Solar heater system and valve

Patent · Tue Jun 19 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6413551

Schoenheimer, M F; Ackermann, K A; Gaskell, L A; Ridge, B

A solar heater system including an absorber panel having an inlet and an outlet connected to a water supply tank. A valve is located in both the inlet and outlet connections and at least the inlet valve is temperature responsive so as to close when the temperature of the panel contents falls below a first predetermined temperature. The outlet valve may be temperature or flow responsive so as to close under the temperature or flow conditions prevailing when the inlet valve closes and thereby isolate the panel from the tank. A temperature responsive dump valve is connected to the panel and opens when the temperature of the panel contents falls below a second predetermined temperature which is lower than the first predetermined temperature and thereby empties the panel contents. The inlet and dump valves are preferably formed by a single combination valve having a temperature responsive element which controls both a primary valve member and a secondary valve member. The primary valve member controls flow between inlet and outlet ports of the valve and the secondary valve member controls flow between the outlet port and a dump port. The temperature responsive element has part thereof exposed externally of the valve body and is substantially insulated against the influence of the temperature conditions existing within the body of the valve.

• Assignee: Actor Industries Pty, Ltd. (Australia)
• Patent Number(s): US 4454890
• OSTI ID: 6413551
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
APPLIANCES
CONTAINERS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
HEATERS
HEATING
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SOLAR WATER HEATING
TANKS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VALVES
WATER HEATERS
WATER HEATING