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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Solar energy system with delayed drain-back

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5831018
A solar energy system is described comprising: a storage tank having upper and lower sections. The tank lower section is for holding a heat transferring liquid and the tank upper section is for holding a gas; a solar collector located above the storage tank and having a collector feed and a collector return wherein a first one of the collector feed and return couples to the lower section of the storage tank; a pump coupled to the lower section of the storage tank and to a second one of the collector feed and return. The pump exhibits an active state in which the pump moves a portion of the liquid into the solar collector and exhibits an inactive state; and means for preventing a portion of the gas from substantially replacing the liquid in the collector until a predetermined amount of time passes after the pump initially exhibits the inactive state. The preventing means are located above the storage tank and the preventing means have a drainback feed coupled to the solar collector and a drainback return coupled to the upper section of the storage tank.
Assignee:
NOV; EDB-88-000797; NOV-87-083446
Patent Number(s):
US 4691692
OSTI ID:
5831018
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English