Apparatus for Conditioning Space Under Solar Collectors and Arrays Thereof

Abstract

An apparatus for conditioning a space under an array of solar collectors has a conditioner for conditioning the space under the array, a condensation surface for condensing water vapor in the space, a drip surface for collecting the condensed water vapor, a radiant barrier for insulating the space under the array from a heat radiating from above the radiant barrier, a wall member for enclosing the space under the array, and a cover member for covering a gap between adjacent solar collectors of the array. The apparatus can be adapted for use with a single solar collector or an array of solar collectors.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an array of solar collectors;   a conditioner for conditioning a space under the array; and   a condensation surface positioned under the array, the conditioner for cooling the condensation surface, the conditioner for moving a water vapor in the space toward the condensation surface, the condensation surface for condensing the water vapor thereon when cooled by the conditioner.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the conditioner comprising:
 a duct positioned under the array, the duct having at least one opening formed therein;   an air-conditioner connected to the duct and positioned adjacent the array; and   a vent positioned in the opening of the duct, the vent being oriented toward the space under the array.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the condensation surface having at least one sloped portion, the sloped portion of the condensation surface for amassing the condensed water vapor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a drip surface, the sloped portion of the condensation surface for amassing the condensed water vapor toward the drip surface.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one wall member for enclosing the water vapor in the space under the array; and   a cover member for covering a gap between adjacent solar collectors of the array.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a radiant barrier for insulating the space under the array from a heat radiating from the array.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a solar collector;   a conditioner positioned adjacent the solar collector for conditioning a space under the solar collector; and   a condensation surface for condensing a water vapor in the space under the solar collector, the conditioner for cooling the condensation surface, the conditioner for moving the water vapor in the space toward the condensation surface.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 at least one wall member for enclosing the water vapor in the space under the solar collector; and   a radiant barrier for insulating the space under the solar collector from a heat radiating from the solar collector.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the solar collector comprising:
 an array of solar collectors, the conditioner for moving the water vapor toward the condensation surface under at least one solar collector of the array.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a cover member for covering a gap between adjacent solar collectors of the array.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a drip surface for collecting condensed water vapor from the condensation surface.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the condensation surface having at least one sloped portion, the sloped portion of the condensation surface for amassing the condensed water vapor toward the drip surface. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the solar collector for powering the conditioner. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a solar collector;   a conditioner positioned adjacent the solar collector;   a condensation surface positioned under the solar collector; and   a drip surface in fluid communication with the condensation surface.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the conditioner comprising:
 a duct positioned under the solar collector, the duct having at least one opening formed therein;   an air-conditioner connected to the duct; and   a vent positioned in the opening of the duct, the vent being oriented toward a space under the solar collector.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the condensation surface having at least one sloped portion, the sloped portion of the condensation surface being in fluid communication with the drip surface. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the sloped portion of the condensation surface for amassing the condensed water vapor toward the drip surface. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the solar collector comprising:
 an array of solar collectors, the duct extending under at least one solar collector of the array.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 at least one wall member extending downward from a solar collector of the array; and   a cover member positioned between adjacent solar collectors of the array.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a radiant barrier positioned between the conditioner and the solar collector.