Energy collector for collecting solar energy and the like
A solar energy collector connectable with a fluid-circulating system is contained in a plenum within an insulative housing and has a plurality of generally parallel, heat-absorbing conduits extending between intake and outlet manifolds and confronting the sun or other heat source through a transparent window, each conduit being separated from an adjacent conduit by an intervening slot. Positioned below the conduits is a heat-absorbing tank which is connected in fluid-flow relationship with the outlet manifold and also with the circulation system so that a heat-transfer medium may flow continuously between the energy collector and the circulation system. The tank receives radiant energy through the slots and after absorbing some of the radiation reflects the remaining portion upwardly to the conduits to thereby increase radiation intensity on and heat absorption by the conduits. Multiple reflections between tank and conduits further increase energy absorption both by tank and conduit. The conduits may be of round cross section or may have a planar heat-absorbing surface facing the sun and an arcuate, convex surface facing the tank. The tank may be provided with a plurality of arcuate troughs, a trough underlying and paralleling each conduit to both absorb energy and reflect energy toward the overlying conduit. The conduits may be provided with internal air ducts which communicate with the hot-air plenum and permit heat from the hot air to be transferred through the duct walls and to the fluid medium within the conduits.
- Assignee:
- Manju Bansal
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4117831
- OSTI ID:
- 6496566
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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