided with a getter pump to help keeping the vacuum. 
     
     
         10 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said longitudinal and said transversal spacers are connected at their crossings by a connection slidable along the longitudinal spacers. 
     
     
         11 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal spacers have grooves which are cross-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said cross-shaped grooves are designed with at least one chamfered upper corner between a longitudinal and vertical part of the cross-shaped grooves. 
     
     
         13 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the transverse spacers have opposite indented positions. 
     
     
         14 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said opposite indented portions are also defined by protruding portions. 
     
     
         15 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the transverse spacers are inserted in the grooves of the longitudinal spacers and their indented portions house edge portions close to the groove. 
     
     
         16 . Solar panel as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the transverse spacers are welded to the longitudinal sides of the frame and support them against the external ambient pressure.