Fluid heating system

Abstract

This invention relates to a fluid heating system, wherein the fluid is capable of being heated by means of solar energy, the fluid heating system including: an outer housing; an inner housing contained within the outer housing and including an absorbent material core located within the inner housing to define a flow passage between it and the walls of the inner housing; the absorbent material core being suitable for absorbing solar energy transmitted through the outer and inner housings; and wherein the outer housing; inner housing; and the absorbent material core are arranged such that solar energy is transferred through the fluid in the flow passage before being absorbed by the absorbent material core.

1 . A fluid heating system, wherein the fluid is capable of being heated by means of solar energy, the fluid heating system including:
 an outer housing;   an inner housing contained within the outer housing and including a semi rigid absorbent material core located within the inner housing to define a flow passage between said absorbent material core and the walls of the inner housing;   the absorbent material core being suitable for absorbing solar energy transmitted through the outer and inner housings; and   wherein the outer housing; inner housing; and the absorbent material core are arranged such that solar energy is transferred through the fluid in the flow passage before being absorbed by the absorbent material core.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is potable water. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing includes a reflective surface for collecting and focusing solar energy onto the absorbent material core. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the reflective surface is in the form of a tin foil shield. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating system includes an actuating means for facilitating thermostatic control of the heating system. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 6 , wherein the actuating means includes a rotating means for rotating the outer housing from a first position wherein the reflective surface is exposed to solar energy to a second position wherein the reflective surface conceals the absorber material core from solar radiation. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material core is a black, hollow, cylindrical core. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material core is a black, plastic, hollow, cylindrical core. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 9 , wherein the absorbent material core is in the form of rubber crumb. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing includes a transparent plastic tubular body having an inlet at one end thereof and an outlet at an opposite end of the outer housing. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 11 , wherein the transparent plastic tubular body of the outer housing is constructed from a plurality of polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottles. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 11 , wherein the transparent plastic tubular body of the outer housing is constructed from a plurality of polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottles, wherein each said polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottle includes a neck portion, a body portion and a base portion and wherein the neck and base portions of each said polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottle have been removed leaving only the body portion. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing includes an inlet and an outlet, the inner housing includes a transparent plastic body having an inlet and outlet, the plastic body being adapted to be contained within the outer housing such that the inlet and outlet of the inner housing are located within the inlet and outlet of the outer housing. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 14 , wherein the transparent plastic body of the inner housing is constructed from a plurality of polyethylene terephthalate 500 ml bottles. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 15 , wherein the polyethylene terephthalate 500 ml bottles are arranged to form a solar energy absorber array. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 13 , wherein the body portions of the plurality of polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottles are arranged end-to-end to form the tubular body of the outer housing. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 17 , wherein one polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottle from which only the base portion has been removed and one polyethylene terephthalate 2 liter bottle from which only the neck portion has been removed, are positioned at opposite ends of the tubular body of the outer housing to provide the inlet and outlet, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of polyethylene terephthalate 500 ml bottles are arranged bottleneck-to-end to form the inner housing. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 19 , wherein the bottleneck-to-end arrangement of the polyethylene terephthalate 500 ml bottles allows for fluid communication through the inner housing. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating system includes a plurality of outer housings. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of outer housings is supported on a frame. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein a water reservoir is mounted above the frame. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 23 , wherein the water reservoir includes a cold water supply inlet located at a bottom end of the water reservoir in fluid communication with a hot water delivery outlet located at a top end of the water reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 24 , wherein the water reservoir includes a main delivery water pipe connected at one end to the cold water supply inlet and to a first series of manifolds at its other end. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 25 , wherein the first series of manifolds are connected to the inlets of at least one of the inner and outer housings and a second series of manifolds are connected to the outlets of at least one of the inner and outer housings. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 26 , wherein the second series of manifolds are connected to a further water pipe that supplies water flowing through the flow passages of the inner housings to the water reservoir. 
     
     
         28 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 24 , wherein the water reservoir is covered with an insulating material to prevent heat escaping from the water reservoir so as to maintain high water temperatures for a prolonged period of time. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating system is controlled so as to heat the fluid to a maximum temperature in the range of 50-70° C.