ES2803826B2 - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR

The invention, as its name indicates, refers to a solar energy collector, made of ceramic material, which can be made by extrusion, and which comprises a series of internal channels traversed by pipes through which a fluid to which the heat accumulated in the ceramic material is transferred. Subsequently, this fluid can pass through a heat exchanger and transfer heat to, for example, domestic hot water or swimming pool water.

An advantage of this system is that it not only involves the capture of solar heat for its proper use and saving of other types of energy, but also, when the heat from the ceramic is transferred to a fluid, the ceramic is cooled down. which implies an added advantage on terraces, facades or roofs of buildings among others.

On the other hand, the proposed system surpasses the current heat collector panels for several reasons.

On an aesthetic level, ceramic is used both indoors and outdoors to give an aesthetic finish to surfaces. Outdoors it is commonly used, among others, as a covering for terraces, balconies, roofs, solariums, pool areas or facades. The current collector panels have an aesthetic that relieves them of occupying the upper decks where they are less visible in everyday life, as they are aesthetically difficult to integrate.

Directly related to the above, the use of the ceramic collector allows it to be extended over the entire surface intended to be covered by ceramic, gaining exposure area.

At an environmental level, ceramics are much more respectful of the environment than the materials present in current solar collectors.

On the other hand, the resistance of ceramic makes it possible to use it on walkable floors, which allows for an increase in surface area for possible exposure and, in addition, it cools such floors, contributing to cooling in summer, favoring its use on terraces or swimming pool areas where it is usual to go barefoot.

Ceramic is a material that has been perfectly tested outdoors and stands out for its resistance, which ensures that the interior conduits through which the fluid to which heat is transferred is perfectly preserved.

The technical sector to which it belongs is that of solar energy collectors.

BACKGROUND

Solar energy collection collectors have been known for a long time, having been known since the end of the 19th century, although at that time they were limited to being containers painted black exposed to the sun. Later they would evolve presenting only an exhibition area or coil, with a storage area or a heat exchanger being protected to transfer temperature to, for example, domestic hot water. These are the collectors that we are used to seeing on the roofs of buildings.

In relation to the use of ceramics, the following patents have been found:

CN204373244 refers to ceramic plates that comprise an internal cavity covered with a glazed enamel. According to the patent, with this solution a rapid transfer of heat to the water is facilitated and the ceramic is waterproofed, preventing the absorption of water. The cited patent does not refer to a modular system nor does it allow its manufacture by extrusion. On the other hand, it does not refer to ceramic pieces that can be used as a covering -in addition to being a collector-, but rather to a collector made of ceramic material.

Patent US4222373 refers to a solar collector made of ceramic material with internal grooves where one and the other pieces are joined by a tongue and groove system facing the grooves of one and the other. This system comprises final pieces that complete the circuit. The system that protects this patent has, in the view of the applicant, some problems to overcome. On the one hand, the complexity in the installation to prevent construction material from entering and plugging the channels. On the other hand, the possibility that the circuit has leaks and losses due to cracks (due to blows, weights or sudden changes in temperature), due to the expansion and / or contraction of the ceramic pieces, or due to movements of the ground on which they are located. To this must be added that the tongue and groove system makes it difficult to disassemble a single piece to replace it. Finally, this system conditions the shape of the collector (square or rectangle) without the possibility of central holes, shapes that may be suitable for roof-type surfaces, but not to take advantage of facades that normally have different geometries and holes.

German patent DE4240252 refers to a collector made up of two facing ceramic pieces that come together during the firing process, generating an internal cavity. The union is produced thanks to an internal glazed enamel. This piece, in addition to the fact that it cannot be carried out by means of an extrusion procedure, shares the problems exposed in relation to patent US4222373 regarding the complication of its installation and risk of losses due to cracks, movements of the ground or expansion / contraction of the pieces .

Solutions have also been detected where a series of tubes are embedded in cement in such a way that the cement surface heats up and yields temperature to the fluid that runs through the tubes. However, this solution does not allow the replacement of a broken tube or a leak as the tubes remain part of the cement block.

Closer to the intended invention are the documents that were cited in the report commissioned by the applicant (ITP 78139 / P7914) and that are cited below.

Document US5509246A discloses a modular ceramic solar collector comprising a series of pieces that act as tiles, suitable for covering inclined surfaces where these pieces have grooves on their underside suitable to allow the passage of pipes through which A fluid flows to which the heat that the piece has accumulated due to its exposure to the sun is transferred. The conduits of the grooves are common to several parts and are not connected to each other in each part but rather connected as part of a general circuit. Elbows are installed at the ends of the collector that connect one conduit with another, normally parallel, thus forming a single complete general circuit with the union of all the parts and conduits, making it difficult to replace a part in case of breakage and leaving the forms that the collector can have limited.

Patent ES8205033 also refers to a collector that comprises a series of ceramic tiles with a series of internal channels in which flexible tubes are inserted that run through the entire collector in the same way as in the previous patent, generating a single complete circuit. indivisible.

The same happens with the document DE202017000575 that defines ceramic pieces that include internal channels suitable for the passage of pipes.

In the cited documents US5509246A, ES8205033, DE202017000575, the only complete circuit is the general collector circuit, so the substitution of a part for its repair or replacement is complicated. Another disadvantage is the complexity of the installation, since on the one hand it is necessary to first assemble the ceramic pieces on the work, usually with gripping material, and then the introduction of the pipes and, on the other hand, in case of having to replace a part, the entire collector is affected since there is only one general circuit.

It should be mentioned that, in addition, it is not very versatile since the surface of the collector is conditioned by the need to complete a single general circuit, preventing, for example, leaving central gaps (in the case of facades with windows) or taking advantage of spaces with irregular shapes from the geometric point of view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the problems set out, a modular solar collector is proposed that comprises a series of ceramic pieces in which a conduit is housed.

Each of these parts has channels in which conduction sections are housed, these conduction sections of each part being joined together by elbows in such a way that each part comprises a complete circuit, which we will call a particular circuit, and can be joined to other similar pieces to form a larger circuit which we will call the general circuit.

The conduction sections are in close contact with the internal part of the channels of the ceramic pieces so that the heat accumulated by these ceramic pieces is easily transferred to the fluid that runs through the interior of the conduction sections. For this, preferably, the internal section of the channels and that of the conduction sections must have the same or similar shape, the section of the conduction sections being slightly smaller than that of the channels allowing them to be in contact at various points. .

The collector is made up of a series of pieces that are installed in the same way as the covering pieces on facades, roofs or floors with the exception of also joining the particular circuits by their connection elements.

In a preferred embodiment, all the conduction sections of each ceramic piece are joined together by elbows at their ends, generating a particular circuit with a single inlet and a single fluid outlet from that particular circuit in such a way that the fluid can travel the particular circuit before moving on to the next module of the general circuit, being indifferent if the conduction sections are originally independent segments that are joined together thanks to the elbows forming the particular circuit or if all that particular circuit is formed from its origin by a single segment that, being made of flexible material, allows the twist that makes up each elbow.

This configuration leads to each ceramic piece comprising a particular circuit, which is in itself a complete circuit, without prejudice that, by joining several pieces, a general circuit can be formed.

The advantages that each of the pieces comprises a complete particular circuit are evident since in case of breakage it is easy to replace a piece and, in addition, it allows an absolutely free collector configuration since the shape of the collector is not being conditioned by the need to continue or close a pipeline.

In this way, the collector can have unlimited shapes, even generating central gaps, as is the case of a collector arranged on a façade where there are windows, which could not be so versatile if each piece does not include a complete circuit for the fluid.

Another advantage is that its installation is essentially the same as the installation of any ceramic tile, no specific qualification being necessary.

According to what has been anticipated, the collector is made up of one or more modules, which we will call pieces, each one comprising:

1. A ceramic body in which the following are distinguished:

to. An upper surface, which we will call the collection surface, which is the surface through which solar heat is captured. This capture surface can, optionally, present an enamel type treatment, pigment, a geometry, a raised elevation or any other type of specific or added treatment that conditions the absorption or retention of heat or the use of the piece.

b. A block, under the catchment surface, with pipes running through it and preferably running parallel to each other and parallel to the catchment surface. The pipes have their ends open and preferably facing each other. Optionally, pieces can be given with another configuration for certain special uses such as an eaves, a pool edge, a step or a termination among others, although their use will be limited.

c. A accommodation area of sufficient size to accommodate the driver's elbows. This zone can be divided into differentiated areas or present in a single area.

2. A series of sections of conduction that run inside the pipes.

The conduction sections of each piece are connected to each other forming a complete particular circuit, being able to connect several particular circuits to generate a general collector circuit. Each of these particular circuits comprises:

to. An entry.

b. An exit.

c. Conduction sections, preferably straight, that run inside the pipes.

d. Turning elbows that communicate, each one of them, two driving sections of the same particular circuit.

and. Connection elements, suitable for joining a particular circuit with one or more other particular circuits forming a general circuit.

3. An internal fluid, preferably water, that flows through the particular circuits and through the general circuit.

The heat of the block, obtained by its exposure to the sun through the collection surface, is transferred to the fluid through the channels and conduction sections.

The collector can also be associated with a heat exchanger to transfer the heat of the internal fluid to other external fluids such as sanitary hot water, heating, swimming pool water or any other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding, the following FIGURES are attached:

FIGURE 1 shows one of the pieces seen from its lower base where the ceramic body (1) and the particular circuit (2) can be seen, indicated at its output (7) where this particular circuit comprises the conduction sections (11 ), the turning elbows (10), an inlet (7), an outlet (8) and connection elements (9) to be able to join this particular circuit to others to form a general circuit.

The accommodation area (4) can also be seen, in this case divided into two areas (4a and 4b) arranged on different sides of the piece, as well as the block (5) and the channels (6) that run through the block.

FIGURE 2 represents the elevation of one of the pieces, appreciating the ceramic body (1) where the capture surface (3) is observed that protrudes from the sides of the piece as an eaves covering the two areas (4a and 4b) of the accommodation area, the elbows (10) and the connection pieces (9) arranged at the ends of the pipeline and the block (5) with the pipes (6) that run through it and that house the pipeline sections (11 ) of the particular circuit.

FIGURE 3 shows an execution in which the accommodation area (4) is presented in a single area suitable for sheltering both the elbows of one side of the particular circuit of the piece itself where the accommodation area is located, as well as elbows on one side of the adjoining piece.

FIGURE 4 shows a possible configuration of a collector that comprises several pieces such as those described and where the different particular circuits (2) with the connection pieces (9) and the connections (12) of different types can be seen that, based on Of particular circuits linked together, they configure a single general circuit with a single general input (13) and a single general output (14).

FIGURE 5 shows a piece with a raised elevation above the catchment surface for, for example, its use on roofs.

DESCRIPTION OF A WAY OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention that is not unique nor is it limiting thereof is explained below.

The proposed solar collector is modular and comprises a series of pieces that can be joined together until the complete collector is configured.

Each of these pieces comprises a particular circuit (2) and connection elements (9) to join other pieces and other particular circuits until a general circuit is configured. If necessary, joints (12) can be used to join two particular circuits to each other.

Each particular circuit comprises a tubular body formed by conduction sections (11), elbows (10), inlet (7), outlet (8) and connections (9).

The pieces are ceramic pieces, manufactured by extrusion and have a catchment surface (3) destined to receive the heat of the solar rays and, under it and jointly attached to it, a block (5) crossed by channels (6) open at their ends. The collection surface and the block are presented in a single compact body.

These channels are parallel to each other and parallel to the collection surface and receive, generating contact with them, the conduction sections (11) that run through them.

At the ends of the conduction sections (11) the elbows (10) are arranged, curved tubular segments that communicate some conduction sections with others of the same particular circuit (2).

The catchment surface (3) extends along the sides into which the channels (6) open as an eaves, generating a housing area (4) for the elbows that are thus protected and hidden once the piece is installed on site in close proximity to the adjoining pieces.

All the conduction sections (11) and all the elbows (10) of the same particular circuit are made of a single segment of flexible tube that allows it to be easily inserted through the channels by bending it to configure the elbows.

Each particular circuit has a single input (7), and a single output (8) that incorporate the connection elements (9) to facilitate their connection with other particular circuits either directly or through splices (12).

Through the interior of the general circuit, a fluid is made to flow to which the heat captured by the collection surface and transmitted to the channels and conduction sections is transferred.

The proposed embodiment includes as an example of embodiment a collector mounted on the beach of a swimming pool, bypassing it and associated with a heat exchanger through which the water from said swimming pool also flows. In the heat exchanger, the fluid that runs through the general circuit gives up its heat to the pool water, thereby increasing the temperature of the pool water, thereby prolonging the bathing season, and reducing the temperature of the pool. surface of the pool beach thus allowing the use of a wider range of colors without risk than darker colors, by absorbing more solar heat, can cause discomfort or even burns to users who usually walk barefoot through such areas .

Claims (8)

1. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR of the type that is formed by joining a series of pieces characterized in that each piece comprises: a) A ceramic body (1) where the following are distinguished: to. A collection surface (3) through which heat is captured. b. Under the catchment surface and integrally attached to it a block (5) traversed by pipes (6) open at its ends. c. A housing area (4) for the elbows (10). b) A particular circuit comprising a tubular body with: to. One entrance (7). b. One outlet (8). c. Sections of conduction (11) that run inside the pipes (6) in intimate contact with them. d. Turning elbows (10) that communicate different sections of conduction. and. Connection elements (9). c) A fluid that runs through the interior of the conduit. 2. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that the pipes (6) run parallel to each other. 3. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that the pipes (6) run parallel to the collection surface (3). 4. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that the pipes (6) have their ends facing each other. 5. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that the accommodation area (4) has two differentiated areas (4a) and (4b). 6. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that the accommodation area (4) is covered by an extension of the collection surface (3). 7. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that the tubular body of the particular circuit is a flexible tube. 8. - CERAMIC MODULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR according to claim 1 characterized in that it is associated with a heat exchanger in which heat is transferred to the water in a swimming pool.