Portable system for heating water with solar energy

Abstract

A portable solar energy water heating system is provided. The system can include an inflow line having an inlet, at least a portion of the inflow line positionable in a body of water. The system can also include an outflow line having an outlet, at least a portion of the outflow line positionable in the body of water. The system can also include a conduit portion housed in a container housing and a magnifying glass or lens positioned over the conduit portion and configured to direct solar energy onto the conduit portion for heating water flowing therethrough between the inlet and the outlet, thereby providing heated water to the body of water. Optionally, the container portion can be at least partially filled with a substance that retains heat, such that the conduit portion is at least partially submerged in the substance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable solar energy water heating system, comprising:
 an inflow line having an inlet, at least a portion of the inflow line positionable in a body of water;   an outflow line having an outlet, at least a portion of the outflow line positionable in the body of water;   a container housing;   a conduit portion enclosed in the container housing; and   a magnifying glass positioned on a top portion of the container housing and over the conduit portion and configured to direct solar energy onto the conduit portion for heating water flowing therethrough between the inlet and the outlet, thereby providing heated water to the body of water.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump that pumps water through the conduit portion. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pump is disposed in the container housing and is operated with solar energy collected by a solar collector. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a controller configured to control the operation of the pump to control the flow rate of water through the conduit portion, to thereby at least partially control a temperature of the heated water provided to the body of water. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the heated water provided to the body of water, the controller configured to control the operation of the pump based at least in part on the sensed temperature information to control an amount of heat provided to the water flowing through the conduit portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit portion is a coiled metal tube. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container housing defines a chamber filled with a substance in which the conduit portion is at least partially immersed. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the substance is configured to retain heat and is chosen from the group consisting of oil, water and silicon. 
     
     
         9 . A portable solar energy water heating system, comprising:
 a container housing defining a chamber;   a coiled conduit portion disposed in the chamber;   a substance disposed in the chamber such that the coiled conduit portion is at least partially submerged in the substance, the substance configured to retain heat; and   a magnifying glass or lens positioned on a top portion of the container housing and over the conduit portion and configured to direct solar energy toward the conduit portion for heating one or both of the substance and water flowing through the conduit.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising an inflow line coupleable to the coiled conduit portion and having an inlet, at least a portion of the inflow line positionable in a body of water, and an outflow line coupleable to the coiled conduit portion and having an outlet, at least a portion of the outflow line positionable in the body of water. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a pump that pumps water through the coiled conduit portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pump is disposed in the container housing and is operated with solar energy collected by a solar collector. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller configured to control the operation of the pump to control the flow rate of water through the coiled conduit portion, to thereby at least partially control a temperature of the heated water provided by the system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the heated water provided by the system, the controller configured to control the operation of the pump based at least in part on the sensed temperature information to control an amount of heat provided to the water flowing through the conduit portion. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the substance configured to retain heat is chosen from the group consisting of oil, water and silicon.