GB2096260A

GB2096260A - Improvements in or relating to solar collectors of a liquid heat exchange type

Info

Publication number: GB2096260A
Application number: GB8128721A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Enthone Inc; Sunworks Inc
Current assignee: Sunworks Inc; MacDermid Enthone Inc
Priority date: 1978-03-06
Filing date: 1979-02-28
Publication date: 1982-10-13
Also published as: GB2017855B; JPS57150761A; ES478207A1; ES481966A1; CA1132019A; IT7948219A0; DE2906984A1; GB2096260B; GB2017855A; AU4426579A; JPS54132836A; FR2419478A1; GR66640B

Abstract

An arrangement for coupling the header of a solar collector to another conduit, which may be the header of an adjacent collector in an array or to a manifold serving a plurality of collectors (as shown), and in which the header and the other conduit are axially aligned and have end portions of enlarged diameter, with each end portion having a transitional portion comprises a nipple 62 slidable in the end portions, the nipple being longitudinally dimensioned to maintain continuity between the end portions when engaging one of the end portions, which defines a stop for the nipple. A resilient sleeve 63 envelops and is in sealing engagement with each of the end portions, the sealing engagement permitting axial movement of the header relative to the conduit. <IMAGE>

Description

1

GB 2 096 260 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Improvements in or relating to solar collectors of a liquid heat exchange type

This invention relates to arrangements for 5 coupling the headers of solar heat collectors of the liquid type to other conduits.

Liquid-cooled solar heat collectors generally comprise a collector housing having an absorber assembly situated therein. Input and output 10 headers are situated at opposing ends of the absorber. A plurality of heat exchange conduits extend between the headers in intimate heat exchange relationship with the absorber.

Typically, a collector is part of a collector array. 15 The headers of collectors in an array are connected to headers of adjacent collectors in the array, or to manifolds serving a plurality of collectors.

During the course of a day, the temperature of the collector, particularly of the absorber plate, 20 conduits and headers, may vary from a temperature close to the ambient atmosphere at night, to several hundred degrees during the day. Such large temperature variations cause the absorber plate, headers and conduits to contract 25 and expand. Such expansion and contraction cause variations in the distance between headers, and length of the headers and the diameter of the headers.

According to the invention there is provided an 30 arrangement for coupling the header of a solar heat collector of the liquid type to another conduit, said collector having a wall, the header exiting the collector through the wall thereof, said header and said other conduit having end portions 35 of enlarged diameter, a nipple received in and slidable in said end portions, said end portions having a transitional portion defining limiting stops for said nippie, said nipple being longitudinally dimensioned to maintain continuity 40 between said end portions when engaging one of said stops, and a resilient sleeve-like member annularly enveloping an insealing engagement with each of said end portions, said sealing engagement permitting axial movement of said 45 header relative to said conduit.

One embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement which includes means for connection, aligning and sealing the connections between headers of adjacent collectors in an 50 array or between a header of a collector and a manifold. The or each solar collector has a new and improved means for sealing openings through which the headers exit to seal the inside of the collector from the ambient air. The sealing means 55 also serves to prevent the headers from coming into direct thermal contact with the collector housing while permitting movement of the headers due to thermal expansion and contraction of the elements of the absorber assembly. 60 The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of two adjacent collectors;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of an absorber of one of the collectors of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section seen along the plane of lines 3—3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view seen along the plane of lines 4—4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a front view of one form of sealing means in a relaxed condition.

Fig. 1 shows two adjacent collectors 10 and 11. Collector 10 includes housing 12 comprising side walls 13 and 14, end walls 15 and 16, a transparent cover 17 and base 18 (Figs. 3 and 4). Collector 11 includes housing 19 comprising side walls 20 and 21, end walls 22 and 23, a transparent cover 24 and base 25.

Collectors 10 and 11 further include respective absorbers 26 and 27 situated over and supported by insulation 27a. As exemplified in Fig. 2, absorber 26 includes an absorber plate 28 having headers 29 and 30 at opposing ends thereof. A plurality of heat exchange conduits 31 extend between headers 29 and 30 in intimate heat exchange relation with absorber plate 28.

Headers 29 and 30 terminate in longitudinally-extending ends 32, 33, and 34, 35, respectively. Alternatively, a fitting 36 (shown in broken lines extending from header 29 near end 32) may be provided extending laterally from the header if the header is to exit an end wall. Ends 32—35 may be swaged to an increased inner diameter.

As exemplified in Figs. 3 and 4, the side and end walls of collectors 10 and 11 are formed in the shape of an open container whose upper edges support an upper rectangular frame 37 as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 772,971, filed February 28, 1977. The frame includes a vertical member 38, a support ledge 39 for supporting transparent top 17, and a condensation trough 40. A cap 41 received over a U-shaped channel 42 secures transparent cover 1 7 to ledge 39 through a resilient sealing member 43. A second channel 44 extends outwardly from channel 42 to receive flashing 45.

Header 29 extends through side wall 14 through a passage 46 defined by annular adapter member 47. A resilient annular sealing member 48 is provided to seal the opening between header 29 and adapter 47. Sealing member 48 tapers from one end 49 towards the center 50 and flares towards the other end 51 thereof. The sealing member is formed to provide two outer annuli of contact with the adapter member 47 at ends 49 and 51, and one inner annulus of contact with header 29 at the center 50. Sealing member 48 compressively engages the adapter member 47 and header 29 at the respective annuli of contact.

Annular sealing member 28 may be conveniently formed from a short length of flexible tubing having an appropriate diameter and wall thickness, turned inside out. An exemplary material is a moderately thick-walled extruded silicone tubing. Silicone is an effectively inert material capable of withstanding high temperatures. As an example, a suitable sealing

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

2

GB 2 096 260 A 2

member 48 for a one-inch nominal diameter header and an adapter having a 1.680" inside diameter can be formed from a three-fourths inch length of 50 durometer silicone tubing have 5 1.160" inside diameter and 0.240" thick wall, turned inside out.

The resilience of sealing members 48 will accept motion of the headers due to expansion and contraction of the absorber and also axial 10 movement of the header. Sealing members 48 also act as a spacer between the headers and the collector housing, and further act to support the absorber assembly within the collector housing when the collector is disposed at an angle. 15 The sealing member may also be made in a predetermined molded form with enlarged ends (not shown); however, this form is more expensive than the form described above. Such a member may have a dumb-bell shape with the 20 header extending through a passageway extending therethrough and with the enlarged ends compressively engaging member 47.

As exemplified in Fig. 4, a second embodiment of the invention comprises a resilient annular 25 sealing member 52 having one outer annulus of contact with adapter member 47 at end 53 which tapers to an inner annulus of contact at end 54. Sealing member 52 compressively engages both adapter member 47 and header 30 at the 30 respective annuli of contact.

Annular sealing member 52 may be formed from a resilient washer-like disk 55 of, for example silicone, as exemplified in Fig. 5. Member 52 has an outer edge 56 and a central aperture 35 57 defined by edge 58. Edge 56 provdes an outer annulus of contact on adapter 47. Edge 58 provides an inner annulus of contact 54 on header 30. The diameter D1 of aperture 57 is chosen to be smaller than the diameter of header 30 and the 40 outer diameter D2 of disk 55 is chosen to be larger than the diameter of adapter 47. When the disk is placed over header 30, edge 58 is stretched, enlarging aperture 57. The disk 55 assumes a configuration which tapers from edge 45 56 to edge 58. When the header 30 and disk 55 are inserted into adapter 47, disk 55 provides an effective seal about header 30. As an example, a suitable sealing member 52 for a header and adapter having dimensions as recited previously, 50 may be formed from a disk 0.094" thick formed from a sheet of 50 durometer silicone, with an outer diameter D2 of two inches and an aperture D1 of five-eighths of an inch.

Sealing members 48 and 52 effectively 55 insulate headers 29 and 30 from adapter 47 and also permit the position of headers 29 and 30 to vary in the opening defined by the adapter. As the headers 29 and 30 move, the portion of either sealing member, between the outer and inner 60 annuli of contact, will deform to follow the movement, while the annuli of contact remain compressively engaged to the respective members. The closest that header 29 or 30 will get to adapter 47 is the thickness of the sealing 65 member. The sealing and insulating integrity of members 48 and 52 is maintained regardless of the position of the header in the opening defined by adapter 47.

In another aspect, the invention provides a 70 connection and seal 59 between headers of adjacent collectors. Ends 33 and 32 face each other spaced apart along the same axis. The ends have a slightly larger diameter than the respective headers. The transitions between the diameters of 75 the headers and respective ends provide stops 60 and 61. A nipple 62 slidably concentrically telescopes into ends 33 and 32. Stops 60 and 61 limit any axial movement of the nipple, preventing it from sliding into one of the headers. A resilient 80 tubular sealing member 63 annularly envelopes ends 33 and 32 to provide a fluidtight seal. Member 63 is clamped to ends 33 and 32 by clamps 64 and 65. Nipple 62 keeps ends 33 and 32 aligned.

85 When member 63 is clamped to ends 33 and 32, slack may be provided in member 63 between the clamps 64 and 65 to allow the headers to move without excessive tension on the member 63. In an alternative arrangement, as exemplified 90 in Fig. 4, a resilient sealing member 66 may be provided having accordion fold 67 to permit movement of the headers without stressing the seal. An exemplary matarial for members 63 and 66 is nylon fabric fiberglass reinforced silicone. 95 The connection and seal 59 may also be used to connect a header to a manifold.

The form of collector shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is by way of example only; the invention may conveniently be used with other forms of 100 collectors.

The particular examples of materials and dimensions for sealing members 48 and 52 and tubular members 63 and 66 are also by way of example and not limitation. Other resilient 105 materials may be used and the dimensions changed and adjusted according to the materials and diameters of headers and adapters.

Claims

1. An arrangement for coupling the header of a solar heat collector of the liquid type to another 15 conduit, said collector having a wall, the header exiting the collector through the wall thereof, said header and said other conduit having end portions of enlarged diameter, a nipple received in and slidable in said end portions, said end portions 20 having a transitional portion defining limiting stops for said nipple, said nipple being longitudinally dimensioned to maintain continuity between said end portions when engaging one of said stops, and a resilient sleeve-like member 25 annularly enveloping an insealing engagement with each of said end portions, said sealing engagement permitting axial movement of said header relative to said conduit.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1982. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A t AY, from which copies may be obtained.

1. An arrangement for coupling the header of a 110 solar heat collector of the liquid type to another conduit, said collector having a wall, the header exiting the collector through the wall thereof, said header and said other conduit having end portions of enlarged diameter, a nipple received in and 115 slidable in said end portions, said end portions having a transitional portion defining limiting stops for said nipple, said nipple being longitudinally dimensioned to maintain continuity between sad end portions when engaging one of 120 said stops, and a resilient sleeve-like member annularly enveloping an insealing engagement with each of said end portions, said sealing engagement permitting axial movement of said header relative to said conduit.

125

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said resilient member is provided with an accordion fold intermediate the ends thereof.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1,

3

GB 2 096 260 A 3

wherein said other conduit is the header of an adjacent collector.

4. An arrangement for coupling the header of a solar heat collector of the liquid type to another 5 type, the arrangement being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims filed on 10 25 May 1982

Superseded claims 1

New or Amended Claims:—