Glass-heat-pipe evacuated-tube solar collector

Patent · Thu Aug 06 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5282928

McConnell, R. D.; VanSant, J. H.

A glass heat pipe is adapted for use as a solar energy absorber in an evacuated tube solar collector and for transferring the absorbed solar energy to a working fluid medium or heat sink for storage or practical use. A capillary wick is formed of granular glass particles fused together by heat on the inside surface of the heat pipe with a water glass binder solution to enhance capillary drive distribution of the thermal transfer fluid in the heat pipe throughout the entire inside surface of the evaporator portion of the heat pipe. Selective coatings are used on the heat pipe surface to maximize solar absorption and minimize energy radiation, and the glass wick can alternatively be fabricated with granular particles of black glass or obsidian.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE82013599
• OSTI ID: 5282928
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
BONDING
CAPILLARY FLOW
COATINGS
EQUIPMENT
EVACUATED COLLECTORS
EVACUATED TUBE COLLECTORS
FABRICATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GLASS
HEAT PIPE WICKS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HEAT TREATMENTS
JOINING
PARTICLES
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE SURFACES
SURFACES
TEKTITES