Solar collector

Patent · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864196

Wilhelm, William G ^[1]

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1. Cutchogue, NY

The field of this invention is solar collectors, and more particularly, the invention pertains to a flat plate collector that employs high performance thin films. The solar collector of this invention overcomes several problems in this field, such as excessive hardware, cost and reliability, and other prior art drawbacks outlined in the specification. In the preferred form, the apparatus features a substantially rigid planar frame (14). A thin film window (42) is bonded to one planar side of the frame. An absorber (24) of laminate construction is comprised of two thin film layers (24a, 24b) that are sealed perimetrically. The layers (24a, 24b) define a fluid-tight planar envelope (24c) of large surface area to volume through which a heat transfer fluid flows. Absorber (24) is bonded to the other planar side of the frame. The thin film construction of the absorber assures substantially full envelope wetting and thus good efficiency. The window and absorber films stress the frame adding to the overall strength of the collector.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-0016
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4327707
• OSTI ID: 864196
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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14
24
24a
24b
24c
42
absorber
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hardware
heat
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laminate
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surface
transfer
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volume
wetting
window