Self-compensating solar collector

Patent · Tue Feb 16 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5162910

Shonerd, D E

The self-compensating solar collector comprises a base tray having inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends covered by a thin metallic diaphragm also serving as an heat absorbing plate. The interior of the tray includes inter-digitating walls or ribs defining a labyrinth channel, fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports being confined to this labyrinth channel when the top absorber plate is resting on the top of the ribs or walls. Under high heating conditions such as bright sunlight, the plate will heat up and by thermal expansion deflect upwardly with the result that fluid flow can pass over the labyrinth in an expanded flow path directly between the inlet and outlet ports. This increased fluid flow rate results in a cooling of the collector and also in more efficient heat transfer. The same deflection occurs during a cooling cycle wherein the hot fluid flowing under the plate heats the plate to cause it to deflect upwardly so that an increased fluid flow can take place again increasing emission of heat through the absorber plate to the atmosphere at nighttime. The automatic change in the flow rate with temperature changes provides for a more efficient solar collector.

• Assignee: EDB-82-140220
• Patent Number(s): US 4315499
• OSTI ID: 5162910
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
AUTOMATION
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
FLOW RATE
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS