Coaxial tube solar heater with nighttime cooling and cut-off valve

Abstract

A solar heating system comprising: at least one collector array panel adapted for being located on a sloping roof of a building, the collector array panel including at least one thermosyphon heating tube; a liquid source adapted for supplying liquid to said heating tube of said collector array panel; and a cut-off valve coupled both to: a mains supply for receiving liquid therefrom; and said liquid source for automatically blocking liquid received by said cut-off valve from said mains supply from filling said heating tube of said collector array panel whenever such filling could damage said collector array panel, wherein said cut-off valve operates automatically responsive to light and/or temperature for blocking filling of said heating tube of said collector array panel whenever such filling could damage said collector array panel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A solar heating system ( 20 ) comprising:
 a. at least one collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) adapted for being located a sloping roof ( 24 ) of a building ( 26 ), the collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) including at least one thermosyphon heating tube ( 52 );   b. a liquid source adapted for supplying liquid to said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ); and   c. a cut-off valve ( 76 ) coupled both to:
 i. a mains supply ( 84 ) for receiving liquid therefrom; and 
 ii. said liquid source for automatically blocking liquid received by said cut-off valve ( 76 ) from said mains supply ( 84 ) from filling said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) whenever such filling could damage said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of  claim 1  wherein said liquid source includes a chamber ( 66 ) that upon receiving liquid via said cut-off valve ( 76 ) supplies liquid by gravity to said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ). 
     
     
         3 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of  claim 1  wherein said cut-off valve ( 76 ) operates automatically responsive to light for blocking filling of said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array pastel ( 32 ,  36 ) whenever such filling could damage said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ). 
     
     
         4 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of  claim 1  wherein said cut-off valve ( 76 ) operates automatically responsive to temperature for blocking filling of said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) whenever such filling could damage said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ). 
     
     
         5 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure reducing valve ( 78 ):
 a. coupled in series with said cut-off valve ( 76 ) between said mains supply ( 84 ) and said liquid source; and 
 b. set at a low pressure and flow rate, 
 
       for further reducing a possibility that filling said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) could damage said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ). 
     
     
         6 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of  claim 1  further comprising:
 d: a heated-liquid chamber ( 74 ) that is coupled to an upper end of said at least one heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) for receiving hot liquid warmed within said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ); and 
 e: a warming heat-exchange-coil ( 82 ) that is located within said heated-liquid chamber ( 74 ), and that is coupled in series with said cut-off valve ( 76 ) between said mains supply ( 84 ) and said liquid source for heating liquid received from said mains supply ( 84 ). 
 
     
     
         7 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of  claim 1  wherein said liquid source includes an automatic control valve that is coupled in series with said cut-off valve ( 76 ) between said mains supply ( 84 ) and a heated-liquid chamber ( 74 ) included in the solar heating ( 20 ), said automatic control valve:
 a. supplying liquid to said heated-liquid chamber ( 74 ) from which liquid flows by gravity to said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ); and 
 c. responding to liquid pressure in said heated-liquid chamber ( 74 ) for maintaining a proper amount of liquid in the solar heating system ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
         8 . The solar heating system ( 20 ) of claim  9  further comprising pressure reducing valve ( 78 ):
 a. coupled in series with said cut-off valve ( 76 ) between said mains supply ( 84 ) and said liquid source; and 
 b. set at a low pressure and flow rate, 
 
       for further reducing a possibility that filling said heating tube ( 52 ) of said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ) could damage said collector array panel ( 32 ,  36 ).