Solar energy apparatus
A flat solar collector apparatus includes an inner energy absorber plate having an absorber surface and energy transfer passageway connected to a storage unit. A transparent cover is secured in outwardly spaced and sealed relation to the absorber plate to define a sealed air space therebetween. The cover includes a pair of stacked, transparent sheets having light transmitting conductive coatings on the opposed sides or faces. Each conductive coating is provided with an electrical connector means for connection to a suitable power supply with an insulating spacer located between the outer peripheries defining a chamber filled with nematic liquid crystals. A dc or ac voltage source connected to the coatings controls the light scattering characteristic of the crystals and thereby changes the cover from a normally highly transparent to an increasingly translucent state, and thereby the energy transmittance of the cover. The voltage can be controlled manually or in accordance with a desired parameter of the energy collecting system to prevent damaging temperatures in the system. Metal oxide coatings on a collector cover also directly function to increase the absorber temperature for a given solar energy input.
- Assignee:
- Johnson Controls, Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4083356
- OSTI ID:
- 6565715
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
CHALCOGENIDES
COATINGS
COVERINGS
CRYSTALS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS
FLUIDS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
LIQUID CRYSTALS
LIQUIDS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
VARIATIONS