Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S80/00—Details, accessories or component parts of solar heat collectors not provided for in groups F24S10/00-F24S70/00
  • F24S80/40—Casings
  • F24S80/45—Casings characterised by the material
  • F24S80/457—Casings characterised by the material made of plastics
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S60/00—Arrangements for storing heat collected by solar heat collectors
  • F24S60/30—Arrangements for storing heat collected by solar heat collectors storing heat in liquids
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Definitions

• THIS INVENTION relates to a solar water heater.
• the object of the invention is to provide a solar water heater which is simple to construct in relation to existing designs of solar water heaters.
• the majority of solar water heater units in production at the present time comprise a collector and a separate tank which may be located close to the upper end of the collector or remote therefrom.
• the production of these units and particularly the collector is labour intensive.
• the invention resides in a solar water heater in which the collector and the tank are formed integrally as a single unit.
• the surface of the collector exposed to the sun should be covered with glass in the normal manner and the underside of the collector and the tank suitably insulated with a suitable insulating material such as polyurethane foam.
• the exposed surface of the collector may be ribbed parallel to the sides to increase the contact area, promote upward convective flow and stiffen the surface.
• the collector portion of the integral unit may be wedge shaped, the mouth of the wedge merging with the tank portion which is circular in cross section.
• the upper and lower surfaces of the collector portion may be parallel. In each case the surface of the collector which is exposed to solar radiation is in direct contact with the water.
• the unit of the present invention be formed of a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene using a roto-moulding technique.
• Any one of a wide range of plastics which retain their strength and rigidity at temperature of the order of 30° - 90°C, and which are substantially unaffected by prolonged exposure to the sun and other elements may be used.
• Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing details of construction of the first embodiment.
• Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation of a second embodiment.
• the unit is moulded from polypropylene compounded with suitable pigments and UV retarders.
• the collector 11 has a parallel upper and lower faces when viewed in side elevation and the upper surface thereof covered with a sheet of glass 12.
• the upper end of the collector merges with and is integral with a tank 14 which is generally circular in cross section.
• the collector is provided with a water inlet 15 adjacent the end of the collector remote from the tank.
• the water inlet is connected to a water supply through a header tank fitted with a float control valve or some similar low pressure source.
• the tank has a hot water outlet 16 which is located in the upper half of the tank portion of the unit and in addition a relief vent to relieve any undue build up of pressure in the unit.
• the body of the unit is provided with insulation 18 on all surfaces except the surface of the collector portion.
• the insulation is encased in a metal casing 19 whilst the absorption surface is covered with the sheet of glass 12.
• the collector portion 21 is formed as a wedge shape which merges with the tank 22.
• the two embodiments described above are for particularly suitable for production from a plastic material such as polypropylene by a roto-moulding technique. It may also be fabricated from metal or other suitable materials.
• the unit of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in areas having a high ambient temperature. It may be used to supply hot water directly or as a preheating unit for other types of low pressure hot water storage units.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
• Details Of Fluid Heaters (AREA)
• Water Treatment By Sorption (AREA)
• Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3770845

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1985
  • 1985-11-18 JP JP60505119A patent/JPS62500880A/ja active Pending
  • 1985-11-18 BR BR8507091A patent/BR8507091A/pt unknown
  • 1985-11-18 EP EP19850905738 patent/EP0204734A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1985-11-18 WO PCT/AU1985/000285 patent/WO1986003280A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1985-11-19 IN IN933/MAS/85A patent/IN166333B/en unknown
• 1987
  • 1987-03-20 MY MYPI87000336A patent/MY101715A/en unknown

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (3)

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