Solar panel

Abstract

A solar collector for use in receiving solar radiation and converting the same to heat. A matrix of plural layers of slit-and-expanded sheets are contained within the solar collector and the heat produced by the matrix absorbing solar radiation is transferred by convection into a forced fluid path. The surfaces of the slit-and-expanded sheets are coated to absorb and convert the radiant energy to heat and the various layers are relatively positioned at 90° to provide improved tracking of the sun in its diurnal path, the sheets having unidirectional raised portions to more efficiently absorb the sun's rays. A reflective surface behind the matrix reflects solar energy back into the matrix. A fluid, usually air, is heated by convection as it is forced through the matrix in the solar collector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a solar collector having a housing, a front transparent panel to allow solar energy to pass into the housing, a back panel, and means for delivering forced fluid into and out of the housing, the improvement comprising: a matrix of multiple layers of .[.a black.]. .Iadd.an absorbtive .Iaddend.coated sheet, each layer having a plurality of open meshes, defined by a closed loop, each loop having a raised side portion and a lowered side portion, and all said raised portions being regularly repeated along a unidirectional line, said unidirectional line in one sheet positioned at .Iadd.multiples of .Iaddend. 90° relative to a unidirectional line in an adjoining sheet of the matrix, and   a reflective surface within the housing at said back panel, said reflective surface spaced from said matrix.   
     
     
       2. The improvement in a solar collector which includes the features of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface includes a reflective film bonded to a rigid, low density insulating body. 
     
     
       3. The improvement in a solar collector which includes the features of claim 1 wherein said matrix has three layers of black coated sheet, a first and last layer having said regularly repeatedly raised portion along unidirectional lines which are disposed at 180° relative to each other, and an intermediate layer having said raised portions regularly repeated along a unidirectional line which is positioned at 90° relative to said other layers. 
     
     
       4. The improvement in a solar collector which includes the features of claim 3 wherein each of said layers in a slit-and-expanded aluminum sheet, the mesh openings and the closed loops having substantially uniform dimension in each of said sheets. 
     
     
       5. The improvement in a solar collector which includes the features of claim 4 wherein each closed loop has a leading raised side and a trailing lowered side, and each of said sides having spaced terminating ends which close the loop, the leading and trailing sides having portions displaced from the axis of the loop which connect said terminating ends. 
     
     
       6. The improvement in a solar collector which includes the features of claim 5 wherein the raised sides of each closed loop are aligned in spaced relationship by a lowered side along sets of rows which are normal to one another, said alignment being along a line which is tangential to the raised sides in one set of rows; and said alignment being along a line which intersects said sides along the other set of rows. 
     
     
       7. The improvement in a solar collector which includes the features of claim 6 wherein spacer bodies separate one sheet from another sheet so that the respective sheets are closely bunched in parallel relationship within the matrix. .Iadd. 
     
     
       8.  A method of solar collection by a matrix of expanded sheets having an orientation of repetitive closed loops, each loop having raised side portions and a lowered side portion, all of said raised portions being regularly repeated along a unidirectional line, positioning two or more of said sheets with regard to each other in multiples of 90°  orientation of said unidirectional sheets,   and positioning a reflective surface behind said sheets,   and delivering forced fluid into and out of a housing which contains said sheets having a front transparent panel to allow solar energy to pass into the housing and against the raised portions of said sheets. .Iaddend.