Glass heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector

Patent · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865174

McConnell, Robert D ^[1]; Vansant, James H ^[2]

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1. Lakewood, CO
2. Tracy, CA

A glass heat pipe is adapted for use as a solar energy absorber in an evacuated tube solar collector and for transferring the absorbed solar energy to a working fluid medium or heat sink for storage or practical use. A capillary wick is formed of granular glass particles fused together by heat on the inside surface of the heat pipe with a water glass binder solution to enhance capillary drive distribution of the thermal transfer fluid in the heat pipe throughout the entire inside surface of the evaporator portion of the heat pipe. Selective coatings are used on the heat pipe surface to maximize solar absorption and minimize energy radiation, and the glass wick can alternatively be fabricated with granular particles of black glass or obsidian.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-01-4042
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4474170
• OSTI ID: 865174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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/126/118/427/
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