Thin film absorber for a solar collector
Abstract
This invention pertains to energy absorbers for solar collectors, and more particularly to high performance thin film absorbers. The solar collectors comprising the absorber of this invention overcome several problems seen in current systems, such as excessive hardware, high cost and unreliability. In the preferred form, the apparatus features a substantially rigid planar frame with a thin film window bonded to one planar side of the frame. An absorber in accordance with the present invention is comprised of two thin film layers that are sealed perimetrically. In a preferred embodiment, thin film layers are formed from a metal/plastic laminate. The layers define a fluid-tight planar envelope of large surface area to volume through which a heat transfer fluid flows. The absorber 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.
- Inventors:
-
- Cutchogue, NY
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Associated Universities, Inc., Upton, NY (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865710
- Patent Number(s):
- 4559924
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02A - TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- film; absorber; solar; collector; pertains; energy; absorbers; collectors; particularly; performance; comprising; overcome; seen; current; systems; excessive; hardware; cost; unreliability; preferred; form; apparatus; features; substantially; rigid; planar; frame; window; bonded; accordance; comprised; layers; sealed; perimetrically; embodiment; formed; metal; plastic; laminate; define; fluid-tight; envelope; surface; volume; heat; transfer; fluid; flows; construction; assures; wetting; efficiency; films; stress; adding; overall; strength; film layers; solar collectors; transfer fluid; energy absorber; solar collector; heat transfer; preferred embodiment; fluid flow; film layer; fluid flows; preferred form; substantially rigid; apparatus features; film window; energy absorbers; current systems; /126/
Citation Formats
Wilhelm, William G. Thin film absorber for a solar collector. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Wilhelm, William G. Thin film absorber for a solar collector. United States.
Wilhelm, William G. Tue .
"Thin film absorber for a solar collector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865710.
@article{osti_865710,
title = {Thin film absorber for a solar collector},
author = {Wilhelm, William G},
abstractNote = {This invention pertains to energy absorbers for solar collectors, and more particularly to high performance thin film absorbers. The solar collectors comprising the absorber of this invention overcome several problems seen in current systems, such as excessive hardware, high cost and unreliability. In the preferred form, the apparatus features a substantially rigid planar frame with a thin film window bonded to one planar side of the frame. An absorber in accordance with the present invention is comprised of two thin film layers that are sealed perimetrically. In a preferred embodiment, thin film layers are formed from a metal/plastic laminate. The layers define a fluid-tight planar envelope of large surface area to volume through which a heat transfer fluid flows. The absorber 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {1}
}