Portable Solar Heating Apparatus

Abstract

A solar powered portable water heating apparatus using extra low voltage (ELV) components including a recirculating pump that is controlled by a control system to recirculate a contained body of water past a heating element. Over a period of time, the temperature of the water in the contained body of water is increased. The apparatus stops when either there is insufficient electrical power generated by the solar panel(s), or the temperature of the water is sensed to have reached a set temperature.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A portable solar heating apparatus for heating a contained body of water, the apparatus including:
 at least one temperature sensor, and   a heating element, and   a control system, and   a pump, and   a transient water tank, and   at least one solar panel,   
       wherein the operation of the pump is controlled by the control system, and the control system is fed data from the at least one temperature sensor, which is adapted to sense the temperature of the water in the body of water, and the heating element is located within the transient water tank, so that while the system is in operation, the pump is adapted to draw a portion of water from the body of water and discharge it into the transient water tank, whereat the water occupies the transient water tank for a period of time and acquires thermal energy via the action of the heating element, then flows from the transient holding tank back into the body of water, whereat the inflow of heated water adds its thermal energy to the body of water, thereby raising the temperature of the body of water, and wherein the control system continues to recirculate the water through the transient holding tank until the apparatus either runs out of sufficient electrical power to operate, or the temperature of the water in the body of water is sensed, by the temperature sensor, to have risen to the temperature set by an operator of the apparatus, and wherein the at least one solar panel provides 100% of the electrical energy required to drive the pump, heating element, control system and its associated sensors. 
     
     
         2 . A portable solar heating apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one solar panel is fitted with sensors that are used to measure the ambient conditions at the panel, such as light intensity and ambient temperature, and the sensors feed the data they collect back to the control system. 
     
     
         3 . A portable solar heating apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein the solar panel has adjustable resistance means that are controlled by the control system, and the control system analyses the data it receives from the solar panel sensors to continuously adjust the resistance applied to the solar panel, via the adjustable resistance means, to keep the solar panel operating at peak electrical efficiency for the current prevailing environmental conditions. 
     
     
         4 . A portable solar heating apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus utilises extra low voltage components to minimise the risk of electrical shock and to minimise the need for statutory electrical safety certification. 
     
     
         5 . A portable solar heating apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is able to be dis-assembled and packed away for storage and portability when not in use. 
     
     
         6 . A portable solar heating apparatus as defined in  claim 5  wherein the transient water tank also acts as a protective housing, even when the portable heating apparatus is dis-assembled, so that the heating element and the sensors housed within it are protected, and also prevents a user from directly making accidental contact with the heating elements.