Solar water heater

Patent · Tue Dec 24 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5536755

Reed, P D

This patent describes an improvement in a solar water heater absorber within a collector for controlling freeze damage due to ice formation. The absorber having horizontal spaced apart parallel risers for fluid flow arranged with vertical manifolds alternately connecting risers to place the risers in a serpentine type fluid flow configuration within which passes a fluid to be solar heated. The improvement comprises: a freeze expansion pipe operably attached to the manifolds to controllably receive water displaced from the risers by ice formed in the risers; and bridge pipes having two ends; the bridge pipes connected at one end to the freeze expansion pipe and the other end to the manifolds attached to each riser, the bridge pipes passing displaced water from the risers to the freeze expansion pipe; and means to restrict water flow through the bridge pipes while not impeding water flow through the risers whereby damage to the risers caused by the formation of ice therein is thereby prevented.

• Assignee: NOV; NOV-92-023008; EDB-92-086643
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5074282
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-697263
• OSTI ID: 5536755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
APPLIANCES
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
FLUID FLOW
FREEZING
HEATERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ICE
INHIBITION
MODIFICATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PIPES
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
WATER
WATER HEATERS