Solar collector and building including a solar collector roof

Abstract

A self-contained structural assembly wherein the roof is exclusively formed by a flat plate type, solar thermal panel (STP) designed to heat water, having a transparent glazing. The STP is designed with lateral riser tubes as the flow path of the heat transfer fluid. The STP includes header tubes that are configured to protrude out the back of the STP. A shed having at least four walls that form the frame upon which the STP rests.

1 . A building comprising:
 (a) a plurality of walls forming an inside area;   (b) a roof over the inside area supported by the plurality of walls, wherein the roof comprises:
 (1) a solar collector, the solar collector comprising:
 (i) a back plate; 
 (ii) an insulative layer; 
 (iii) a sunlight absorber provided for absorbing solar radiation and transferring heat; 
 (iv) a glazing material that allows for transmission of sunlight therethrough; 
 (v) a heat transfer structure provided in a thermally conductive contact with the sunlight absorber, the heat transfer structure is positioned between the insulative layer
 and the glazing material, wherein the heat transfer structure comprises a first header tube, a second header tube, and a plurality of riser tubes extending between the first header tube and the second header tube, and the heat transfer structure is constructed for transporting a heat exchange medium therethrough; and 
 
 (vi) a frame structure for holding the solar collector together; 
 
 (2) the solar collector is arranged at an angle so that one of the first header tube or the second header tube is provided above the other of the first header tube or the second header tube; and 
 (3) the solar collector comprises a heat exchange medium inlet and a heat exchange medium outlet, and the heat exchange medium inlet and the heat exchange medium outlet extend through the back plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the sunlight absorber is provided above the back plate. 
     
     
         3 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the building further comprises a mounting base structure configured to support the plurality of walls of the building 
     
     
         4 . The building according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous medium flows through the heat transfer structure by entering an inlet of the first header tube and exiting an outlet of the second header tube. 
     
     
         5 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar collector functions as the roof without underlying roofing structure. 
     
     
         6 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the first header tube and the second header tube are each about 8 feet to 12 feet long. 
     
     
         7 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the glazing material comprises a glass material or a polymeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulative layer is provided between the heat transfer structure and the back plate. 
     
     
         9 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulative layer comprises a foam material or a vacuum panel. 
     
     
         10 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the back plate comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The building according to  claim 10 , wherein the polymeric material is formed into a shallow tray providing frame walls to support the glazing material and a bottom of the shallow tray forming the back plate by thermoforming. 
     
     
         12 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls are constructed from wood, plastic or metal. 
     
     
         13 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is constructed with a polymeric material for providing a greenhouse. 
     
     
         14 . The building according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermally regulated vent operated by a trapped fluid piston or a bimetal actuator for providing ventilation when a temperature in the solar collector is in excess of about 220°. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the building is a shed. 
     
     
         18 . The building according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sides comprises at least four walls. 
     
     
         19 . A solar collector comprising:
 (a) a frame construction comprising:
 (i) a back plate; 
 (ii) a glazing material; and 
 (iii) a frame structure; 
   and the frame construction forming an interior region;   (b) an insulative layer provided within the interior region;   (c) a sunlight absorber provided for absorbing solar radiation and transferring heat, the sunlight absorber provided within the interior region;   (d) a heat transfer structure provided a thermally conductive contact with the sunlight absorber, the heat transfer structure is positioned between the insulative layer
 and the glazing material, wherein the heat transfer structure comprises a first header tube, a second header tube, and a plurality of riser tubes extending between the first header tube and the second header tube, and the heat transfer structure is constructed for transporting a heat exchange medium therethrough, and the heat transfer structure provided within the interior region; and 
   (e) the solar collector comprises a heat exchange medium inlet and a heat exchange medium outlet, and the heat exchange medium inlet and the heat exchange medium outlet extend through the back plate;   (f) an actuator vent constructed to provide venting of the interior region when a temperature in the interior region is in excess of about 220° F.   
     
     
         20 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the solar collector is arranged at an angle so that one of the first header tube or the second header tube is provided above the other of the first header tube or the second header tube. 
     
     
         21 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchange medium is an aqueous medium and the aqueous medium flows through the heat transfer structure by entering an inlet of the first header tube and exiting an outlet of the second header tube. 
     
     
         22 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the solar collector functions as a roof without underlying roofing structure. 
     
     
         23 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the first header tube and the second header tube are each about 5 feet to 12 feet long. 
     
     
         24 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the glazing material comprises a glass material or a polymeric material. 
     
     
         25 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the insulative layer is provided between the heat transfer structure and the back plate. 
     
     
         26 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the insulative layer comprises a foam material or vacuum panel. 
     
     
         27 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the back plate comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         28 . The solar collector according to  claim 27 , wherein the polymeric material is formed into a shallow tray providing frame walls having a lip to support the glazing material and a bottom of the shallow tray forming the back plate by thermoforming. 
     
     
         29 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , further comprising a thermally regulated vent operated by a trapped fluid piston or a bimetal actuator for providing ventilation to the solar collector. 
     
     
         30 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , further comprising an elbow located on the first header tube and the second header tube for providing fluid flow out the back plate of the solar collector. 
     
     
         31 . The solar collector according to  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of riser tubes are about 3 feet to 6 feet long. 
     
     
         32 . A solar collector kit comprising:
 (a) first construction materials for forming a base for a building comprising: lumber sized to form the base and brackets for squaring sides of the base;   (b) second construction materials for forming walls for a building comprising: lumber sized to form the walls;   (c) a solar collector, wherein the solar collector comprises:
 (i) a back plate; 
 (ii) an insulative layer; 
 (iii) a sunlight absorber provided for absorbing solar radiation and transferring heat; 
 (iv) a glazing material that allows for transmission of sunlight therethrough; 
 (v) a heat transfer structure provided in a thermally conductive contact with the sunlight absorber; and 
 (vi) a frame structure for holding the solar collector roof together; 
   (d) wherein the solar collector is constructed to form a roof for a building comprising the base formed from the first construction materials and the walls formed from the second construction materials.