Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
  • F24S20/60—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings
  • F24S20/66—Solar heat collectors integrated in fixed constructions, e.g. in buildings in the form of facade constructions, e.g. wall constructions
• • 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
• • 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
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
  • F24S2020/10—Solar modules layout; Modular arrangements
• • 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
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
  • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
• • 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

• the object of the present invention is a thermal solar system for civil or industrial buildings.
• the object of the invention is a particular method of installation of a solar panel and relative storage tank for the production of domestic hot water.
• the invention therefore relates to the field of use of solar energy for the production of domestic hot water, a continuously growing field especially in Mediterranean countries, thanks to the advantageous weather conditions, but also in countries with unfavourable weather conditions, such as Germany, that have long encouraged such environment- friendly energy systems through a tax relief and advantage policy.
• Solar panels for the production of domestic hot water are known.
• the most widespread solar panel in civil systems is the flat-glazed panel, consisting of:
• a transparent cover composed of one or more glass sheets that let the incoming solar radiations pass through and block the outgoing ones;
• an underlying absorbing plate that absorbs the radiation and transfers the energy gathered to the heat transfer fluid (usually antifreeze fluid, such as for example propylenglycol);
• solar panels are connected through a hydraulic circuit to a storage tank for domestic water and for room heating.
• the circulation of the heat transfer fluid which carries the thermal energy captured by the solar panel to the storage tank, may be of the natural or forced type. Natural circulation occurs without the aid of pumps, simply actuated by the thermosiphon effect of the heat transfer fluid that, heating inside the panel, becomes lighter (reducing its density) and moves upwards by convection towards the storage tank, exchanges heat with the fluid contained therein and cooling down, returns downwards. Therefore, for a similar natural circulation to occur, the storage tank must be placed higher than the panel, a device only possible in small sized systems and in places wherein there is enough space for such arrangement.
• a second type of panels are the so-called solar panels with vacuum tubes, hereinafter called “vacuum panels”, preferably used in places and/or zones with low external temperatures.
• Vacuum panels are well-known devices that therefore are briefly described at least for clarifying the terminology that shall be used hereinafter.
• the vacuum panel comprises at least one plate absorbing the solar energy, called “absorber”, placed internally and protected by a transparent tubular element, called “vacuum tube”, wherein a vacuum is made that is sufficiently strong to minimise the heat losses by convection and conduction.
• the absorber is of the so-called “selective” type, suitable for absorbing the solar radiation in the visible spectrum, and for emitting very little radiation in the thermal infrared spectrum.
• the heat pipe therefore is, as known, a very effective device in transferring the thermal energy. It substantially is a conduit, placed inside the vacuum tube, wherein a low boiling point fluid, hereinafter called “carrying fluid”, is contained, subject to evaporating, even at low temperatures in a zone called “evaporator”, where thermal energy is administered thereto.
• vapour that develops following the fluid heating moves up towards the top end of the conduit that ends with a condensation heat exchanger: the latent vapour heat, released by condensation, is then transferred through suitable heat exchange surfaces, to the water contained in the storage tank, wherein said exchanger is immersed.
• the fluid condensed therein returns by gravity to the evaporator.
• the evaporator consists in all the conduit portion thermally connected to the absorber, whereas the condenser is a bulb in thermal contact, as seen, with the water of the storage tank, through suitable exchange surfaces.
• a common deterrent for making a solar system is often related to the difficulty of positioning the panel, whatever type it is, and the relative storage tank on the roof, both for logistic and aesthetic reasons of the buildings. Moreover, especially in less recent buildings and in those wherein it is more difficult to carry out the works required for a solar system, above all for structural reasons, there is often the need of placing the storage tank in rooms even quite far away from the relative solar panel. In these conditions therefore, the solar circuits are much wider and more complex than what is ideal and such as to cause a considerable increase of costs (suffice it to mention the pumps for forced circulation), heat losses and relative reduction in the energy efficiency.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate at least part of the logistic, structural and aesthetic problems described above.
• the object of the present invention is to enable the installation of solar systems also in relatively small and narrow spaces and with a low visual impact.
• a further object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the make of the solar system circuit, that is, of the hydraulic connections between the solar panel and the storage tank.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective partially cross-section view of the solar heating system according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective totally cross-section view of the solar heating system according to the invention
• figure 3 shows a detail of figure 1 and 2;
• FIG. 4 shows two perspective views of the same solar heating system and of the support frame thereof according to the invention
• FIG. 5a and 5b show a perspective view of a connection in series and of a parallel connection, respectively, of two or more solar heating systems according to the invention.
• reference numeral 1 indicates the solar heating system as a whole also called “solar pot” 1 for the reasons that will be readily understood in the description.
• the solar heating system 1 comprises a solar panel 2 inside which a heat transfer fluid runs heated by the incident solar radiation, and a horizontal storage tank 3, connected to it via known means, suitable for storing the thermal energy provided by the heat transfer fluid itself.
• the storage tank 3 will be referred to as
• storage 3 is located at a higher height than that of solar , panel 2 but in the immediate vicinity thereof, so as to be reached by natural circulation by the heat transfer fluid coming from the underlying solar panel 2.
• the heat stored in storage 3 is suitable for feeding a system for distributing domestic hot water.
• Storage 3 is therefore provided with an inlet pipe 301 for introducing, in the low part, the water to be heated, and with an outlet pipe 302 for drawing off, from the high part, the domestic hot water for the users.
• storage 3 may further comprise a pit 303 for inserting a probe intended for sensing the domestic water temperature at the drawing zone.
• storage 3 is located inside a container 4, preferably of plastic material, that hides it to the sight; as a consequence, panel 2 connected to it substantially extends underneath said container 4.
• container 4 is an ordinary pot, with a rectangular base, for the composition of flowers and ornamental plants 5, both genuine and artificial.
• pot 4 may be positioned and hooked to balustrades of balconies or to a facade of a building (more in general, therefore, to any substantially vertical element of a building) by means of a frame 6, described in detail hereinafter; for the moment, it is sufficient to say that said frame 6 is suitably moulded and shaped for withstanding the weight of pot 4, of storage 3, contained therein, and of solar panel 2, ensuring seat and support thereof.
• Storage 3 and the relative solar panel 2 may be installed with simplicity on any facade of a building by means of pot 4 and frame 6, instead of being placed tilted on the roof of a building.
• solar panel 2 is positioned substantially vertical on such facade, whereas storage 3, hidden to the sight, preserves the architectural appearance thereof.
• said solar heating system 1 is positioned on balustrades of balconies or close to windowsills of building facades facing south-east, south-west.
• solar panel 2 consists of a series of sealed vacuum tubes 201 therein comprising heat pipes 202 according to the prior art.
• heat pipes 202 contain a heat transfer fluid subject to vaporising almost instantly under the action of the heat absorbed by an absorber and of condensing at a bulb 203, placed at the head thereof.
• bulb 203 is seated in special cylindrical cavities 304 (see for example figure 3) obtained in storage 3, wherethrough the latent condensation heat is transferred to the water to be heated introduced therein through the inlet pipe 301.
• the water thus heated is then drawn off and delivered to the domestic hot water distribution network through said outlet pipe 302.
• a series of openings, with substantially circular section, is therefore provided on pot 4 intended, as said, for seating storage 3, for allowing at least the passage of the inlet 301 and outlet 302 pipes of the domestic water and of the vacuum tubes 201 of the solar panel 2.
• the hole for the passage of the inlet pipe 301 of cold water in storage 3 is obtained on side 401 of pot 4, whereas a first passage for the outlet pipe 302 of the domestic hot water and optionally a second passage for seating the probe holder pit 303 are respectively obtained on side 402.
• the number of openings of bottom 403 of pot 3 is equal to the number of vacuum tubes 201 making up the solar panel 2.
• reference numeral 7 finally indicates an insulation positioned between shell 305 of the storage tank 3 and the inner walls of pot 4 in order to contain the unavoidable heat losses.
• insulation 7 is a polyurethane foam that fills all the volume, inside pot 4, not occupied by the storage tank 3 and by the top ends of each vacuum tube 201 connected thereto. Reproductions of flowers and/or ornamental plants, such as those of plastic material easily found on the market, may be fixed to the top visible surface of insulation 7.
• frame 6 suitable, as mentioned, for supporting the solar heating system 1 to the balconies and windowsills railings.
• frame 6 comprises a first top back 601, connected to a second bottom back 602 through a connecting surface 603.
• Reference numeral 604 indicates a suitably shaped means for fixing frame 6 to a support, for example the handrail of a balustrade of a balcony.
• said fixing means 604 is placed at the top of the first back 601 and the edge 404 of pot 4 can rest thereon, ensuring the support thereof.
• back 602 ends at the bottom end with a support 605 for the solar panel
• the first back 601 has an inclination substantially coincident with that of the back wall 405 of pot 4 it connects with, whereas the second back 602 lies on a plane substantially parallel to that vertical of the solar panel 2.
• the connecting surface 603 finally lies on a plane substantially orthogonal to that of the first 601 and second 602 back.
• a grate (not shown), fixed by known means to frame 6, for protecting the solar panel 2 from collisions of objects and/or birds.
• Frame 6 has been described according to a first embodiment but it is clear that several other equivalent versions are possible.
• pot 4 of the solar heating system 1 has a standard width of about 100 cm, a height of about 44 cm and a depth preferably of 38 cm.
• the horizontal storage 3 contained in such pot 4 has a capacity of 40 liters and preferably has a length of 80 cm and a diameter of about 26.5 cm.
• the vacuum tubes 201 preferably have a length of 60 cm and an outer diameter of about 6 cm.
• a solar pot 1 thus shaped and sized provides domestic hot water capable of substantially meeting the daily requirements of a person.
• figure 5a shows a connection in series of two solar heating systems 1 to be made when the output temperature is preferred over efficiency, the flow rate being the same; nothing prevents the possibility of connecting even more than two in a series, preferably up to a maximum of six.
• the outlet pipe 302 of domestic hot water from storage 3 of the first pot 4 is connected, through a conduit portion 9, to the inlet pipe 301' of storage 3 ofthe next pot 4'.
• connection in parallel of two or more solar heating systems 1 is also possible, especially if, as known, larger rates of domestic hot water are required but not at very high temperatures.
• the inlet pipe 301 in storage 3 of the first solar heating system 1 is therefore divided into a first portion 301. a suitable for feeding storage 3 of said first solar system 1, and into a second portion 30 Lb for feeding the next solar system 1', bypassing the first one.
• the outlet pipe 302 of the domestic water heated in the first solar heating system 1 by-passes the next solar system 1', directly flowing into the outlet pipe 302' thereof.
• said inlet and/or outlet pipes 301, 301. a, 30Lb and 302, 302' are placed as adjacent the bottom 403 and/or the back wall 405 of pot 4 as possible so as to hide them to the sight.
• the same frame 6 supporting the solar pots 1 and for hooking to the railings of balconies and/or windowsills may be provided with special aesthetic covers (not shown) for hiding said pipes 301, 301. a, 30 Lb and 302, 302' to the sight.
• valves suitable for cutting off said portion 301. a and/or 301.b in the case, for example, of maintenance or replacement of the one or the other solar heating system 1.
• the flat-glazed panel placed vertically under pot 4, is connected to a heat exchanger placed inside or outside storage 3 of pot 4; through said exchanger, the heat transfer fluid coming by natural circulation from the underlying glazed panel transfers the heat absorbed to the water of storage 3.
• said heat exchanger is a double-walled heat exchanger.
• a first order of advantages of the solar heating system 1 of the invention consists in the integration of the traditional components of a solar system in a compact shape that therefore allows said system 1 to be installed in any building, even in small and narrow spaces.
• thermal solar system 1 A second order of advantages, moreover, can be found in the architectural integration of said thermal solar system 1, that fully simulates the appearance of a pot for growing flowers and/or ornamental plants, and which can therefore easily harmonise with the remainder of the building without defacing the aesthetics thereof.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
• Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
• Roof Covering Using Slabs Or Stiff Sheets (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=41334350

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Family Cites Families (8)

• 2008
  • 2008-12-05 IT ITAN2008A000059A patent/IT1391995B1/it active
• 2009
  • 2009-11-11 CN CN2009801481951A patent/CN102227597A/zh active Pending
  • 2009-11-11 WO PCT/IB2009/007476 patent/WO2010064102A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-11-11 EP EP09771774A patent/EP2352955A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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